Ramparts, Counterscarp Revetment, Glacis, Musketry Wall of Southern Fort
RAMPARTS, COUNTERSCARP REVETMENT, GLACIS, MUSKETRY WALL OF SOUTHERN FORT, BERRY HEAD COUNTRY PARK
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1293272
- Date first listed:
- 18-Oct-1949
- List Entry Name:
- Ramparts, Counterscarp Revetment, Glacis, Musketry Wall of Southern Fort
- Statutory Address:
- RAMPARTS, COUNTERSCARP REVETMENT, GLACIS, MUSKETRY WALL OF SOUTHERN FORT, BERRY HEAD COUNTRY PARK
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-06-10
- Reference:
- IOE01/04458/29
- Rights:
- © Mr Dennis Coote. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1293272
- Date first listed:
- 18-Oct-1949
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 18-Oct-1993
- List Entry Name:
- Ramparts, Counterscarp Revetment, Glacis, Musketry Wall of Southern Fort
- Statutory Address 1:
- RAMPARTS, COUNTERSCARP REVETMENT, GLACIS, MUSKETRY WALL OF SOUTHERN FORT, BERRY HEAD COUNTRY PARK
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- RAMPARTS, COUNTERSCARP REVETMENT, GLACIS, MUSKETRY WALL OF SOUTHERN FORT, BERRY HEAD COUNTRY PARK
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Torbay (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Brixham
- National Grid Reference:
- SX 94112 56123
Details
BRIXHAM
SX95NW BERRY HEAD COUNTRY PARK, Berry Head 1946-1/2/17 Ramparts, counterscarp revetment, 18/10/49 glacis, musketry wall of southern fort (Formerly Listed as: BERRY HEAD COMMON South-east Redoubt)
GV II*
Formerly known as: Walls of redoubt SE of Berry Head Common BERRY HEAD COMMON. Defences of military redoubt. 1794-1804. Probably designed by Lt-Col Alexander Mercer. Roughly coursed Devonian limestone rubble with granite string course. The redoubt occupies the southern promontary of the country park and was designed to protect the landward approach to the northern fort (qv). Its ramparts are 3-sided with 12 gun embrasures on the south-west side and 7 on the north-west side. Behind each embrasure is the sunken site of the gun platform. No embrasures on the north side, which was protected by the guns of the northern fort. The entrance, its features now stripped out, is on this side; approached by an earthern causeway, but said to have been a drawbridge here originally. Encircling the ramparts is a deep, dry moat which extends to the cliff edge at either end. On the rampart side is a steeply sloping stone revetment wall, finishing in a rounded granite string course below the gun embrasures. The other side of the moat has an earth embankment with an almost vertical stone revetment wall towards the moat and a gentle slope or glacis on the outside. The southern, seaward, side of the fort is mostly protected by steep cliffs, but at the western end a stretch of stone rubble musketry wall survives. The redoubt is usually referred to in learned publications as the No.1 Fort. It is part of an extensive system of fortifications erected on Berry Head following the outbreak of war with France in 1793. It has been described as one of the most complete surviving examples of purpose-built Napoleonic fortifications in south-west England. (Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Reports: Pye A R: Berry Head Fort, Brixham: 1990-: 9-11).
Listing NGR: SX9411256123
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 383523
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report in Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit, (1990), 9-11
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 22:29:56.
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