Cawsand Battery

CAWSAND BATTERY, NEW ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1329146
Date first listed:
26-Jan-1987
List Entry Name:
Cawsand Battery
Statutory Address:
CAWSAND BATTERY, NEW ROAD

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Location

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Date:
2002-07-15
Reference:
IOE01/07720/05
Rights:
© Mrs J E Pollard. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1329146
Date first listed:
26-Jan-1987
List Entry Name:
Cawsand Battery
Statutory Address 1:
CAWSAND BATTERY, NEW ROAD

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CAWSAND BATTERY, NEW ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Maker-with-Rame
National Grid Reference:
SX4333550365

Details

SX 45 SW MAKER-WITH-RAME NEW ROAD, Cawsand

9/231 Cawsand Battery

GV II

Fort. Dated 1867 on foundation stone to north east, built over 2 years and with later additions. Coursed limestone rubble with limestone copings to parapets. Situated on a spur with steep sides, cut off on the landward side by a moat, the fort is roughly triangular in plan, with barrack blocks along the south front to New Road, a curtain wall with ravelin to the landward (western) side, with gun emplacements on the north east(seaward) side. On the southern side, the barrack block is 2-storey to the outside, single storey inside. To the outside are 3 sets of 3 windows, formerly sashes, with door and paired loops. C20 raised walkway to upper ground floor level, parapet ramped up to end right with 6 loops at upper level, 2 segmental-headed lights at first floor and door to right and left. The barrack blocks were not furnished with bomb-proof roofs as they were supposedly in "dead ground" from fire. Curtain walls along seaward side, perforated by loops at regular intervals, of unusual form for firing horizontally and at an angle of 45 degrees downwards. On the inner side are 2 gun emplacements, with semicircular pivot tracks and magazine between them. Within the fort, between the north and south sides, a splayed limestone tunnel with segmental-headed door to vaulted chamber to one side. On the landward side, the curtain wall has a fire-step and loops, rising up the spur and culminating in a looped ravelin on the summit. The north east side of the fort was formerly entered through an archway which has now gone. The interior of the fort is honeycombed with an extensive tunnel system. The Battery is 130 feet above high water mark. The aim was to prevent a landing in Cawsand Bay, and was armed with 6 pounders as well as 7 inch and 8 inch breech loading rifled guns. These guns were considered powerful enough to assist Picklecombe Fort (q.v.) should the enemy invade the sound. The cost was £16,171. It is said that the guns were only fired once, causing houses in Cawsand village to fall down. Ancient Monument No. 911. Sources: Rawlings, K.: Defence Works Plymouth Area 1300-1983. 1984).

Listing NGR: SX4333750358

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
61887
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Rawlings, KJ, Defence Works Plymouth Area 1300-1983, (1984)

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 8 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly,

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Cawsand Battery

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 04:00:24.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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