Ballast Pond
BALLAST POND
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1329162
- Date first listed:
- 26-Jan-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Ballast Pond
- Statutory Address:
- BALLAST POND
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-04-19
- Reference:
- IOE01/10723/19
- Rights:
- © Mr David Nilsson. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1329162
- Date first listed:
- 26-Jan-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Ballast Pond
- Statutory Address 1:
- BALLAST POND
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:
- BALLAST POND
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Torpoint
- National Grid Reference:
- SX4404854732
Details
SX 45 SW TORPOINT TORPOINT
6/339 Ballast Pond
II
Ballast pond (sometimes referred to as ballast pound). 1783, built by the Admiralty.
Slatestone rubble with Devon limestone copings. Square plan with entrance to east
side. The walls are about 2 metres high to the landward side and deeper to the
seaward side. The overall dimension is about 80 metres square, and the walls are
about 2 metres wide. The walls are battered with dressed stone copings, and on the
inner side the walls are stepped, giving the effect of a string course. The top is
paved with stone setts with cast iron moorings rings at intervals. To the east, the
entrance is about 10 metres wide, and the wall ends are round-headed. The masonry is
of high quality.
When repairs were done to the bottom of a ship, much of the ballast (stone and sand
in the C18) would have to be removed. It was discharged into lighters, which would
often be heavily laden. It is presumed that the ballast pond was built as a shelter
for the lighters, which would not then need to be unload, but could remain in dock
until the ballast was needed again.
(Sources: Harris, G. and F.L. (ed.): The Making of a Cornish Town. Torpoint and
Neighbourhood through two hundred years. 1976)
Listing NGR: SX4404854732
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 61990
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Harris, G, Harris, F L, The Making of a Cornish Town Torpoint and Neighbourhood through two hundred years, (1976)
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 14-Jun-2026 at 11:20:57.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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