1. The History
Redoubt No.5 is a battery, roughly-rectangular in shape, with Royal Commission fortifications. It is situated on the northern side of the prominent ridge on the Rame Peninsula known as Maker Heights which overlooks the Millbrook Lake.
It has stone-faced ramparts with bull-nosed decorated copings and an outer gorge of up to 6m deep. Its interior features including a gatehouse, barracks with bomb-proof roofs. On the eastern side Musketry loops protect the now missing bridge.
Google Maps view:
No.5 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The battery was initially built as a temporary structure in earth in 1779 by the 2nd Devon Militia for the War of American Independence. It was intended to protect the four redoubts (No.s 1-4) of the Maker Line. It was made ‘permanent’ in 1782-3 by Dixon & the Duke of Richmond, with the intention of forming a bastion for a much larger fort which never got built. Between 1787-91 the redoubt was strengthened by the addition of the stone revetments, a loop holed barracks along the gorge and gun platforms and renamed 'Redoubt No.5. Between 1808 to 1811 it had 9 guns in total; 2 on the north flank, 3 on the south and 4 on the west. It was most likely not completely repaired under the Royal Commission proposals and was most likely abandoned in 1866. In World War II the barrack block was occupied by Plymouth families displaced by the Blitz.
The battery was Listed Grade II in June 1972.
2. The Explore
Came across this place by chance as I was returning from the Maker Heights anti-aircraft battery. It looked too tempting to walk past in the Summer Sun. The bridge into the fort has completely gone and the only realistic was into the fort is via a ladder via the outer gorge. And given said ladder was not available it was externals only. Fortunately, I got enough pictures of interest to make a small report.
3. The Pictures
View from Maker Lane:
img8373 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The west side of the Redoubt:
img8376 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Front entrance (east side):
img8378 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Close-up of main gate:
img8377 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Going round the fort clockwise….window on the east side:
img8380 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Two support pillars but no walk-way:
img8381 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The south-east corner:
img8382 by HughieDW, on Flickr
South-west:
img8383 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and north-west corner:
img8384 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And no way in:
img8386 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Redoubt No.5 is a battery, roughly-rectangular in shape, with Royal Commission fortifications. It is situated on the northern side of the prominent ridge on the Rame Peninsula known as Maker Heights which overlooks the Millbrook Lake.
It has stone-faced ramparts with bull-nosed decorated copings and an outer gorge of up to 6m deep. Its interior features including a gatehouse, barracks with bomb-proof roofs. On the eastern side Musketry loops protect the now missing bridge.
Google Maps view:
The battery was initially built as a temporary structure in earth in 1779 by the 2nd Devon Militia for the War of American Independence. It was intended to protect the four redoubts (No.s 1-4) of the Maker Line. It was made ‘permanent’ in 1782-3 by Dixon & the Duke of Richmond, with the intention of forming a bastion for a much larger fort which never got built. Between 1787-91 the redoubt was strengthened by the addition of the stone revetments, a loop holed barracks along the gorge and gun platforms and renamed 'Redoubt No.5. Between 1808 to 1811 it had 9 guns in total; 2 on the north flank, 3 on the south and 4 on the west. It was most likely not completely repaired under the Royal Commission proposals and was most likely abandoned in 1866. In World War II the barrack block was occupied by Plymouth families displaced by the Blitz.
The battery was Listed Grade II in June 1972.
2. The Explore
Came across this place by chance as I was returning from the Maker Heights anti-aircraft battery. It looked too tempting to walk past in the Summer Sun. The bridge into the fort has completely gone and the only realistic was into the fort is via a ladder via the outer gorge. And given said ladder was not available it was externals only. Fortunately, I got enough pictures of interest to make a small report.
3. The Pictures
View from Maker Lane:
The west side of the Redoubt:
Front entrance (east side):
Close-up of main gate:
Going round the fort clockwise….window on the east side:
Two support pillars but no walk-way:
The south-east corner:
South-west:
…and north-west corner:
And no way in:
Looks like a great location! Might check this out if I’m in the area in a couple weeks.How are the other 4 Redoubt by the way?
