The Garden Battery
Research & words by Dr Malcolm Cross
The Garden Battery is a casemated construction built largely in granite in 1862-3 directly on top of the Mount Edgcumbe Battery. It was part of the wide-ranging developments around Plymouth Sound to resist possibly invasion by the re-equipped and technologically advanced French Navy.
The Garden Battery viewed from the Hamoaze
The Garden Battery was built in 1862-63 immediately on top of the Mount Edgcumbe Battery restored in 1747 but originally of 17th century origins. It was built as a result of the Royal Commission of 1860, which recommended the strengthening of the inner sea defences on both sides of the channel at its narrowest point. Some alterations were made in 1869 and by 1882 it contained seven 68-pound cannons in casemates although the armaments were upgraded in 1885 to 9-inch rifled muzzle-loading (RML) guns. A decade later quick firing guns were added and in 1910, two searchlights were mounted in two of the casemates.
1820s print of the Blockhouse, showing the roof of the Saluting Platform to the left of the image
The building was disarmed in 1927 and released from the War Department in 1946. it is recorded in Pye and Woodward's survey published in 1996 as being in 'very good condition' with plenty of evidence remaining of the racer rails, tackle loops and mounting plates. Its setting is closely integrated with that of the 16th century blockhouse, one of a pair built by the Edgcumbe family to protect their property holdings in Stonehouse and to help protect the entrance to the Hamoaze; the other one being at Devil's Point opposite.
The interior of the Garden Battery is particularly fine and initially after the purchase of the park by the two councils in 1971, the building was open to the public. At that time there was interest in its restoration. At a meeting in February 1978, there was a proposal that the then Ancient Monuments Directorate should take over the repair and maintenance of this building and the Block House. Later in 1980 a suggestion was made to the Joint Committee that the Garden Battery was an ideal building for housing an 'information/interpretation centre' focussed on the park itself. Proposals to re-use the battery were developed in November 1983 but were not enacted and since then it has been empty and unavailable for public viewing (Pye and Woodward, 1996: 38).
On the 5 September 2023 planning approval was granted for the Garden Battery to be converted into an information centre for the Plymouth Sound Marine Park. The planning application – PA23/03916 – attracted a number of comments. Concerns were raised about whether the proposed changes, including new openings into the building, would allow its original significance as a defensive structure to be fully appreciated; and whether the proposals recognised adequately the significance of adjacent related defensive structures including the Blockhouse (and possibly the Bowling Green Battery), Mount Edgcumbe Battery and the Earl's Battery). Worry was also expressed about the use of the listed building for a purpose wholly unrelated to the rich history of the Edgcumbe family and parkland over 500 years.
The vaulted interior of the Garden Battery.
Reference
Pye, A. and Woodward, F. (1996) The Historic Defences of Plymouth, Truro: Cornwall County Council
Further reading on Buildings & Structures in Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
Bristow, I.C. (1995) Mount Edgcumbe: the English Garden House, Report on an investigation of paint samples for English Heritage, London, 22 June.
Carew, R. (1602 reprinted Tamar Books, 2000) Survey of Cornwall: 113-14.
Chope, R.P. (Ed) (1967) Early Tours in Devon and Cornwall, Newton Abbott, David and Charles.
Cornwall Records Office ME/2031/1) – now housed at Kresen Kernow in Redruth
Jope, E.M. (1961) ‘Cornish Houses’ in Jope E. M. (Ed.) Studies in Building History, London, Odhams Press: 192-222.
Carew, R. (1602 reprinted Tamar Books, 2000) Survey of Cornwall: 113-14.
Feluś, K. et al. (2016) Mount Edgcumbe Parkland Plan, 3 volumes, Cornwall Council
Fiennes, C. (1967) ‘Through England on a Side Saddle’ in Chope (Ed.) Early Tours in Devon and Cornwall, Newton Abbott, David and Charles.: 111-137.
Gaskell Brown, C. and Humphries, R.W. (1993) English Garden House Excavation and Survey.
Gaskell Brown, C. (2003) Mount Edgcumbe House & Country Park: A Guide, 2nd ed. Acanthus Press.
Gilbert, C.S. (1820) A Historical Survey of the County of Cornwall, Plymouth.
Jewitt, L (1873) History of Plymouth, London, Simkin, Marshall and Co.
Jope, E.M. (1961) ‘Cornish Houses’ in Jope E. M. (Ed.) Studies in Building History, London, Odhams Press: 192-222.
Hughes, P. (2005) Mount Edgcumbe Conservation Plan, 4 volumes, Cornwall Council
Kelly, A. (1990) Mrs Coade’s Stone, Reading, Berks, Kelly.
Lipscomb, G. (1799) Journey into Cornwall, Warwick, H. Sharpe.
Land Use Consultants (2000) Mount Edgcumbe: Development of the Historic Landscape and Repair and Restoration Proposals, London, LUC
Pococke, R. (1967) ‘Travels through England’ in Chope (Ed.) Early Tours in Devon and Cornwall, Newton Abbott, David and Charles.: 178 – 215.
Pye, A. and Woodward, F. (1996) The Historic Defences of Plymouth, Truro: Cornwall County Council
Rowe, S. (1832) The Panorama of Plymouth, or Tourists’ Guide to the Towns and Vicinity of Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse, Plymouth.
Thomas, N. and Thorpe, C. (1996) An Archaeological Investigation of Features Associated with the English Garden House, Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall Archaeological Unit, CCC.
Warner, R. (1812) A Tour Round Plymouth.
Warner, R. (1809) A Tour Through Cornwall in the Autumn of 1808, Bath, R. Cutwell.
Warner, R. (1837) A Walk Round Mount Edgcumbe, 7th Edition, Devonport.
Warner, R. (1841) A Walk Round Mount Edgcumbe, 11th Edition. Devonport, W. Byers.
Wright, W.H.K. (1871) Duprez’s Visitors’ Guide to Mount Edgcumbe, Plymouth, Cove Bros.