It's been an age since i posted a thread, January to be precise, but i've still been exploring & taken in over 50 sites since, but for a number of reasons didn't get round to posting stuff up here. This is an exception as i don't believe it has appeared on any forums yet.
History is, well, let's just say no way near as much i'd like to write but it's one that i am certainly working on & will hopefully bring this up to date sooner rather than later.
Myself & the missus decided to take full advantage of the Heritage Open Days last weekend & amongst the visits was this one to the Roseland Peninsular to take in the Coastal Gun Battery at St Anthony Head. Time permitting, we would have visited the defences at St Mawes too but got distracted with more "unofficial" explorations around the area. The day was an absolute scorcher for weather unlike the time we visited Predannack, & those who have been to the area on a dull day will know what i mean!
St Anthony Head Battery was constructed in the 1880's, to protect the approaches to the River Fal, & i would assume to support the more fortified defences of Pendennis & St Mawes Castle, both of which can easily be seen from the battery just across the estuary.
The area was a training ground during WWI & during WWII it's armament consisted of two 6" guns & a 3 pounder gun lower down the cliff towards St Mawes. Light AA guns were also onsite during this period & probably consisted of a pair of Bofors.
The guns were removed in the 1950's, & afterwards, both emplacements infilled & some buildings demolished. This like many other sites around the UK, was in the belief that nobody would be interested in such structures at the time. Today, it is looked after by volunteers of the National Trust & what's left is being lovingly restored with the hope that this will eventually be open to the public 3 or 4 times a year.
Aerial shot of St Anthony Head Battery, 1942.
Site of the former NAAFI. Now the NT car park for many a walker.
Former Officer's Quarters, now holiday homes
One of the 6" gun emplacements
Entrance to the Easterly gun emplacement, now infilled, but hopefully to be dug out in the future.
View from the top of the gun emplacements to Pendennis Castle...
....& to St Mawes Castle
Recently unearthed shell lift hatch next to the Westerly gun emplacement
Depression Range Finder
Entrance to the underground rooms of the two emplacements. In the background the white building is the former shell store (now public toilets)
Underground shots...the shifting lobby, with some fantastic original posters & signage
War Dept ironmongery on the shiftin lobby doors
Images from the Filled Shell Stores, Shell Lifts & Cartridge Lifts
History is, well, let's just say no way near as much i'd like to write but it's one that i am certainly working on & will hopefully bring this up to date sooner rather than later.
Myself & the missus decided to take full advantage of the Heritage Open Days last weekend & amongst the visits was this one to the Roseland Peninsular to take in the Coastal Gun Battery at St Anthony Head. Time permitting, we would have visited the defences at St Mawes too but got distracted with more "unofficial" explorations around the area. The day was an absolute scorcher for weather unlike the time we visited Predannack, & those who have been to the area on a dull day will know what i mean!
St Anthony Head Battery was constructed in the 1880's, to protect the approaches to the River Fal, & i would assume to support the more fortified defences of Pendennis & St Mawes Castle, both of which can easily be seen from the battery just across the estuary.
The area was a training ground during WWI & during WWII it's armament consisted of two 6" guns & a 3 pounder gun lower down the cliff towards St Mawes. Light AA guns were also onsite during this period & probably consisted of a pair of Bofors.
The guns were removed in the 1950's, & afterwards, both emplacements infilled & some buildings demolished. This like many other sites around the UK, was in the belief that nobody would be interested in such structures at the time. Today, it is looked after by volunteers of the National Trust & what's left is being lovingly restored with the hope that this will eventually be open to the public 3 or 4 times a year.
Aerial shot of St Anthony Head Battery, 1942.
Site of the former NAAFI. Now the NT car park for many a walker.
Former Officer's Quarters, now holiday homes
One of the 6" gun emplacements
Entrance to the Easterly gun emplacement, now infilled, but hopefully to be dug out in the future.
View from the top of the gun emplacements to Pendennis Castle...
....& to St Mawes Castle
Recently unearthed shell lift hatch next to the Westerly gun emplacement
Depression Range Finder
Entrance to the underground rooms of the two emplacements. In the background the white building is the former shell store (now public toilets)
Underground shots...the shifting lobby, with some fantastic original posters & signage
War Dept ironmongery on the shiftin lobby doors
Images from the Filled Shell Stores, Shell Lifts & Cartridge Lifts
Last edited:
