Lavernock Battery
| Lavernock Battery | |
|
Glamorgan | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Palmerston fort |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°24’23"N, 3°10’12"W |
| History | |
| Built 1870 | |
| Information | |
Lavernock Battery was built in 1870 at Lavernock Point on the coast of Glamorgan, on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, as part of a national system of defence that came to be known as 'Palmerston forts'.
Lavernock was the most northerly of a chain of defences across the Bristol Channel, protecting the access to Bristol and Cardiff. Completed in 1870, with three 7" rifled muzzle loader cannon to protect the channel approaches to Cardiff and Bristol shipyards.
At some time before 1895, the gun battery was reinforced with a fourth cannon only for all four guns to be replaced eight years later by two rapid fire six inch breech-loading former naval guns in 1903.
During the Second World War, a two unit searchlight battery was added. The Second World War gun emplacements formed part of the Fixed Defences, Severn Scheme and protected the Atlantic shipping convoy de-grouping zone between Cardiff, Barry and Flat Holm.[1]
Today the site is largely gone, with what remains being included in a holiday caravan and chalet park. The remaining main section of the gun battery has been listed as an Ancient Monument, which includes the gun emplacements, director-rangefinder observation position, crew and officers quarters. The structure is still commemorated through Lavernock Point's main access road being named 'Fort Road'.
Outside links
References
- Saunders, A.; Spurgeon, C.J.; Thomas, H.J.; Roberts, D.J. (2001). Guns Across The Severn: The Victorian Fortifications of Glamorgan. Aberystwyth: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. pp. 35–38. ISBN 1-871184-25-8.