Fort Bovisand

Fort Bovisand from the south

Fort Bovisand is a fort in Devon, England near the beach of Bovisand. It was built on the mainland to defend the entrance of Plymouth Sound, at the narrows opposite the east end of Plymouth Breakwater. The fort is beside Bovisand harbour.

History

• 1816: A stone jetty and slip were built for boats from sailing warships anchored in Plymouth Sound to collect fresh water from the nearby reservoir.
• 1845: The first fort at the site, named Staddon Height Battery, was started, and still exists in the upper part of the present fort. As part of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, work started on the main part of the fort consisting of 23 granite casemates, originally housing 22 9-inch Rifled Muzzle Loaders (RMLs), one 10-inch RML gun and 180 men.
• 1880: By then the armament included 14 10-inch and nine 9-inch RML guns. Underground there are large deep tunnels to store artillery ammunition safe from enemy gunfire.
• 1898: Six 12-pounder quick-firing guns were installed.
• Early 1900s: The original guns were removed.
• 1939-1945: World War II:-
• 1942: The remaining four 12-pounders were replaced by two twin 6-pounders, to combat E-boats.
• 1943: A Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun was installed.
• 1956: The Ministry of Defence abandoned the fort.
• 1970: A lease was granted.
• Early 1970s: The fort was converted into a national commercial diving school and scuba diving centre.
• About the mid-1970s to at least the early 1990s: The fort at the top of the headland (above the coastal path) was used as a school's outdoor activity centre. The upper fort's magazine and various other buildings were converted to be used as basic bunk houses, kitchen and dining area. The cottage was used as a toilet and shower block and a lounge and staff accommodation.
• 2000: By then the main leaseholder Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre had liquidated, but other diving services continued trading. Months of argument continued about the status of the leases and viability of existing businesses based there.
• December 2000: Marine Contractors Ltd (one of the main businesses based there, and one of the parties negotiating to take over the running of Fort Bovisand) went into receivership. As a result, the owners (the Ministry of Defence) decided it was no longer possible to keep the site functioning, and the remaining diving etc. firms trading there ceased operations.
• Mid-2005: By then ex-BBC boss Greg Dyke and local property developer John Steven owned Fort Bovisand and had plans to set up a new business there.
• 2003: Discovery Divers was set up.
• Mid 2008: Fort Bovisand was home to Discovery Divers.

References

Fort Bovisand, Kendal McDonald, ISBN 0-9528637-1-5

External links

• [http://www.victorianforts.co.uk/pdf/datasheets/bovisand.pdf Victorian Forts data

Images:-

• Big image of Fort Bovisand from the air
• Diver jumping in off Fort Bovisand jetty, 1982 Easter
• Fort Bovisand in or around the 1920s