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© Mr Brian Head
IoE Number:
387168
Location:
BEARSCOVE CASTLE, BAYARDS COVE (west side)
DARTMOUTH, SOUTH HAMS, DEVON
Photographer:
Mr Brian Head
Date Photographed:
04 September 2001
Date listed:
14 September 1949
Date of last amendment:
23 February 1994
Grade
I
NOTE - The Images of England website consists of images of listed buildings based on the statutory list as it was in 2001 and does not incoporate subsequent amendments to the list. For an updated version of the statutory list you should visit our LBOnline database http://lbonline.english-heritage.org.uk/Login.aspx
DARTMOUTH
SX8750 BAYARDS COVE
673-1/6/38 (West side)
14/09/49 Bearscove Castle
(Formerly Listed as:
BAYARDS COVE
Bearscove Castle (or Bayard's Cove
Castle))
GV I
Small artillery castle, built to protect the town quay.
Possibly 1509-10 on documentary evidence, it was certainly in
existence by 1537. Local limestone rubble.
PLAN: A platform cut into the rock enclosed by a thick curving
wall projecting into the estuary.
EXTERIOR: Thick rubble wall with a regular series of putlog
holes. Doorway on northern side onto the quay (although,
according to Freeman, the quay did not extend this far until
1839). It is a plain doorway with an irregular 2-centred arch
head under a hoodmould. 11 splayed gunports externally rebated
for shutters; they are designed for guns mounted on flat beds.
Parapet mostly collapsed but the bottom courses remain,
projecting slightly on a row of small corbels.
INTERIOR: Unroofed. Remains of stone steps to wallwalk.
Sockets for timbers in cliff to rear from old lean-to
structures - the place was apparantly used for storage in
times of peace.
Bearscove Castle is sited at the end of a fine and picturesque
row of listed buildings on the old town quay.
(Archaeologia: O'Neil BH St J: Dartmouth Castle and other
defences of Dartmouth Haven: 1935-: P.129-157; Saunders AD:
Dartmouth Castle, Devon: HMSO: 1986-; Freeman, Ray: Dartmouth
and its Neighbours: Phillimore: 1990-: P.54).