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Report (Permission Visit) - Drakes island, Plymouth sound, Devon September 2020 | Military Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report (Permission Visit) Drakes island, Plymouth sound, Devon September 2020

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Matkylang

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Situated in the heart of Plymouth harbour, Drake’s Island has hosted a military fortification since at least the Tudor period. Initially housing an artillery battery it was latter augmented by a larger garrison and during the Civil War the island played a key role in ensure Plymouth held out against Royalist attack.
The first fortification on Drake’s Island was commissioned in the mid–sixteenth century as a result of war with France. A stone and turf wall was built capping the island and a garrison was installed in 1551 but in the 1580s, following disagreements between the people of Plymouth and the Government over who was responsible for paying for the defence of the island, it was taken into state ownership. By the 1590s the fortifications on the island had been strengthened. A garrison of 100 men and 40-50 guns had been installed and by 1599 this had been increased further as war with Spain continued.

Following the restoration of the monarchy after the Civil War and subsequent Commonwealth, the island was used as a prison for notable Parliamentary prisoners. Major General John Lambert, would be successor to Oliver Cromwell, was held here from 1670-84. Also incarcerated here was Colonel Robert Lilburn, one of the regicides.

The defences on the island were largely neglected until the late eighteenth century. Intermittent war with France(and later in the century Spain) led to various small scale constructions such as magazines and the armaments of the island were periodically updated.

The defences visible today largely date from the mid-nineteenth century when the large casemates were constructed complete with supporting magazines and accommodation. Finally the Island was garrisoned by just under 500 soldiers for much of WW2 supporting coastal defence and anti-air operations.
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Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Nice write up. The place doesn't seem very looked after though. I had to click each image individually, not sure why. It may be as there are over 30 images or could be my end! You cant add over 60 images in a thread, its 30 at most, then has to continue in comments. I dont know if youve not hit insert image?
 

Matkylang

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice write up. The place doesn't seem very looked after though. I had to click each image individually, not sure why. It may be as there are over 30 images or could be my end! You cant add over 60 images in a thread, its 30 at most, then has to continue in comments. I dont know if youve not hit insert image?
Thanks, yeah I don’t understand why it has done that, it is being turned into a hotel and wedding venue eventually but is going to take a while, everything they want to do has to go through 4 agencies then signed off by the Secretary of State
 
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