Drakes Island

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; St Nicholas Island

In the civil parish of Plymouth.
In the historic county of Devon (Modern Authority of Plymouth; City of, 1974 county of Devon).

Known in medieval times as St Nicholas' Island and fortified since C15. The defences were improved in the late C16 and again circa 1859. It was garrisoned until after the Second World War and then in 1964 it was leased to the National Trust.

This site has been described as a;
Artillery Fort.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Uncertain remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX469528

Modern Map from

Good for landscape form and features

Modern Map from

Good for general location

Air Photo from

1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 437587

Books

Duffy, Michael, 1999, 'Coastal Defences and Garrisons 1480-1914' in Kain, R. and Ravenhill, W., Historical Atlas of South-West England (University of Exeter Press) p158-60
Saunders, Andrew, 1997, Channel Defences (London; Batsford/English Heritage) p68
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1
1978. Drake’s Island: Once a Fortress Now an Adventure Centre (Mayflower Centre Trust)

Journal Articles

Andrew Pye and Freddy Woodward, 1996, The historic defences of Plymouth p139-149 Plans and photos
1983, Fort Vol11 p94

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

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This record last updated on Friday, April 6, 2007

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