The Gatehouse. The comprehensive listing of medieval fortifications and castles in England and Wales.
Home | Books | Links | Fortifications and Castles | Other Information | Help | Downloads | Author Information | Contact

Plymouth Blockhouse, Firestone Bay

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Winter Villa

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

Blockhouse tower for coastal defence. 1537-39, remodelled in the C19. Stone rubble with some granite dressings; flat roof behind embattled parapet. Polygonal plan, extended to the north-west in the C19. 2 storeys; irregularly-disposed openings, some windows enlarged from former gun loops. Original openings include chamfered 2-centred arched doorway to landward side and some original gun loops including some to the centres of some of the merlons.

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


This site is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 473179)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX46375352

Modern Map fromOrdnance Survey logo

Good for landscape form and features

Modern Map from streetmap logo

Good for general location

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 437590

  • Books
  • Journal Articles
  • 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.
    Please help me to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting me if you see errors or if you can add information.
    I do acknowledge the help I get with this site.
    *The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

    Go to Previous Record Go to Next Record Back to List
    This record last updated on Friday, April 6, 2007

    Home | Books | Links | Fortifications and Castles | Other Information | Help | Downloads | Author Information | Contact
    ¤¤¤¤¤