Summary

A military gun site, part of the 2nd World War Coastal defence system, and may be earlier, survives only as two concrete bases on the cliff edge. There is a stone hut nearby.

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Description

A military gun site, part of the 2nd World War Coastal defence system, survives only as two concrete bases on the cliff edge. There is a stone hut nearby.

The 2nd Devon Artillery Corps was formed in 1880. No 10 Company was formed in Lynmouth on 10 May 1990. In 1902 they were redesignated 2nd Devon RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery) Volunteers. Shortly after 1900 they constructed the gun platforms at Countisbury for practice firing. The fact that no attempt was made to screen these from the sea emphasises that these were never intended to be defensive works. Roger Ferrer believes the guns were kept in the vicinity of what is now Rock House, Lynmouth, and were hauled up the hill with horses when needed and that the HQ was in Barnstaple. In 1911 they were again redesignated: No 1 Heavy Battery RGA, Lynmouth. At the outbreak of war "125 men of the Ilfracombe and Lynton Territorial Battery assembled at Barnstaple and left for a secret destination" (Newspaper report). (By Comparison, only 12 Territorials went from South Molton). The guns were also taken to Barnstaple and the horses were transported by boat to Barnstaple and then to Dover. It seems the gun platforms may have seen some use later, as Roger Ferrer has a note from Wally Gilson saying "During the 1940 war, in the beginning period, targets were towed on the sea for practice". (Roger Ferrer to Julian Gurney 4 February 2010)

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