Specialist contractors have been appointed to conserve and reopen the Garden Battery at Mount Edgcumbe, a key step in the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park's Heritage Horizon programme. The scheme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Plymouth City Council.

The project is central to the National Marine Park's drive to help more people engage with the area's maritime story, breathing new life into a prominent landmark on the Rame Peninsula and along the Plymouth Sound waterfront.

Dating from 1862 after recommendations by the Royal Commission in 1860, the granite casemated battery was built on the site of an earlier saluting battery. It originally mounted ten guns to protect the mouth of the Hamoaze and the surrounding channel. By 1910, two searchlights had been fitted within former gun casemates. Among the first sites to deploy Defensive Electric Lights before the First World War, it played a crucial role in safeguarding the port during both conflicts. The guns and lights were removed in 1927 and the Ministry of Defence relinquished the site in 1946, though its wartime significance remains well remembered.*

In the years since, the battery has stood out in the landscape but was mostly off-limits. Delivered with the Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee (a partnership between Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council) and following consultation with The Friends of Mount Edgecumbe, the restoration will prioritise sensitive conservation alongside curated interpretation, community use and opportunities for private hire. For the first time, the Garden Battery will be opened to the public, marking a milestone for the Marine Park's heritage work. Mount Edgecumbe Park remains a much-loved destination in the South West, with free access to award-winning formal gardens and grounds, cafés, independent traders and even alpaca walks — and this project will deepen visitor engagement.

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Councillor Tom Briars-Delve Plymouth City Council said: "Heritage is at the heart of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, and the Garden Battery is an important part of our maritime story. This project not only preserves the building, but creates new opportunities for engagement, learning and sustainable commercial use to support its long-term future."

Cornwall Councillor Jim Candy, Joint Chair of Mount Edgcumbe Committee said: "Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee is delighted to support this important heritage work at Mount Edgcumbe, the Jewel in the Crown of SE Cornwall, a unique site offering free access to heritage from parkland through to the coastline, where the Garden Battery is located. Opening this space will make the area even more accessible to visitors from both Cornwall and Devon."

PLACE Architects, one of Cornwall's longest-established practices, will lead on design with a conservation-first approach, working alongside AABC-registered specialists Chadburn Conservation Architects. Insite Projects will provide project management to keep delivery aligned with approvals, and TEC Construction (Holdings) Ltd has been appointed as the main contractor for the restoration works.

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "This marks a major milestone for theGarden Battery at Mount Edgcumbe and the wider Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. As one of five Heritage Horizon Awards, this project was supported for its ambitious, transformational vision to reimagine how people experience heritage. It demonstrates the powerful impact that long-term, place-based investment can have – unlocking new opportunities for local communities to connect with, enjoy and take pride in the heritage on their doorstep."

The Mount Edgcumbe Garden Battery project will safeguard important coastal heritage while creating meaningful public access and opportunities for learning and community use, ensuring the site can inspire and benefit people for generations.