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The Royal Citadel
The Fortress Of The Southwest
For over 100 years The Royal Citadel played a major part in the defence of England with its 70 foot high walls, overlooking Plymouth sound and Cattewater with its entrance inland to the north and toward the city centre.
The Citadel was constructed due to the Dutch wars of 1664-1667 when
King Charles II realized the importance of Plymouth as a channel port and decided to build a fortress on Plymouth's coast. It contained the old fort built in the time of Sir Francis Drake and like other fortresses over the centuries, it was built to impress local people as well as the enemy.
Sir Bernard de Gomme was the Chief Engineer and work began on
March 1665, being built from local limestone, the foundation stone was laid on July 18th 1666 by Lord Bath. The Citadel also consisted of a small port where small ships could berth and gain the provisions they required as well as being able to re-arm under the protection of the lower fort guns. The site of the port is now where the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club lies.
The Main Entrance to the fort located on Hoe Road was designed by
Sir Thomas Fitz and there is no other like it in the southwest. At the top, in the pediment, is the Royal Coat of Arms supported by a lion and a unicorn, each holding a shield displaying the cross of St George.
Below that is the date 1670 flanking tablet bearing the inscription:
~Carolus secundus dei gratia magnae brittaniae franciae et hiberniae rex~.
Below the tablet is a niche which was intended to hold a life-size statue of King Charles II but now holds three cannon balls. Above the top of the archway itself is the coat of arms of Earl Bath along with the Grenville motto of ~ Futurum invisibile ~. The complete build of the entrance was made from Portland stone. Access to the gate was only by means of a drawbridge; this was removed in 1888 when the moat was filled to make some attractive gardens. The moat never actually held any water.
The gun emplacements point toward the city as well as out to sea, this was due to the city supporting Parliament during the English Civil war rather than King Charles's father and it was thought it would keep the city in order.
Within the Citadel there is the Garrison Church of St Katherine-upon-the Hoe. 29 Commando, Royal Marines are currently based at The Royal Citadel.
