More information : (SX 88155048) Ravensbury on site of (NAT)
Paradise Fort (NR) (1)
Paradise fort was garrisoned by the Royalists in the Civil War,
and was still in existence in 1822, when Lysons described it
as a large circular tower on a point of land between the town
and the castle. Saunders says that a strong round tower,
situated at Paradise Point on the northern side of Warfleet
Creek, was demolished in 1855 to make way for a house called
Ravensbury. He believed it might be identified with the
'lodging' by the entrance to Dartmouth which John Corp was
licensed to crenellate in 1402. "for defence against the
King's enemies". (For alternative siting of this, see SX
85 SE 10 and 17)
O'Neil suggest that Paradise fort may have been the "earth
bastion, with six pieces" which was described in 1599 to the
north of Dartmouth Castle (see also SX 85 SE 16) and that its
site may be occupied by the house called 'The Wilderness'
(SX 87935065) (for general description of Dartmouth defence,
see SX 85 SE 51) (2-4)
The house constructed in 1885 on the site of Paradise Fort was called Paradise. Its name was changed later to Ravensbury.(5) Of the former fort the only possible trace is walling in the cellar of Ravensbury. This consists of three facets of a former polygonal structure, possibly a tower. Each facet is c.1.5m in length. A print in possession of the owner shows the ruinedfort as it was in 1830. Its remains still substantial at that date seemed to consist of a circular (or polygonal) tower.(6) |