What is recorded here

West Battery stands as an abandoned circular redoubt on the high ground at the southwest end of Whiddy Island, built by 1808 to house one hundred men and mount eight guns. Its massive six-metre stone walls enclose two semi-circular ranges of barrel-vaulted rooms, creating a dense fortress suspended above the restless Atlantic. The structure remains disused, yet its imposing geometry suggests a permanent human presence, waiting for orders that never came.

Abandoned circular redoubt on high ground at SW end of Whiddy Island; two similar redoubts (CO118-078---; CO105-032---) to NE. Indicated on OS 6-inch map (1842) as 'West Redoubt'. Defended by circular fosse (Wth 7.5m; D 8m) with outer circular glacis (Wth 36m). Parapet wall (Wth 4m; H 1.8m) around inner perimeter of fosse enclosing level circular (diam. 58m) area. At centre are two ranges; semi-circular in plan with central corridor (L 28m; Wth 3.6m); surrounded by high stone wall (H 6m). Each range consists of five single-storey barrel vaulted rooms. Well inside parapet to N. According to Kerrigan (1981, 5) built by 1808 to house 100 men and mounted eight guns. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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