Bayard's Cove Fort

Bayard's Cove Fort
Dartmouth, Devon
The fort entrance, viewed from the quay
Bayard's Cove Fort
Coordinates	50°20′52″N 3°34′39″W / 50.34789°N 3.57749°W / 50.34789; -3.57749
Type	Artillery fort
Site information
Owner	English Heritage
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Ruined
Site history
Materials	Limestone
Events	English Civil War, Second World War
Scheduled monument
Official name	Bayard's Cove Castle
Designated	28 November 1934
Reference no.	1014668
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Bearscove Castle
Designated	14 September 1949
Reference no.	1208168

Bayard's Cove Fort, also known historically as Berescove or Bearscore Castle,^[1] is an English 16th-century artillery blockhouse, built to defend the harbour entrance at Dartmouth in Devon. Constructed in the early part of the century, it had eleven gunports for heavy artillery and was intended to engage enemy vessels that broke past the external defences of the Dartmouth and Kingswear castles. It remained armed during the English Civil War, but was neglected in the 18th century and used for storage. The fort was restored in the late 19th century and is now managed by English Heritage and open to visitors.