Booth’s diaries

Willis’s: “The northernmost part next the isthmus & above the Princes Lines. Situated on a Rock 500 ft high with several Batteries fronting the neck of Land under which the Enemy must approach in attacking this front. The Lower Battery formerly Willis’s now the Queen’s Battery is mounted with 9 Guns, (en Barbette) with a Traverse between each made of Tapia. The next Battery is Prince’s Anne’s mounted with 5 Guns which commands the Strait, and flanks the Enemy in their approaches.

The next Battery is Princess Amelia’s mounted with 3 Guns (also 5 Embrasures) commands in front and in its flank has 3 Guns which enfilade the Strait. The Upper Battery is Princess Caroline’s Battery mounted with 2 Guns (but 3 Embrasures) commands in front. The communications are made of dry loose stones and there wants an additional Casemate to cover the Troops that may be wanted in time of service.

All these Batteries and communications were laid out and new built since the last Siege in 1727 and the work finished in 1732.

The Road from the Town to it is extremely good considering the rocky steep ascent to it, which has been also made since the last Siege, with two small magazines, the one for powder the other for fixed shells with a carriage shed built on the upper return of the Road which on service will prevent the sending down to the Town, for materials and necessaries for the service of the said Batteries.”

Image: Defences at the northern end of the Rock by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Staunton St. Clair (1826-1832). Watercolour