History in Structure

Ballast Pond

A Grade II Listed Building in Torpoint, Cornwall

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Coordinates

Latitude: 50.3718 / 50°22'18"N

Longitude: -4.1944 / 4°11'39"W

OS Eastings: 244048

OS Northings: 54732

OS Grid: SX440547

Mapcode National: GBR R1S.4Z

Mapcode Global: FRA 2831.V2J

Plus Code: 9C2Q9RC4+P6

Entry Name: Ballast Pond

Listing Date: 26 January 1987

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1329162

English Heritage Legacy ID: 61990

ID on this website: 101329162

Location: Torpoint, Cornwall, PL11

County: Cornwall

Civil Parish: Torpoint

Built-Up Area: Torpoint

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Cornwall

Church of England Parish: Torpoint

Church of England Diocese: Truro

Tagged with: Pond

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Description



SX 45 SW TORPOINT TORPOINT

6/339 Ballast Pond

II

Ballast pond (sometimes referred to as ballast pound). 1783, built by the Admiralty.
Slatestone rubble with Devon limestone copings. Square plan with entrance to east
side. The walls are about 2 metres high to the landward side and deeper to the
seaward side. The overall dimension is about 80 metres square, and the walls are
about 2 metres wide. The walls are battered with dressed stone copings, and on the
inner side the walls are stepped, giving the effect of a string course. The top is
paved with stone setts with cast iron moorings rings at intervals. To the east, the
entrance is about 10 metres wide, and the wall ends are round-headed. The masonry is
of high quality.
When repairs were done to the bottom of a ship, much of the ballast (stone and sand
in the C18) would have to be removed. It was discharged into lighters, which would
often be heavily laden. It is presumed that the ballast pond was built as a shelter
for the lighters, which would not then need to be unload, but could remain in dock
until the ballast was needed again.
(Sources: Harris, G. and F.L. (ed.): The Making of a Cornish Town. Torpoint and
Neighbourhood through two hundred years. 1976)


Listing NGR: SX4404854732

External Links

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