King's Hill Gazebo
1822
This small one-roomed building, rather like a conservatory, or gazebo, is situated
upon a rocky crest in South Yard, a few metres from Number 1 slip. The top of the
building can be seen from outside the dockyard walls, at Mutton Cove.
The Gazebo was built in 1822. Forty two years earlier King George III had visited
the dockyard, and climbed a little hill that had remained following much excavation
work in the Yard. Apparently he was rather taken with the stunning views from the
top; of Plymouth Sound, of the Hamoaze, of the hills of Cornwall beyond, and of
the dockyard itself. He asked for the hill to remain, as a reminder of the former
topography of the dockyard; since then the rocky mound has been known as King's
Hill. Now, in 1822, the gazebo was eventually built to commemorate that royal visit.
A steep, but short, winding path leads from the road to the top of the mound. Half
way up the path a statuette of a female is placed upon a ledge in the rock - the
statuette's title is Vixen. She can be seen in the postcard, holding a type of spear in her hand.
There is an inscription around the fascia board of the gazebo which reads... ‘TO
PERPETUATE THE RECOLLECTION OF THE VISIT OF HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE THIRD OF
BLESSED AND GLORIOUS MEMORY AND HIS MAJESTY’S ADMIRATION OF THE ROCK ON WHICH IT
STANDS, AND THE SCENE AROUND. THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED IN THE YEAR 1822’
1999
King's Hill Gazebo became a listed building, Grade II*, on 13 August 1999. [English
Heritage Building ID: 476441]. A photo of the Gazebo, by David R. Grounds, may be
found on the
Images of England
website.
It was not only the Gazebo that was listed; the railings, piers and gateway are
viewed as an integral part of the structure, and were also Grade II* listed on the
same day. [English Heritage Building ID: 476440].
The gate piers are interesting - unfortunately they're not too clear in the postcard
image, but consist of a pair of inverted muzzle-loading cannon, with GR inscriptions,
linked by an overthrow with a gilded finial.
2011
The Gazebo is now on the
Devonport Heritage Trail. A waymarker plaque, made by blacksmith artists
Thrussell and Thrussell, can be seen on the low wall at the bottom of James Street,
Mutton cove.
added 3 April 2011