They were built as a result of a decision in Lord Palmerston's premiership to deter the French from attacking naval bases in the south of England.

Scraesdon Fort was designed in 1859 by Captain (later Maj General) William Crossman,[1] and was built by F Roach and Company, Plymouth.

The fort was used by the MOD as a training barracks, but it is currently empty, derelict and overgrown.

used to train Royal Navy Artificer Apprentices from HMS Fisgard and HMS Raleigh; it is occasionally used now by Royal Marine Commandos recruits as part of their final exercise, as well as being used by local Army Reserve units.

The locomotive shed was extant on the quayside until the late 2000s, when it was removed by Cornwall CC, who had been using it as a highways depot.