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Firestone Arch
Passage to the sea and a story of land reclaimed.
Passage to the sea and a story of land reclaimed.
Passing through Firestone Arch, you encounter one of the Yard’s most distinctive thresholds – a stone portal linking Royal William Yard’s formal order to the rugged coastline of Firestone Bay. Here, the site’s origins as both a feat of maritime engineering and bold land reclamation are vividly on display.
Land reclamation:
shaping the Yard from the shoreline
Royal William Yard stands on a landscape that was dramatically reshaped in the 1820s. The site’s southern boundary features a striking, razor-straight, sheer cliff – a result of slicing back the northern end of the headland at Western King. The limestone and rubble quarried from this work, totalling around 370,000 tons (Imperial measure, roughly matching contemporary references), were used to reclaim about six acres (around 2.4 hectares) of sea, extending the original shoreline and forming almost 40% of the Yard’s footprint.
Additional land was created by infilling the area with this spoil, raising the level and providing a stable base for the major buildings, quays, and the granite-lined basin that still dominate the Yard today.
Convict labour was used for much of this immense groundwork, and the newly-created land not only hosted warehouses but enabled deep-water access for victualling ships at all states of the tide.
The role of Firestone Arch and tunnel
Firestone Arch itself, with its adjoining tunnel leading to Firestone Bay, played a practical and strategic role:
Coastal access: When strong north-westerly winds or ebb tides made it unsafe or impossible to round Cremyll Point and reach the main basin, small boats could land or depart goods through Firestone Bay, using the tunnel and arch as a sheltered passage.
Transferring goods: The tunnel was occasionally used to move light goods and essential supplies between ship and shore when standard sea routes into the Yard were disrupted by weather or tidal conditions.
Historic link: Today, the arch connects the Yard directly to Firestone Bay, itself now recognised for its clean waters and historic swimming spot.
Did You know?
The Arch and adjacent Firestone Bay, once a little-known part of the naval complex, are now a favourite starting point for walkers on the South West Coast Path and swimmers alike, blending industrial heritage with Plymouth’s natural coastline.
Historical Images
Image References
Image 1 & 2 - Firestone arch - Closed (Royal William Yard/ Real Ideas Organisation History Exhibition 2018)
