Construction began on the battery in 1861 and was completed in 1863. It was rectilinear in plan, with the cliff edge open and the sides and rear enclosed by a dry moat containing a loopholed brick wall. Entry was via a drawbridge and gate on the landward side, protected by demi-bastions projecting from the wall. The northern demi-bastion was also used as the cookhouse and guardhouse, and the southern as an artillery store. Other brick buildings constructed around the inner face of the wall included a smith's shop, machine gun store, artillery general store, coal bunker, ablutions room, war shelter and a cartridge/shell store. The battery initially mounted five 7in RBL guns in concrete emplacements, superceded in 1872 by 64lbs RML. In 1882 two 10in RML guns and two machine guns were added, but in 1893 the 10in guns were removed. The two remaining 64lbs RMLs were replaced by two 12lbs quick firing guns in 1898. Major rebuilding work was undertaken from 1900-03, involving the construction of underground magazines and concrete emplacements within the centre of the battery, to mount two 6in breech loaders. The original magazines were used as a battery command post and three emplacements were apparently demolished. In 1905 the 12lbs QF guns were relegated to training and in 1910 the 6in BL guns were put into reserve. It was subsequently converted for use as a public park.