Coastal cannons damaged by sea air

COASTAL CANNONS which once formed a vital part of the country’s defences are being damaged by sea spray and salty air, English Heritage has warned.

The charity, which looks after 400 cannons including four in Yorkshire, has said those historic guns sited on clifftops and castle battlements along the coastline can corrode 20 times faster than those inland. It has now launched a fundraising appeal to secure the future of four of those nationwide deemed to be in need of the most urgent repairs, from Cornwall to Dover and Northumberland.

“Our cannons are precious objects, vital alongside our castles and fortifications in telling the story of England as an island nation,” said Heritage senior collections conservator Bethan Stanley.

“To many, they are an integral part of the landscape, but unless we act now, they could ultimately be lost to the elements.

“Coastal guns are regularly battered by strong winds blowing corrosive moisture and salt spray over them which means that, untreated, they can corrode 20 times faster than those just a mile or so inland.”

In Yorkshire, English Heritage looks after two cannons at Scarborough Castle and two at Brodsworth, former signalling guns commonly used on private yachts to attract attention. Displayed as they are inside the hall, the charity said, all that is required for their upkeep is a brush and dust.

But at Scarborough Castle, where the cannons are bared to the elements, both have recently been scrubbed, sanded, and repainted.

This work is carried out annually to ensure their long-term stability, English Heritage has said, as they remain an important part of the charity’s collection.