The most radical design change of the British gun design was the development of the carronade, A very short version of the standard gun. The carronade was largely developed by private enterprise toward the end of the 1770s, when naval tactics were changing from rigid "line of battle" actions to more close quarters combat. The carronade had a much shorter range than the ordinary gun but could be handled more easily in the close confines of a fighting ship.

A carronade is therefore described as a short, smoothbore, cast iron cannon used by the Royal Navy. It was used from the 1770’s to the 1850’s. Its main function was to serve as a powerful, short-range, anti-ship and anti-crew weapon. Carronades were initially found to be very successful, but they eventually disappeared as naval artillery advanced, with the introduction of rifling and consequent change in the shape of the projectile, exploding shells replacing solid shot, and naval engagements being fought at longer ranges.

The idea of the carronade was not new, in the early 1600s short barrelled guns in service were referred to as "cutts". These were initially made by cutting off the muzzle of a failed gun, but later they became a type of their own.

The early carronades were very short, about 18 inches. They were used during the American War of Independence. By 1795 the carronade was fully developed, and were typically 32 inches long, had a lower loop instead of trunnions and an elevating screw. The older designs were withdrawn from service. The carronade saw wide use during the Napoleonic wars to great effect.¹

These 2 carronades are located at City Mill Lane.

1 LAVERY, B: Carronades and Blomefield Guns. Royal Armouries Conference Proceedings 1