Date: 1870                                                                          

Visible Markings: RGF No. 55 II 1870 on left trunnion, centre of gravity on right trunnion

First reinforce cypher of HM Queen Victoria, 17-18-0-0 and ￪mark,

Material: Wrought Iron                                                

Mounting: On slide.

Remarks: The RML 10-inch guns Mk I – Mk II were large rifled muzzle-loading guns designed for British battleships and monitors in the 1860’s to 1880’s. They were also used for fixed coastal defences around the United Kingdom and around the British Empire until the early years of the 20th Century.

RGF = Royal Gun Factory

Of the three 10-inch guns placed behind iron-shielded casemates in 1873 at Parson’s Lodge, only this gun remains. No overhead cover was provided because the guns were considered to be too high to require such a protection.

The weight markings are normally shown on British guns below the cascabel. The four figures on this piece reflect the larger weight and size in gun barrels cast from the mid-19^th Century onwards. The figures 17-19-1-0 therefore represents the Imperial ton (t= 2240 lbs) hundredweight (1 cwt=112 lbs), quarters (1 qr=28lbs) and pounds (lb). the weight of the gun barrel was therefore:

17 x 2240lbs. = 38,080 lbs.

18 x 112 lbs. = 2,240 lbs.

0 x 28 lbs. = 0 lbs.

+ 0 lbs.

= 40,320 lbs.

Link to: Parson’s Lodge

Side view of 10-inch gun on slide and protected by iron-shielded casemates.

Gun weighting on first reinforce.

VR cypher on first reinforce.

Iron-shielded casemates for a second 10-inch BML gun at Parson's Lodge.