The Baroque main gate of the Royal Citadel. Note the date 1670 above the arch.

The Royal Citadel of Plymouth was built in the late 1660s to the design of Sir Bernard de Gomme, overlooking the Plymouth Sound, on the site of the earlier Plymouth Fort that had been built in the time of Sir Francis Drake. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London. Sir Bernard de Gomme (1620 Terneuzen – 23 November 1685, London) was a Dutch military engineer Plymouth Sound, or locally just The Sound, is a bay at Plymouth in England. Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral, (c 1540 &ndash 27 January 1595 was an English Privateer, navigator, Slaver, and politician King Charles II decided it was necessary after the Dutch Wars of 1664-67 to realise the importance of Plymouth as a channel port. Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Anglo-Dutch Wars ( Dutch: Engels-Nederlandse Oorlogen or Engelse Zeeoorlogen) were fought in the 17th and 18th centuries between England Possibly due to Plymouth's support for the Parliamentarians in the Civil War the guns could also fire on the town itself. The Parliament of England was the Legislature of the Kingdom of England. The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists.

Work began on the Citadel in March 1665, however it was not until July 18th 1666 that the foundation stone was laid by Lord Bath. Marquess of Bath is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for Thomas Thynne 3rd Viscount Weymouth. The Citadel itself is built of local limestone, while the gateway is built entirely from Portland stone. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Portland stone is a Limestone from the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset.

It was the most important English defence for over 100 years, with 70ft high walls, and was regularly strengthened over the years, particularly during the 1750's when it was equipped with 113 guns. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland It is still used today by the military, but it is also a tourist attraction in the summer, with guided tours available.

The Royal Citadel as seen from Mount Batten

Fisher's Nose Blockhouse, located on its south east corner, dates from 1490-1540. Mount Batten is a 24-metre-tall outcrop of rock on a 600-metre Peninsula in Plymouth Sound, Devon, England. On the opposite bank to Fisher's Nose is the Queen Anne's Battery, dating from 1667.

In 2007 the government granted itself planning permission to build a construction outside the western walls and over the moat to create an enclosed yard and indoor carpark for military vehicles. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.