The platform has a long history. It was originally built in the 13th century as a quay for God's House Hospital. In the 17th century it was extended and strengthened to become an important part of the town's defences with a battery of cannon mounted on carriages. In the 18th century, as the threat of invasion receded, the guns were replaced with a saluting battery, as seen in the illustration below. With the building of the docks in the 19th century the Platform no longer looked out over the water and in 1900 the cannons were removed to the Western Esplanade as part of the West Quay Improvement scheme. They remained there until 21 September 1940, when they were removed and scrapped for munitions.

Cannon on the Platform

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A 19th century (c.1850) engraving of God’s House Tower, showing the saluting battery on the Platform.


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