Cliff End Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cliff End Battery |
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| Cliff End, Isle of Wight, England | |
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A 12.5 inch gun from Cliff End Battery.
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 Cliff End Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°42′01″N 1°31′45″W / 50.700141°N 1.52914°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1868 |
| In use | Holiday bungalow development |
| Materials | Concrete |
Cliff End Battery is an old fort on the west coast of the Isle of Wight. It sits high up, looking over Fort Albert. It's one of many forts called Palmerston Forts. These forts were built to protect Britain from a possible attack by France. Building the fort started in 1862 and finished in 1868. It cost a lot of money back then – about £32,714!
Contents
What is Cliff End Battery?
Cliff End Battery is a type of military building called an artillery battery. This means it was a place where many large guns were set up. Its main job was to defend the coast. It was part of a big plan to protect the Isle of Wight and the important naval base at Portsmouth.
Why Were Palmerston Forts Built?
In the 1800s, Britain was worried about France. The French leader, Napoleon III, was building up his navy. This made the British government nervous. They thought France might try to invade. So, Prime Minister Lord Palmerston decided to build many strong forts. These forts were placed all around the British coast. They were meant to stop any enemy ships from getting close.
Building the Battery
The construction of Cliff End Battery began in 1862. It took six years to complete. The fort was made mostly of concrete. It was designed to hold very large and powerful guns. These guns would be able to fire far out to sea. This would help protect the waters around the Isle of Wight.
Guns and Their Use
Even though the fort was finished in 1868, it didn't get its guns right away. The first guns were installed in 1877.
Types of Guns Used
At first, Cliff End Battery had nine very large guns:
- Six 12.5-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) Guns. These were huge guns that fired from the front.
- Three 10-inch Rifle Muzzle Loading (RML) Guns. These were also very big.
By 1899, these RML guns were old-fashioned. Newer, better guns had been invented. So, the old guns were taken out. They were replaced with more modern ones:
- Four 6-inch Breech Loading (BL) Guns. These guns loaded from the back, which was faster.
- Four 4.7-inch Guns. These were also more modern.
Training and Practice
The battery was used for training. Volunteer soldiers and special army units practiced there. They learned how to use the big guns. These practice camps helped soldiers get ready for battle.
Later Years and Today
Cliff End Battery remained an important defense point for many years. It was still armed and ready during both the First and Second World Wars.
What Happened After the Wars?
After the Second World War, the fort was no longer needed. In 1951, the army removed all the guns. The War Office, which managed military land, sold the site.
Cliff End Battery Today
Today, some parts of the old fort are still there. You can see where the big guns used to sit. Much of the land around the battery is now used for holiday bungalows. People stay there for vacations.
Recovered Guns
Interestingly, some of the very first 12.5-inch RML guns were pushed over the cliff when they were removed in 1899. But they have since been found and recovered!
- One of these old guns is now outside Fort Albert.
- Two others are at Hurst Castle, across the water from the Isle of Wight.
- Another one is at Fort Nelson in Hampshire.
