East Weare Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Weare Battery |
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| Isle of Portland Dorset England |
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 East Weare Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°33′49″N 2°25′42″W / 50.5636°N 2.4284°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Portland Port |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Derelict |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1862-69 |
| Materials | Stone Concrete |
East Weare Battery is an old military site on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. It was built in the 1860s. This place was a "gun battery," which means it held large guns to defend important areas. Its main job was to protect the new Portland harbour and the Royal Navy buildings nearby.
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What is East Weare Battery?
East Weare Battery is a former military base. It is located on the eastern side of the Verne Citadel. This battery was designed to protect the coast. It played a role in defending Britain's shores.
Why Was It Built?
The battery was built between 1862 and 1869. This happened because of a special report. The report was from the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. This group looked at how to best protect the country. They decided that new forts and batteries were needed. East Weare Battery was part of this plan. It was built to guard the important Portland harbour. This harbour was home to many Royal Navy ships.
What Kind of Guns Did It Have?
When it was first built, East Weare Battery had five open areas for guns. These areas were called "batteries." They held 20 large guns. These were 9-inch and 10-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) guns. RML guns were loaded from the front. After 1877, these batteries were given letters from 'A' to 'E'.
Later Guns and Changes
Around 1900, the battery got newer, more modern guns. These were "breech loading" guns. This meant they were loaded from the back. This made them faster and safer to use.
- 'A' battery received two large 9.2-inch guns. These were called Breech Loading (BL) guns.
- 'B' battery received three 6-inch BL 6 inch Mk VII guns. These guns were placed on special turning mounts.
By 1919, the 6-inch guns were removed. However, the powerful 9.2-inch guns stayed in place. They remained there until 1956. This was when the Coast Artillery was no longer needed.
What Happened to the Battery?
After 1956, the Royal Navy used the site for training. Some parts of the old gun positions were damaged during this time. Today, the batteries are "derelict." This means they are abandoned and falling apart. You cannot visit them as they are not open to the public.
Protected History
Even though it's derelict, parts of East Weare Battery are important. They are now listed as "Ancient Monuments" by Historic England. This means they are protected. It helps preserve them for future generations.
