Redcliff Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redcliff Battery |
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| Culver Down, Isle of Wight, England | |
All that remains of Redcliff Battery: A few pieces of concrete and bricks
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 Redcliff Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°39′58″N 1°05′53″W / 50.666128°N 1.097917°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | September 1863 |
| Materials | Concrete |
| Demolished | 1891 |
Imagine a fort that slowly disappeared into the sea! That's the story of Redcliff Battery. This old military fort was built on the Isle of Wight, England. It was located near the Culver Cliffs and the area called Yaverland.
Redcliff Battery was one of many forts known as Palmerston Forts. These forts were built to protect England from a possible French invasion. Construction started in April 1861 and finished in September 1863. It cost about £4,776 to build back then.
Today, almost nothing is left of this battery. Most of it has fallen into the sea over time.
Why Was Redcliff Battery Built?
This battery was built very close to the edge of the cliff. Its main job was to stop any enemy ships from landing in Sandown Bay. It was placed between Yaverland Battery and Culver Battery to create a strong defense line.
However, soon after it was finished, the battery started having problems. The ground beneath it was not stable. This problem, called subsidence, meant the cliff was slowly crumbling. The fort was in danger of falling into the sea.
What Guns Did Redcliff Battery Have?
When it was first built, Redcliff Battery had four large guns. These were called 7-inch R.B.L. guns. R.B.L. stands for "Rifled Breech Loading," which means the guns had grooves inside to make the shell spin. This made them more accurate.
In 1872, these guns were replaced. The battery then got four 64pr R.M.L. guns. "64pr" means the gun fired a 64-pound shell. R.M.L. stands for "Rifled Muzzle Loading."
By 1876, one of these 64pr guns was removed. A special earth wall was built in its place. This wall was meant to stop enemy ships from shooting along the length of the battery. The remaining guns were changed so they could fire over the top of the wall instead of through small openings.
Where Did Redcliff Battery Go?
The problem with the crumbling cliff never stopped. Because of the ongoing subsidence, all the guns were removed from the battery by 1891. The fort was then completely abandoned.
Redcliff Battery was never rebuilt. Its job of protecting the area was taken over by the battery at Culver Cliff. Today, if you visit the spot, you will only see a few pieces of concrete and bricks sticking out from the cliff edge. It's a reminder of a fort that nature slowly reclaimed.
