Sandown Barrack Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandown Barrack Battery |
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| Sandown Bay, Isle of Wight, England | |
The garden now on the site of the battery.
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 Sandown Barrack Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°39′01″N 1°09′38″W / 50.650406°N 1.16045°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | September 1863 |
| Materials | Concrete |
The Sandown Barrack Battery is an old military fort. It is located in Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight in England. This battery was built to help protect England from possible attacks. It is one of many forts known as Palmerston Forts. Today, the site is a public garden.
Contents
Why the Fort Was Built
In 1859, a special group called the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom looked at England's defenses. They felt that France's navy was getting stronger. This made them worried about a possible invasion.
Protecting the Coast
To keep England safe, the group suggested building many new forts. About 70 forts and batteries were built all around the English coast. This was the biggest building project for coastal defense since the time of Henry VIII.
Palmerston's Forts
These forts were very expensive to build. The person in charge of the country's money, William Ewart Gladstone, even thought about quitting his job because of the cost. Some people called these expensive forts 'Palmerston's follies'. This was because Lord Palmerston was the Prime Minister at the time.
Building the Battery
Construction of the Sandown Barrack Battery happened between 1861 and 1863. It cost about £6,233 to build. The battery sits on a high cliff, about 43 meters (140 feet) tall. This spot is just southwest of Sandown.
Design and Walls
The battery was built in a rectangular shape. It did not have a wall along the cliff edge. Instead, it had deep ditches called moats on its sides and back. These moats had special walls inside them called Carnot walls. These walls made it harder for enemies to get close.
Guns and Weapons
The Sandown Barrack Battery was active from 1863 to 1910. During this time, it had different types of powerful guns.
Changes in Guns
- 1863: The battery first had five large RBL 7 inch Armstrong guns.
- 1873: These were replaced with five RML 64 pounder 64 cwt guns.
- 1892: Three of these guns were removed. Two very large RML 10 inch 18 ton guns were added. These new guns were placed further back from the cliff.
- 1902: After more work, including building underground rooms for ammunition, the battery had two BL 6 inch Mk VII naval guns. It also had two smaller QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval guns.
End of Service
The smaller 12-pounder guns were taken out of service in 1905. The larger 6-inch guns were removed in 1910. By 1926, all parts of the guns were gone. The land was sold to the Sandown town council by 1930.
What It Is Now
Today, the area where the battery once stood is part of a public park. It is called Battery Gardens. The site is protected by law as an important historical place. This protection started on September 7, 2000.
New Attractions
Two buildings at the site are being changed. They will soon be home to the National Poo Museum.
