The Needles Batteries facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Needles Batteries |
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| The Needles, Isle of Wight, England | |
The view over the old battery
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 The Needles Batteries
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| Coordinates | 50°39′44″N 1°35′02″W / 50.66213°N 1.58399°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | National Trust |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1861–63 (old) 1895 (new) |
| In use | 1863 onwards |
| Materials | Brick and flint |
| Battles/wars | World War I and World War II |
| Events | Anti-aircraft gun trials Blue Streak tests |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Old Needles Battery |
| Designated | 28 March 1994 |
| Reference no. | 1220402 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | New Needles Battery |
| Designated | 28 March 1994 |
| Reference no. | 1209415 |
| Official name | New Battery and High Down Test Site, The Needles |
| Designated | 31 July 2015 |
| Reference no. | 1422839 |
The Needles Batteries are two old military forts. They were built high up on the cliffs above the famous Needles rocks. Their job was to protect the western entrance of the Solent waterway. These forts were designed to stop enemy ships from getting through. They could fire their guns from the southwest all the way around to the northeast.
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The Old Battery: A Look Back in Time
The Old Battery was built a long time ago, between 1861 and 1863. When it was first finished, it had six large 7-inch guns. These guns were later changed for even bigger ones. By 1893, the battery had six powerful 9-inch guns.
These 9-inch guns were huge! It took a team of nine soldiers just to load and fire one. Each cannonball they shot weighed about 116 kilograms (256 pounds). That's like throwing a small motorbike! The 9-inch guns stayed at the battery until 1903. After that, they were thrown over the cliff. Luckily, two of them were found later and are now back on display at the Old Battery.
Protecting the Fort
To keep the battery safe from attacks on land, a deep ditch was dug. This ditch was made in the chalk ground. It had a bridge that could be pulled back to stop enemies from crossing. In 1885, a tunnel was dug from the parade grounds towards the cliff. An elevator was added in 1887 to go down to the beach.
Early Experiments
The Old Battery was also a place for new ideas. Between 1889 and 1892, scientists tested early searchlights here. These lights would help spot enemy ships at night. A special observation post for a searchlight was built in 1899. The Old Battery is now a Grade II Listed Building, which means it's an important historic site.
A tunnel from the battery leads to a searchlight area. From there, you get amazing views of the Needles lighthouse.
The New Battery: Built for Strength
The Old Battery had some problems. The ground was sinking, and the powerful guns made the cliffs crumble. To fix this, a New Battery was built higher up the cliff. It sits about 120 meters (394 feet) above the sea. The New Battery was finished in 1895.
This new fort got even bigger guns. By 1903, it had three huge 9.2-inch guns. These guns were incredibly powerful. It took 11 soldiers to fire just one of them! Each shell they shot weighed about 172 kilograms (380 pounds). These big guns stayed in place until 1954, when they were taken apart.
During the World Wars
Both the Old and New Batteries were very important during the First World War and Second World War. German submarines, called U-boats, sank two ships near The Needles during World War I. The site was also used to test early anti-aircraft guns. These guns helped protect the Isle of Wight from air attacks.
During World War II, German planes attacked the island many times. This meant the forts had to be made even stronger. Soldiers also trained on the nearby cliffs for the D-Day landings. After the wars, the military stopped using the batteries.
Rocket Testing Site
In the 1950s, the New Battery became a secret testing site. It was used to test parts of rockets like the Blue Streak missile. They also tested parts for the Black Knight and Black Arrow rockets. These rockets were used to launch satellites into space. Like the Old Battery, the New Battery is also a Grade II listed building. The parts of the rocket testing site that are still there are now a special protected monument.
Visiting The Needles Batteries Today
The National Trust now owns and looks after the batteries. They decided to fix up the Old Battery so people could visit it. Local schoolchildren and teachers even helped get the site ready! It officially opened to the public in 1982.
The National Trust still manages the site today. You can visit from mid-March to the end of October. It's a great way to see what a Victorian fort was like. You can also learn about what life was like for soldiers during the Second World War. There are exhibition rooms, the tunnel, and even a tearoom. The New Battery opened to the public in 2004. It has displays about British rocket development from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Gallery
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Gun emplacement at the Old Needles Battery
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The tunnel, leading to the searchlight.
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Searchlight at the end of the Searchlight Tunnel, Old Needles Battery
