Warden Point Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warden Point Battery |
|
|---|---|
| Warden Point, Isle of Wight, England | |
Tree covered Warden Point
|
|
 Warden Point Battery
|
|
| Coordinates | 50°41′17″N 1°32′39″W / 50.68805°N 1.54411°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private residence |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1862 |
| In use | 1862 onwards |
| Materials | Brick |
Warden Point Battery is an old military fort on the Isle of Wight, an island off the coast of England. It was built in 1862 to help protect the coast. This battery was a special type of fort designed to hold large guns.
Contents
What Was Warden Point Battery?
A battery is a place where big guns, called artillery, are set up. These guns are used to defend an area, often from attacks coming from the sea. Warden Point Battery was built to protect the waters around the Isle of Wight.
Early Guns and Design
When it was first built in 1862, Warden Point Battery had powerful guns. These were 7-inch and 9-inch rifled muzzle loaders. This means the guns were loaded from the front and had grooves inside the barrel to make the cannonball spin. This made them more accurate. The guns were placed on barbette mountings, which allowed them to fire over a wall.
In the 1890s, the battery was updated. It was then armed with 9.2-inch breech loader guns. These guns were loaded from the back, which was much faster and safer.
How the Fort Was Built
The fort was shaped like a regular polygon, which means it had many equal sides. It had a central caponier on the side facing the land. A caponier is a small, protected building with openings for guns. It helped defend the fort from attacks by land. There were also caponiers at the north and south corners.
Today, parts of the fort still remain. You can still see the central caponier and a wall with small openings, called loopholes, that were used for firing rifles.
Life and Use of the Battery
Warden Point Battery was actively used from 1862 until 1936. This means it was an important part of Britain's coastal defenses for many years.
Role in World War II
Even after 1936, the battery still played a role. During World War II, it was used as a command post. This was a central place where military leaders could direct operations. It also served as a searchlight battery. Powerful searchlights were used to spot enemy ships or aircraft at night.
What Happened to the Battery?
After World War II, the military no longer needed Warden Point Battery. For many years, the site was used as a holiday camp. People would come to stay there for vacations.
From Camp to Homes
Later, the holiday camp closed down. The land was then used to build a housing estate, which is a group of new homes. The builders tried to keep some of the old parts of the fort.
For example, the main wall and the entrance arch of the battery were saved. Some of the concrete gun emplacements, where the big guns used to sit, were also protected. Even though new buildings were put on top of them, they were kept safe. This means they could be "re-discovered" in the future if the new buildings are ever taken down.
A Protected Building
Today, Warden Point Battery is a Grade II Listed Building. This means it is an important historical site that is protected by law. It is recognized for its special architectural and historical interest. This protection helps make sure that these old structures are preserved for future generations.
