Yaverland Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yaverland Battery |
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| Yaverland, Isle of Wight, England | |
Overgrown section of Yaverland Battery
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 Yaverland Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°39′50″N 1°07′50″W / 50.66389°N 1.13056°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private residence |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Part extant |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1861-1864 |
| In use | 1864-1956 |
| Materials | Brick, Concrete, Earth |
The Yaverland Battery is an old military fort located on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. It was built a long time ago, between 1861 and 1864. This battery was designed to protect the coast from attacks by sea.
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Protecting the Coast
A "battery" is a place where many big guns are set up together. Yaverland Battery was built to defend the eastern coast of the Isle of Wight. It was an important part of the island's defenses.
Early Guns and Walls
When it was first built, the battery had eight large guns. These were called 7-inch Armstrong Rifled Breech Loading (RBL) guns. "Rifled" means the inside of the gun barrel had grooves. This made the cannonballs spin, helping them fly straighter and further. "Breech Loading" meant the gun was loaded from the back, which was faster and safer.
The battery was also protected by a special wall. This was called a Carnot wall. It was a low wall designed to make it hard for enemies to climb over. Behind this wall, there was a small building for soldiers. It could house two officers and 57 men.
Changing the Guns
Over time, military technology improved. By 1886, the original guns were replaced. The battery then had eight 64-Pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading guns. "Muzzle Loading" means these guns were loaded from the front.
Later, between 1898 and 1900, the battery was updated again. It was changed to hold three even bigger guns. These were 6-inch Mk VII Breech Loading guns. These powerful guns were used for many years.
Life as a Military Base
Between the two big World Wars, the battery was still very active. It was used by soldiers from the Territorial Army. The Territorial Army is a group of part-time soldiers. They used Yaverland Battery for practicing their gun skills. This helped them prepare to defend the coast if needed.
What Happened to the Battery?
In 1956, the need for these coastal gun batteries changed. All the guns were removed from Yaverland Battery. The land was then sold off. It was turned into a holiday camp for people to visit and stay.
Today, parts of the Yaverland Battery still exist. These remains are now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means they are protected by law because they are important historical sites.
