Well, this was an odd day, but met up with zender126, who was visiting the island for the day.
We first set out to visit the only known existing Aux Bunker on the island, and failed miserabley, so we decided to move onto the Rocket Testing Site, but upon parking at Alum Bay, noticed a sign that read 'Old Needles Battery FREE' today and tomorrow(Sat & Sun), how could we turn that down, so of we set for the long walk upto the battery.
Here is a couple of reference links;
Random Needles info - http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/
My sea level report - [ame="http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=6146"]DerelictPlaces[/ame]
National Trust page - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-theneedlesoldbattery
Palmerston Forts page - http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/pdf/old.pdf
Heres a map of the site;
Entrance & drawbridge.
Roof of the lift shaft in the ditch.
Laboratory entrance.
Inside the Laboratory with equipment.
Inside again.
Sealed light inside.
Alum Bay from the Battery.
9-inch RML Guns, these were raised from the see, as they were abandoned over the cliff when it was decomissioned.
And again, the carriges arnt original, but exact replicas of the original ones.
Site of 1 pdr AA gun from 1913.
Post war signal station, now WW2 museum & tea rooms.
The south position finder cell.
The finding cell.
Steps down to the tunnel access for the search light.
Inside the tunnel.
The light at the end of the tunnel
View of the needles from the searchlight position.
The searchlight.
Scratchels bay, it was very windy and drizzley, so was hard to keep a clean lens.
North position finding cell.
Inside the shell store.
Again
Again
Again
Again, picture depicting the new needles battery, training excercise.
The original searchlight.
Entrance to the shell & cartridge store.
Inside the shell & cartridge store.
Inside the shell & cartridge store, charges for the guns.
The drawbridge was manually operated.
The winding gear for the drawbridge.
Thanks for looking, comments suggestions welcome
We first set out to visit the only known existing Aux Bunker on the island, and failed miserabley, so we decided to move onto the Rocket Testing Site, but upon parking at Alum Bay, noticed a sign that read 'Old Needles Battery FREE' today and tomorrow(Sat & Sun), how could we turn that down, so of we set for the long walk upto the battery.
Here is a couple of reference links;
Random Needles info - http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/
My sea level report - [ame="http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=6146"]DerelictPlaces[/ame]
National Trust page - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-theneedlesoldbattery
Palmerston Forts page - http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/pdf/old.pdf
Heres a map of the site;
The Needles Batteries were constructed between 1861-95 for coastal defence against a threat of invasion by France. The Batteries are on the most westerly point of the Isle of Wight and overlook one of Britain's most famous coastal landmarks.
The Batteries played an important role in the defence of southern Britain during two world wars. Between 1956-71 the New Battery was used by Saunders Roe for testing the Black Knight and Black Arrow space rocket engines, prior to the rockets being shipped to Woomera for launching. The Batteries, and the surrounding downland, were acquired by the National Trust in 1975 and after extensive restoration work the Old Battery was opened to the public in 1982. The surviving buildings are maintained to a high standard by the National Trust and its team of volunteer helpers.
Spectacular views of the Solent, Dorset and Hampshire are visible from the ramparts, and the old searchlight emplacement, at the end of a 65 metre tunnel, provides the closest view of The Needles from land.
Entrance & drawbridge.
Roof of the lift shaft in the ditch.
Laboratory entrance.
Inside the Laboratory with equipment.
Inside again.
Sealed light inside.
Alum Bay from the Battery.
9-inch RML Guns, these were raised from the see, as they were abandoned over the cliff when it was decomissioned.
And again, the carriges arnt original, but exact replicas of the original ones.
Site of 1 pdr AA gun from 1913.
Post war signal station, now WW2 museum & tea rooms.
The south position finder cell.
The finding cell.
Steps down to the tunnel access for the search light.
Inside the tunnel.
The light at the end of the tunnel
View of the needles from the searchlight position.
The searchlight.
Scratchels bay, it was very windy and drizzley, so was hard to keep a clean lens.
North position finding cell.
Inside the shell store.
Again
Again
Again
Again, picture depicting the new needles battery, training excercise.
The original searchlight.
Entrance to the shell & cartridge store.
Inside the shell & cartridge store.
Inside the shell & cartridge store, charges for the guns.
The drawbridge was manually operated.
The winding gear for the drawbridge.
Thanks for looking, comments suggestions welcome
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