This weekend we had spring (extra low) tides so I had the chance to visit the Needles sea level fort.
The small fort was tunneled into a chalk cliff face and is only accessible by boat or on very low tides. Access involves following the sea out over slippery rocks to find the now partially collapsed entrance.
The first high level battery, now called the Needles old battery, was commissioned in 1855 to protect the westerly approach of the Solent from sea invasion. First armed with 7 inch RML guns whih would later to be replaced by 9 inch RML's.
In 1887 a lift shaft was dug from the moat of the old battery to the sea level and 5 tunnels leading to gun emplacements for QF guns, designed to counter torpedo boats, were excavated in the cliff face.
In 1903 the guns from the old battery were tipped off the cliff and a new battery built at a higher level, however during the second world war the battery was reactivated and a searchlight position was installed in one of the gun emplacements of the sea level fort.
The old battery is now National Trust property and and open to the public. The sea level fort (now disconnected by the dilapidated lift shaft) is not.
Starting with a walk over Headon Warren (an old rabbit farm) to avoid the parking charges:
The sea level fort is located near to the end of the point:
The walk over rocks as the tide went out:
Just past the rockfall inside the entrance:
Lift gear:
Looking up the shaft towards the old battery:
The fresh water reservoir, the water is drinkable:
View of one of the QF emplacements:
The WW2 searchlight emplacement:
The small fort was tunneled into a chalk cliff face and is only accessible by boat or on very low tides. Access involves following the sea out over slippery rocks to find the now partially collapsed entrance.
The first high level battery, now called the Needles old battery, was commissioned in 1855 to protect the westerly approach of the Solent from sea invasion. First armed with 7 inch RML guns whih would later to be replaced by 9 inch RML's.
In 1887 a lift shaft was dug from the moat of the old battery to the sea level and 5 tunnels leading to gun emplacements for QF guns, designed to counter torpedo boats, were excavated in the cliff face.
In 1903 the guns from the old battery were tipped off the cliff and a new battery built at a higher level, however during the second world war the battery was reactivated and a searchlight position was installed in one of the gun emplacements of the sea level fort.
The old battery is now National Trust property and and open to the public. The sea level fort (now disconnected by the dilapidated lift shaft) is not.
Starting with a walk over Headon Warren (an old rabbit farm) to avoid the parking charges:
The sea level fort is located near to the end of the point:
The walk over rocks as the tide went out:
Just past the rockfall inside the entrance:
Lift gear:
Looking up the shaft towards the old battery:
The fresh water reservoir, the water is drinkable:
View of one of the QF emplacements:
The WW2 searchlight emplacement: