Hatherwood Battery

Hatherwood Battery (map reference SZ308857) is a battery located to the east of Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight. It is one of the many Palmerston Forts built on the island to protect it in response to a perceived French invasion. It was sited to cross fire with the nearby Needles Battery

Hatherwood Battery
Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, England
Hatherwood Point and Alum Bay
Hatherwood Battery
Coordinates50°40′14″N 1°33′53″W
Site information
Open to
the public		Yes
Conditionruin
Site history
Built1869
In use1869-1903, 1940-1943
MaterialsEarth, Concrete
Battles/warsWorld War II

Originally designed to mount six 68 Pounder guns, construction of the battery began in 1865. Before it was completed it was decided to mount seven guns in three groups. This comprised two 9-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) guns on each flank and three 7-inch Rifled Breech Loading (RBL) guns in the centre. The battery was complete by 1869.[1] There was no accommodation at the battery for the soldiers who would man it. Instead these men were billetted at nearby Golden Hill Fort. In 1903 the battery was officially disarmed.

Today not much is left of the battery as it has been left to decay, with some parts falling off the cliff due to erosion.

References
  1. "Hatherwood Battery" (PDF). Victorianforts.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2019.

Publications
  • Cantwell, Anthony (1986). The Needles Defences. Isle of Wight: Solent Papers. ISBN 1870113012.
  • Hogg, Ian V (1974). Coast Defences of England and Wales 1856-1956. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153 6353-0.
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