Yaverland Battery

Yaverland Battery is a battery on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. It was constructed between 1861 and 1864.[1][2]

Yaverland Battery
Yaverland, Isle of Wight, England
Overgrown section of Yaverland Battery
Yaverland Battery
Coordinates50°39′50″N 1°07′50″W
Site information
OwnerPrivate residence
Open to
the public		No
ConditionPart extant
Site history
Built1861-1864
In use1864-1956
MaterialsBrick, Concrete, Earth

It originally mounted eight 7-inch Armstrong Rifled Breech Loading (RBL) guns, and enclosed with a Carnot wall. A rear surrounding wall included a small barrack block for two officers and 57 men. By 1886 the original guns had been replaced by eight 64-Pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading guns. Between 1898 and 1900 the battery was re-modelled to mount three 6-inch Mk VII Breech Loading guns.[3]

Territorial Artillery practise at Yaverland Battery with 6-inch guns, c1935

Between the First and Second World Wars the battery was used by Territorial Army artillery units for Coast Artillery gun practise. In 1956 on the dissolution of Coast Artillery all of the guns were removed and the site sold off. It was developed for use as a holiday camp.

The remains of the Battery are now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[4]

References
  1. Historic England. "Yaverland Battery (1426287)". PastScape. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. The National Archives, Yaverland Battery, Isle of Wight, General Plan with details of magazines and shell recesses, War Office, 7 May 1863 WORK43/351
  3. The National Archives, Yaverland Battery, Isle of Wight, Plans of emplacements and stores for three 6" Quick Fire guns, War office, 10 September 1898 WORK43/363
  4. Historic England. "Yaverland Battery (1021443)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

Publications
  • Hogg, Ian V (1974). Coast Defences of England and Wales 1856–1956. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153 6353-0.
  • Col. K. W. Maurice-Jones (1959). The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army. London: Royal Artillery Institution.
  • Moore, David, 2010. The East Wight Defences, Solent Papers Number 10, David Moore, Gosport. ISBN 0954845331
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