Lavernock Battery

Lavernock Battery is a triangular fortification on the Welsh coast with four gun emplacements, protective ditches, barracks, and ammunition storage spread across the coastal area. The structures remain visible as you walk through the site, showing how Victorian engineers designed defenses against naval threats.

The battery was built in 1870 following recommendations from a Royal Commission established in 1860, and formed part of a defense chain across the Bristol Channel. It was created during a period when Britain sought to protect its coasts from potential seaborne threats.

The site demonstrates Victorian military engineering principles through its strategic placement and architectural design for coastal defense purposes.

The site is located along a coastal walking path and is easily reached on foot with good access. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and expect changeable weather, as the clifftop location is exposed to the elements.

In May 1897, this location received the first wireless message sent across open sea, transmitted from nearby Flat Holm Island. This moment marked an important step in the development of long-distance communication technology.