The Needles Battery, Military museum at The Needles cliffs, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.
The Needles Battery consists of two military installations positioned high above chalk cliffs, containing underground tunnels and gun emplacements facing the English Channel.
The Old Battery, built between 1861 and 1863, protected Portsmouth's naval dockyards against potential French attacks during the reign of Napoleon III.
The site preserves original Victorian military architecture and displays two Armstrong 9-inch guns recovered from Scratchell's Bay after being discarded in 1903.
The National Trust operates guided tours through both batteries, with access to exhibition rooms, a tea room, and an underground tunnel leading to viewing points.
The New Battery served as a secret testing facility for British space rockets, including Black Knight and Black Arrow, which launched the Prospero satellite in 1971.
Location: Isle of Wight
Inception: 1861
Part of: Isle of Wight Palmerston Forts
Address: West High Down, Alum Bay PO39 0JH PO39 0JH
Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/the-needles-old-battery-and-new-battery
GPS coordinates: 50.66210,-1.58399
Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:44
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