Culver Down Battery

Culver Down Battery, Isle Of Wight

A battery was proposed as early as 1887, in order to prevent ships from being able to bring their firepower to bear on the batteries and Yaverland and Redcliff, and although the design was modified in 1889, still the battery was not built. Eventually in 1904 a battery was built and consisted of two 9.2” BL guns. Underground magazines were built between the two emplacements and the rear of the battery was secured with an unclimbable fence. Ammunition for these guns was stored at Bembridge Fort. The battery command post at Culver Down was in the same building as the Port War Signal Station, between Culver Down Battery itself and Fort Bembridge.

Modification in 1922 gave the guns greater elevation and range and in 1927 the new system of Fortress Plotting was tested at the battery. The armament of two 9.2” guns was still in place at the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1942 the night role of the battery was ended, by which time a Chain Home Low (CHL) radar station had been built just to the east of the battery. After the war two 6” BL guns were added for practice shoots and two 3.7 inch AA guns were also used the site was sold off.

Culver Down Battery was subsequently filled, but recently excavation work at the site has revealed the emplacements. The Port War Signal Station and the administrative buildings have been demolished.

1904 – Construction begins on Culver Down Battery

1906 – The battery is completed and was armed with two 9.2” BL guns

1922 – The guns mountings were modified to give the guns greater height and range.

1942 – A CHL station was constructed next to the battery

1947 – 4 additional guns were added for practice shoots

1956 – All guns were removed and the site was sold off.