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UCKPOOL BATTERY, ISLE OF WIGHT

Construction began on Puckpool Mortar Battery in 1863. It was designed to be armed with 27 guns, 30 mortars and the necessary barrack accommodation for the gun crews. This original design was modified in 1864 to become a battery of “50 of the heaviest mortars”, and the barrack accommodation was deemed unnecessary. It was completed in 1865, only to be reconsidered yet again the following year. This time it was proposed that the mortars (13 inch) would be placed in two rows, one behind the other, with a traverse between each pair. The battery was now reconstructed for 38 mortars, and a barracks were constructed after all. In 1873 four x 11” RMLs were fitted to assist in the defence of Spithead. The mortars were removed in 1887 and the RMLs were moved and the parapet revised to give them a higher angle of fire and thus a greater arc of fire. This idea was abandoned and in 1888 two x 10.4” RMLs were proposed for Puckpool.

In 1901 the battery was upgraded with barbette positions for two x 9.2” BLs; two x 6” BLs were also put in place. During the First World War the Battery was used as a depot for coast gunners transferring to the Western Front. After the war the battery was out into Care and Maintenance, and the last gun was withdrawn in 1927. It was sold to the local council in 1928, who turned it into a public garden, although it saw military use for one final time in the Second World War, when it had the name of HMS Medina and was used to train men of the Fleet Air Arm. After the war it was turned back into a public garden.

Location: Isle of Wight

Condition: Good

Date Of Visit: 07/06/09

Plan: No

Report: No

Other Sites in the Area:

Yaverland Battery, Golden Hill Fort, Fort Bembridge, St Lawrence Railway Tunnel, Puckpool Battery, RAF Ventnor, High Down Rocket Test Site