Puckpool Battery (map reference SZ615923) is a battery located at Puckpool Point, close to the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It is one of the many Palmerston Forts built on the island to protect it in response to a perceived French invasion. Construction of the battery began in 1863 and was completed by March 1865.
13-inch mortar of the type that formed the original armament
During construction of the battery it was decided that it would be armed entirely with 50 of the heaviest mortars - at that time the 13-inch smooth bore mortar. This would enable the battery to provide large amounts of high angle plunging fire into the Solent, targeted at the vulnerable unarmoured decks of warships.
In 1873 four gun positions were constructed at the sea face of the battery for four 11-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) guns. My 1886 these four guns and 30 mortars provided the entire armament of the battery. The following year all of the mortars were removed as they were obsolete by that time.[1]
A coastal RML 10.4-inch gun of the same type in Tangier
In 1888 a proposal for two 10.4-inch 28-ton RML guns on an Armstrong protected barbette was put forward, and these had been fitted by 1892. They were the only guns of this type to be fitted in Great Britain. In 1901 the armament of the battery was modernised with positions for two 9.2-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns and two 6-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns.[2]
Gun emplacement for 9.2-inch Breech Loading (BL) gun
The battery was disarmed in 1927 and sold to the local district council the following year. It was brought back into use during the Second World War as HMS Medina to train men of the Fleet Air Arm.
It has been used as a public recreational space since that time and has since been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[3] The gun positions are openly accessible and a number of original buildings survive. These include the guard room, barrack block and magazines.
References
^The National Archives WO33/2770, Précis of correspondence relating to coastal defences: Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, 1860-1893
^The National Archives WO78/4894, Portsmouth Defences, Isle of Wight sub district: Puckpool Battery, 14 plans, 1902-1913
Hogg, Ian V (1974). Coast Defences of England and Wales 1856-1956. David & Charles. ISBN0-7153 6353-0.
Moore, David, 2010. The East Wight Defences, Solent Papers Number 10, David Moore, Gosport. ISBN0954845331
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puckpool Battery.
External links
Victorian Forts data sheet
February 07, 2023
puckpool, battery, reference, sz615923, battery, located, puckpool, point, close, town, ryde, isle, wight, many, palmerston, forts, built, island, protect, response, perceived, french, invasion, construction, battery, began, 1863, completed, march, 1865, puckp. Puckpool Battery map reference SZ615923 is a battery located at Puckpool Point close to the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight It is one of the many Palmerston Forts built on the island to protect it in response to a perceived French invasion Construction of the battery began in 1863 and was completed by March 1865 Puckpool BatteryPuckpool Point Isle of Wight EnglandGun position for 11 inch Rifled Muzzle Loading RML gunPuckpool BatteryCoordinates50 43 39 N 1 07 46 W 50 727517 N 1 129319 W 50 727517 1 129319 Coordinates 50 43 39 N 1 07 46 W 50 727517 N 1 129319 W 50 727517 1 129319Site informationOwnerLocal authorityOpen tothe publicYesConditionMostly completeSite historyBuilt1863 March 1865In useSold 1928MaterialsEarthConcrete 13 inch mortar of the type that formed the original armament During construction of the battery it was decided that it would be armed entirely with 50 of the heaviest mortars at that time the 13 inch smooth bore mortar This would enable the battery to provide large amounts of high angle plunging fire into the Solent targeted at the vulnerable unarmoured decks of warships In 1873 four gun positions were constructed at the sea face of the battery for four 11 inch Rifled Muzzle Loading RML guns My 1886 these four guns and 30 mortars provided the entire armament of the battery The following year all of the mortars were removed as they were obsolete by that time 1 A coastal RML 10 4 inch gun of the same type in Tangier In 1888 a proposal for two 10 4 inch 28 ton RML guns on an Armstrong protected barbette was put forward and these had been fitted by 1892 They were the only guns of this type to be fitted in Great Britain In 1901 the armament of the battery was modernised with positions for two 9 2 inch Breech Loading BL guns and two 6 inch Breech Loading BL guns 2 Gun emplacement for 9 2 inch Breech Loading BL gun The battery was disarmed in 1927 and sold to the local district council the following year It was brought back into use during the Second World War as HMS Medina to train men of the Fleet Air Arm It has been used as a public recreational space since that time and has since been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument 3 The gun positions are openly accessible and a number of original buildings survive These include the guard room barrack block and magazines References Edit The National Archives WO33 2770 Precis of correspondence relating to coastal defences Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight 1860 1893 The National Archives WO78 4894 Portsmouth Defences Isle of Wight sub district Puckpool Battery 14 plans 1902 1913 Historic England Puckpool Mortar Battery 1012721 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 17 January 2015 Publications EditHogg Ian V 1974 Coast Defences of England and Wales 1856 1956 David amp Charles ISBN 0 7153 6353 0 Moore David 2010 The East Wight Defences Solent Papers Number 10 David Moore Gosport ISBN 0954845331 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puckpool Battery External links EditVictorian Forts data sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Puckpool Battery amp oldid 1103647499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
