On our recent vacation, my husband and I both felt we needed to explore a number of fortifications and batteries situated around the costline of our small neighbouring island the ' Isle of Wight'. With outstanding natural beauty and steeped in history the 'Isle of Wight' offers not only a relaxing and friendly break from the hussle and bussle of the UK. But, unknown to some the 'Isle of Wight' is home for the worlds first testing and development of British space rockets and also has its fair share of roman villas, fortications, batteries new and old.

During a weeks stay on the Isle, we visited sixteen out of the known twenty fortications and battery sites inland, unfortunatly some have now been lost to sea and others not accessible. During the mid 19th century a number of small Palmerston forts were built to protect the harbours and the eastern approach to the Solent. These were Bembridge and Sandown Forts along with five supporting gun batteries - Sandown Barrack, Nodes Point, Redcliff, Yaverland and Puckpool. Culver and Steynewood Batteries were added at the end of the century naming just a few. For those sites visited, we managed to take pictures hopefully showing what the 'Isle of Wight' has to offer.