The Needles Batteries

The Needles Batteries
The Needles, Isle of Wight, England
The view over the old battery
The Needles Batteries is located in Isle of Wight
The Needles Batteries
The Needles Batteries
Coordinates50°39′44″N 1°35′02″W / 50.66213°N 1.58399°W / 50.66213; -1.58399
Site information
OwnerNational Trust
Open to
the public
Yes
Site history
Built1861–63 (old)
1895 (new)
In use1863 onwards
MaterialsBrick and flint
Battles/warsWorld War I and World War II
EventsAnti-aircraft gun trials
Blue Streak tests
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameOld Needles Battery
Designated28 March 1994
Reference no.1220402
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameNew Needles Battery
Designated28 March 1994
Reference no.1209415
Official nameNew Battery and High Down Test Site, The Needles
Designated31 July 2015
Reference no.1422839

The Needles Batteries are two military batteries built above the Needles stacks to guard the West end of the Solent. The field of fire was from approximately West South West clockwise to Northeast and they were designed to defend against enemy ships.