East Weare Battery

The view from the cliff-tops above the battery area, with part of the battery and the DISTEX site seen below.

East Weare Battery is a derelict Victorian gun battery on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. It is located within the East Weares area of the island, overlooking Portland Harbour which it was built to protect, and sits below the cliff to the east of the Verne Citadel. The battery has sections from A to F, with the overall condition varying from poor to good. In May 1993 the site became Grade II Listed.^[1] In addition to this, the 'E' section of the battery has become a scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance.^[2]

The battery area also features the DISTEX site (Disaster Relief Exercise), which is often referred to as Forbidden City locally. This part is built within the battery, for the use of the Royal Navy to conduct training. Above part of the battery, and the DISTEX site, is East Weare Camp, which was built in the 1880s as detention barracks, and was then converted to coastguard use in 1914. It is also Grade II Listed. The majority of the battery, DISTEX site and the camp remain on private property of Portland Port Ltd, and have not been opened to the public.

History

The battery seen from above in 2012, becoming increasingly overgrown.

The battery was built in the 1860s as a result of the Royal Commission to guard the new Portland harbour and Royal Navy institutions on the island. The construction of the harbour's breakwaters and the Verne Citadel were two of the biggest government-funded projects of the time. As an extension of the defences of the citadel, work on the battery commenced in 1862 and finished in 1869, and made of Portland stone construction with some concrete and iron, the battery consisted of four positions to the west and two positions to the east of Admiralty Incline Railway (which carried quarried stone to the harbour for construction of the breakwaters). At the time the Royal Commission reported some batteries had already been constructed on the hill to the east of The Verne. The construction of the battery was handed to local builders Kesty and Baker, who also built other defences on the island; Inner Pierhead Fort, Verne High Angle Battery and Blacknor Fort.^[3] The Royal Engineers also took a leading role in the planning and construction of the battery, as well as the Verne Citadel and Verne High Angle Battery.

The East Weare Battery was considered part of the Verne Citadel outworks, as the battery completed the defences necessary on the eastern side of the fort, protecting the harbour from the east and south-east. The troops who manned the battery would be stationed and accommodated within the Verne. For access a sally port was created on the east side from the fort, and this zigzagged down the cliffs to the batteries, which were arranged in a line of six barbette batteries, and these mounted 27 guns in total, as originally intended. The open batteries were built housing 20 9" and 10" RMLs.^[4]

The 1868 Committee of Enquiry labelled the batteries in order from north to south as 1, 6, 2, 5, 3, and 4, all on the west side of Admiralty Incline, although 1 and 6 had not been commenced at the time of the committee's visit. Eventually number 6 was completed however number 1 ran into problems as secure foundations could not be obtained. This section was never constructed as a result, however it was likely that it was intended for the same armament as number 6. From circa 1877 the batteries were designated A to F. Each battery varied in height from 150 to 234 feet above sea level, and all were of open earth with embrasures. The batteries were enclosed on the East, North and South sides with an unclimable pallisade fence. The surrounding cliff, as well as The Verne Citadel provided adequate defence on their sides. At one point, there were plans to fit Moncrieff emplacements as flank pieces of each of the batteries, however this idea did not come to fruition and was abandoned.^[4]

One of the six World War II pillboxes within the area.

By and during the 20th century, numerous changes were made to the battery, largely due to advancements in weapons technology. By 1886 the batteries were re-modelled to take C pivot 9-inch RMLs. By this point the batteries had standard artillery stores, a small redoubt, and a resident gunner's house, whilst a self-defensible detention barracks, East Weare Camp, was built directly above B battery. Soon after, in 1891, more modifications were made to the battery, and the two centre gun positions of C Battery were altered to take 2 x 10-inch RMLs on C pivots with sunken way. B Battery was also modified to take 2 x 10-inch RML in positions 1 and 2, whilst the third gun was removed. A battery was re-armed with 4 x 10-inch RMLs. During 1899-1901 the final upgrading of the armament installed two 9.2-inch BL guns in A Battery and three six inch BL guns in B Battery. Along with this upgrade, new magazines, including a lamp room and paint store, were constructed, and the old main magazine was then put into use as the sergeant's mess and quarters. Additionally a range finding station and Battery Observation Post were placed near to the Detention Barracks. Movable armament of 40pr. B.L. guns were used in practice in 1902.^[4]

In 1915 the disused D Battery, which had its own magazine adjacent, was handed over to the Royal Navy, who used the magazine for storing explosives. By 1917 one 6-inch gun was removed and the other two followed by 1919. The pits were roofed over during World War II. The 9.2-inch BLs were still listed as in place in 1943 and they remained until 1956. These were the only active guns in place for World War II, when battery was used to form part of the Dorset Coast defences and the Isle of Portland defences.^[5] From 1940, the Portland Home Guard would be in charge of operating the guns at the battery, as well as at Blacknor Fort.^[6] Two years into the war, E Battery had two 90 mm guns added to supplement the older weapons.

During World War II, a number of pillboxes were built within the surrounding area, and all are still in existence, most of which remain complete, although overgrown. They were built of reinforced concrete, and had an irregular six-sided plan. Construction occurred sometime between 1940-41. As with many of Portland's pillboxes and heavy anti-aircraft batteries, these structures would probably have involved construction from local quarrymen. One of the six pillboxes, remaining in good condition, is the only one to be located outside of the port's boundary fencing, although the entrance has been sealed with breeze blocks. It is located at the end of a public footpath that coils around the eastern side of the Verne Citadel.^[7] Another two pillboxes of the same type are located further east in alignment, and both are still in existence as a 1996 field visit reported.^[8] The latter of the three, furthest east, is located alongside Incline Road.^[9] Further north along the road are another two pillboxes that remain in good condition. They both sit on either side of the road, set a short distance back from the road.^[10][11] One pillbox is located on the northern side of the battery, near the 'D' section. It is the only pillbox to be partially demolished, and only pieces now remain. These fragments vary in wall thickness from 9.5 inches to 10 inches.^[12] Another pillbox within the 'D' section still exists too.^[13]

Within the 'D' section of the battery, World War II coastal artillery battery was also constructed during 1940-41, and formed part of the Dorset Coast defences and the Isle of Portland defences. A field visit in 1996 found it extant but much altered.^[14] Close to this area a World War II fuel store was constructed, although it has now been destroyed.^[15]

After the war the Royal Navy, along with other NATO allies, would end up using part of the battery, and the DISTEX site for Flag Officer Sea Training, and other forms of naval training, including fire training and activities associated with help to the civilian community. In 1996, the Royal Navy left Portland Harbour, and Portland Port Ltd became the new owners, turning the harbour into a commercial port. The site fell into total disuse from this point.^[4]

Condition

Both the A and B batteries' gun emplacements are very badly damaged after they were used for fire training by the Navy. C Battery remains intact but heavily eroded in places. In 1996/7, D Battery has cleared of undergrowth and earth filling, but has since become overgrown again. The only section of the battery to remain on the outside of the port's fencing are the D and E Battery sections, whilst Batteries A to C are within the old Naval Dockyard perimeter. The site has often been subject to trespassing, and vandalism including graffiti has resulted.

Today E Battery can be seen near to the Royal Naval Cemetery, approximately 200 yards away.^[16] However the section is a victim of vandalism and overgrown foliage. The remaining magazine building, which was used for ammunition and living accommodation, had had attempts by the borough council to brick up the entrances, however vandals have allowed the possibility of entering the building. On top of this magazine is a remaining ventilator for the building.^[17] In recent years Battery E has been listed on English Heritage's Risk Register, with the condition being described as "unsatisfactory with major localised problems". The main vulnerability aspect of the site is scrub/tree overgrowth, and it has been noted that the overall condition has been declining.^[18]

Access

The remaining gun emplacement for Battery E.

The entire battery is owned by Portland Port, however two sections of the East Weare Battery are outside of the port's boundary fencing: Battery D and E. Battery D has become completely overgrown and inaccessible, while Battery E is regular visited, with the remaining gun emplacement and magazine building accessible. It is reached by a footpath leading beyond the cemetery, and veers off on the seaward side of the path.^[17]

The majority of the battery, the DISTEX site and East Weare Camp has remained closed to the public. The site has become overgrown and further degraded. In 1996 published reports mentioned that Portland Port Ltd had made plans of the possible renovation of historic coastal fortifications in the area, although this did not materialise.^[19] The DISTEX site area, including some of the battery's magazines was used for a short period in the 21st century as a site for Airsoft combat. Following this reports were made that the site had become littered in such things as smoke canisters from the combat events.^[20]

When Portland Port Ltd took over the site, it was believed by some that the battery would be opened. On the clifftops near the Verne Citadel is the Verne High Angle Battery, which was opened to the public and remains one of the best preserved batteries in the UK. Geoff Kirby, on his Exploring Portland website, noted that East Weare Battery would be "a sure-fire tourist attraction if opened but the cost of making the old buildings safe would be very high." He also noted that the battery, including the DISTEX site and camp, was "being neglected and allowed to rot away, and buildings of undoubted historical interest are falling apart". He summarised the battery as a "tourist attraction crying out for protection and exploitation."^[21] In his 1998 book Discover Dorset: Portland, local historian Stuart Morris had noted that the battery "awaits discovery by the next generation of tourists." It was also at this point in time that the HMS Opsrey complex (ex-Royal Navy shore establishment) had plans to be converted into a holiday village, however this did not materialise, and Portland Port Ltd demolished the entire complex in 2005.^[22]

A popular viewpoint over a large part of the battery is at the cliff-edge around the side of Fancy's Family Farm, once the RAF Portland ROTOR Radar Station, at East Cliff, near to the Verne High Angle Battery. This is where the remains of three out of four WW2 Second World War Position Finding Posts, also known as Cells, are found.

References

External links

• The Heritage Coast: East Weare
• Victorian Forts data sheet

Coordinates: 50°33′49″N 2°25′42″W / 50.5636°N 2.4284°W / 50.5636; -2.4284