Part of a Victorian battery that has protruded out of the cliff edge at Yaverland for several years has finally fallen.
Tonnes of brick, concrete and earth crashed down onto the beach between Sandown and Culver Down over the weekend.
For many years locals and tourists alike have played a guessing game as to when the cantilevered brick wall would fall, as it had looked precarious for some time – since around 2008. Thankfully, the dramatic collapse occurred out-of-season.
The rubble now lays on the beach with tonnes of earth mounded behind. Notably, the wall has come to rest some distance out and mostly in a single part, which is a testament to Victorian engineering.
Another cliff fall is evident just a few metres along the beach.
The collapse was amazingly captured on camera by Martin Cottle…
The bricks and pipework now resting on the beach formed part of Redcliff Battery, 1 of the many Palmerston Forts built on the Island.
Construction of the battery began in April 1861 and was complete by September 1863, but the site was abandoned in 1891 as – unsurprisingly – it suffered from subsidence and was in danger of collapsing over the cliff.
Now, 160 years after being built, the prominent visual memory of the once-armed battery has gone. However, as the cliff continues to erode more brick is expected to be revealed.
I love the ‘woof woof’ subtitles in the video, just in case I didn’t understand what’s being said
Long cue on beach seen looking for spare bricks!!!
What for, to prop up the snooker table?
Good one never thought of that. I was thinking of the dodgy island builders looking to make a quick profit.