Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Bembridge (Culver Down) : Bembridge Fort -

THE NATIONAL TRUST

BEMBRIDGE FORT
BEMBRIDGE FORT WAS A PART OF THE EXTENSIVE
DEFENCE SYSTEM BUILT BY THE PALMERSTON
ADMINISTRATION AGAINST POSSIBLE INVASION
BY FRENCH FORCES OF NAPOLEON III.
CONSTRUCTED 1862-1867, AT A COST OF £48,925
AS THE MAIN STRONGHOLD FOR THE SOUTH COAST
OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, WITH AN ESTABLISHMENT
OF THREE OFFICERS AND ONE HUNDRED OTHER
RANKS AND ORDNANCE OF TWO 4in BREECH-LOADING
AND SIX MUZZLE-LOADING GUNS MOUNTED ON
PARAPET SLIDES.
1880 - 1900 EXPERIMENTAL BASE FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE DEVICES.
1900 - 1914 TRAINING CAMP AND GARRISON DUTIES.
1914 - 1920 HEAVY ARTILLERY COASTAL DEFENCE.
1920 - 1939 TERRITORIAL ARMY OBSERVATION POST FOR ARTILLERY BASED AT YAVERLAND BATTERY.
1939 - 1945 COMMAND POST FOR ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENTS AND H.Q. LOCAL HOME GUARD.
1948 THE WAR DEPARTMENT RELINQUISHED CONTROL.
1965 PURCHASED BY I.W. COUNTY COUNCIL SCHEDULED AS AN ANCIENT MONUMENT.
1967 ACQUIRED THROUGH ENTERPRISE NEPTUNE TOGETHER WITH SURROUNDING DOWNLAND FOR
THE NATIONAL TRUST

1940 - 1945

THIS PLAQUE IS IN HONOUR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY, ROYAL NAVY,
WOMEN'S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE, THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
AND WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE WHO SERVED
THEIR COUNTRY AT BEMBRIDGE FORT AND CULVER
DURING WORLD WAR TWO.