The New Battery

The New Battery was built further up the cliff in the 1890s with the fear that the new and heavier guns would cause the chalk cliffs to collapse at the Old Battery. It was mostly used for ammunition storage as well as administrative purposes until the end of the second world war.
From 1956 until the 1970s it was used as a testing site for rockets. Until I visited the headland I had absolutely no idea that Britain had even taken part in the space race. Apparently (according to this place anyways) at one point they were ahead of Russia and the United States. The site was used to test the Black Arrow and Black Knight rockets before they were shipped to Australia for launch. It was a very secretive project which is why it took place in such an isolated area. It all came to an end when the British government decided that there was "no future" for launching satellites into space and the project was scrapped.

The old control room (in a former ammo store room)

The old rocket testing sites along the south side of the headland (so all the stink and fumes would blow towards France! HAHA!)

The Old Battery

At the very tip of the headland there is a battery (an armed area with large guns, smaller then a fort). The one on the very tip is known as the Old Battery and looks out over the Needles (huge chunks of chalk jutting out of the ocean, and the Needles Lighthouse....which wasn't automated until 1994). The Old Battery was originally used to protect the Solent (area of the English Channel between the Isle of Wight and the mainland) from the French and was built in the early 1860s. The Old Battery was used to protect England all the way up until the end of the Second World War. Soldiers were stationed here throughout both world wars to spot e-boats with a spotlight (added in 1899) and help to spot coming air raids. It was a bit of a terrifying time being stationed at the Old Battery and they were very isolated from the rest of the isle. While visiting we heard a terrifying story of two young guards on watch whose job it was to walk around the outer areas of the Battery who happened to not show up for the guard switch. It turns out they had been swept off the side of the cliff by a gust of wind and sucked out to sea (this made the idea of walking back down the coastal trail even more terrifying).

Guns on parade at the Old Battery

The stairs heading to the tunnel that leads to the spotlight.

The Original Searchlight (a little corroded from being exposed to the salty air)

The Needles and the Needles Lighthouse (not automated until 1994, the lighthouse keepers would be stuck out here for 2 months straight!)

Views of the cliffs from the North Lookout at the Old Battery

View of the Parade and the New Guard offices (built in the 1940s)

Isle of Wight

After our little visit to London we headed to the Isle of Wight for a few days. After four train rides and a ferry (never travelling on Easter Monday ever again!) we finally arrived in Yarmouth where we then had to find a bus to Totland where we were staying. That evening was miserable, the waves were massive and it was quite a rocky ride over on the ferry. When we finally reached Totland on the bus we had to hike up a massive hill in the rain after which my phone dies and we get a little lost! After about 30 minutes of aimless wandering we finally arrived at the B&B. Luckily the next few days that we spent on the isle were beautiful (but windy) and the scenery was really beautiful.

The first day we decided to hike to the Needles from where we were staying. It took us around an hour from where we were staying to hike up to the headland in Alum Bay on the coastal trail. This coastal trail was a little bit terrifying, you are literally on the side of a cliff in a crazy wind heading uphill the entire way, with a small road on one side and a huge drop into the ocean on the other side. There were tons of warnings about keeping your dogs and children under control on the trail to avoid an inevitable drop since there is no fencing to catch you from the drop.

 On our way up the Coastal Trail

The coloured sands of Alum Bay

The Road and Coastal Trail (and edge of the cliff...yikes!)

London Round Three

During my third trip to London I got to explore a few places I was yet to visit... Westminster Abbey, Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Natural History Museum as well as St.James park, Green park, and Hyde park. The weather was amazing, the parks were beautiful and the museums were awesome!

I got to view a few exhibitions in the Victoria and Albert Museum (60 years of Elizabeth II) and the Natural History Museum (Animals inside out). The animals inside out exhibit was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever seen! It was a series of plasticized animal muscles, nervous systems, hearts, and other various innards. We spent about 5 hours in the museum and there was still a lot that we didn't get a chance to see. I'll definitely be heading back there!

Just a little preview of the Animals Inside Out Exhibit (no photography inside!)

The awesome escalator in the Earth room

The Marine Mammal Room (with a full sized blue whale and various other skeletons)

Parents Visit, London, Shireland

Well my parents have just jetted off back to Canada. Lucky for me they came for a two week long visit (I had one of those weeks off...woo) to take in all the sights around Birmingham and London.
During my week off we popped down to London for a few days to do some sightseeing. We ate fish and chips, tried every new type of beer we came across, ventured through the Tower of London, took a Thames cruise, popped into the Imperial War Museum and the National Gallery, as well as saw all the main things around town.
The Tower of London was so cool! I suggest to anyone that visits London that you go see this! Not only is it amazing to look at from the outside it is unbelievable once you get inside the castle walls. Many of the buildings are still fairly close to being original, the tower also houses armour from dozens of infamous Kings (including Henry viii) ...not to mention the crown jewels are on display at the tower..which are AMAZING.
The Imperial War Museum is also a must see. The place is jam packed with thousands of artifacts from dozens of battles, spy missions, etc.
After a busy week in London and some sightseeing in Birmingham with my parents as well, I interviewed at sixth form school in the next neighbourhood over for a year seven position until July. You are now looking at the newest employee of Shireland Collegiate! Woo hoo!

                                          Mom, Dad, and I in front of Buckingham Palace.

                                                                  The White Tower

Inside the Imperial War Museum