Well her we go.
As most of you are aware, the Island hold a hell of alot of history, as you can see from my explores, but this probably holds the most in terms of achievement and credit to the UK & the Island.
During the cold war, the race to be in space was running, mostly between Russia and the USA, but there was the UK too, and alot of it was being developed here on the little old Isle of Wight.
Unfortunately like most stuff over here, it was demolished shortly after decommissioning
If you want a breakdown with explanations for most of the stuff thats still there, then I recommend this survey, done by English Heritage, its a PDF file, and very informative, covering the batteries & rocket site;
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/High_Down_Report_90-2007.pdf
More info here ---> http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/rocket.shtml
And here ---> http://www.spaceuk.org/bk/bk.htm
Again ---> http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/...naveral+(...+on+the+Isle+of+Wight)/article.do
Anyway on with the pics;
Heres an Ariel view of the site.
And another from when it was in use.
And heres a plan of the site, when in use.
Heres a magazine article about it.
And another.
And an article from the Mail.
Here is another plan, this was the final drawing of it before the building work started.
And again.
More.
Some 'not so' classified documents.
Work starting on the complex in the 50s (library picture).
This is the view of Gantry #2 through the viewing windows in the control room.
This would normally be 4" (2x 2") thick glass, but its been destroyed over the years of dereliction.
This is the view of Gantry #1 through the viewing windows in the control room.
Again this would normally be 4" (2x 2") thick glass, but its been destroyed over the years of dereliction.
Inside the control room, looking at the entrance & blast door.
The blast door, separating the control room and pump room.
Inside the pump room.
Looking into the base of gantry #2 showing the fixings and exhaust chute.
And again.
Same again, but gantry #1.
Zoomed in.
A truck arriving with a rocket to be tested (library picture).
My attempted replica picture.
Looking towards gantry #2 (library picture).
And my attempt again.
Drawn picture of above 2 pictures (library picture).
Looking towards gantry #1 (library picture).
Nearly the same.
Looking at the control room and gantry #1 (library picture).
And my attempt again.
Looking at the whole site (library picture).
Not a bad attempt.
Rocket being loaded into gantry #2 (library picture).
And my final attempt at replicating the old pics.
This is inside the museum, its the rocket that carried Prospero into space.
And here is the satellite Prospero, thats still orbiting the earth, 30yrs on.
And the details about it.
And to finish, a nice shot of the needles.
Thanks for viewing.
Comment and suggestions welcome
As most of you are aware, the Island hold a hell of alot of history, as you can see from my explores, but this probably holds the most in terms of achievement and credit to the UK & the Island.
During the cold war, the race to be in space was running, mostly between Russia and the USA, but there was the UK too, and alot of it was being developed here on the little old Isle of Wight.
Unfortunately like most stuff over here, it was demolished shortly after decommissioning
If you want a breakdown with explanations for most of the stuff thats still there, then I recommend this survey, done by English Heritage, its a PDF file, and very informative, covering the batteries & rocket site;
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/High_Down_Report_90-2007.pdf
More info here ---> http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/rocket.shtml
And here ---> http://www.spaceuk.org/bk/bk.htm
Again ---> http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/...naveral+(...+on+the+Isle+of+Wight)/article.do
Anyway on with the pics;
Heres an Ariel view of the site.
And another from when it was in use.
And heres a plan of the site, when in use.
Heres a magazine article about it.
And another.
And an article from the Mail.
Here is another plan, this was the final drawing of it before the building work started.
And again.
More.
Some 'not so' classified documents.
Work starting on the complex in the 50s (library picture).
This is the view of Gantry #2 through the viewing windows in the control room.
This would normally be 4" (2x 2") thick glass, but its been destroyed over the years of dereliction.
This is the view of Gantry #1 through the viewing windows in the control room.
Again this would normally be 4" (2x 2") thick glass, but its been destroyed over the years of dereliction.
Inside the control room, looking at the entrance & blast door.
The blast door, separating the control room and pump room.
Inside the pump room.
Looking into the base of gantry #2 showing the fixings and exhaust chute.
And again.
Same again, but gantry #1.
Zoomed in.
A truck arriving with a rocket to be tested (library picture).
My attempted replica picture.
Looking towards gantry #2 (library picture).
And my attempt again.
Drawn picture of above 2 pictures (library picture).
Looking towards gantry #1 (library picture).
Nearly the same.
Looking at the control room and gantry #1 (library picture).
And my attempt again.
Looking at the whole site (library picture).
Not a bad attempt.
Rocket being loaded into gantry #2 (library picture).
And my final attempt at replicating the old pics.
This is inside the museum, its the rocket that carried Prospero into space.
And here is the satellite Prospero, thats still orbiting the earth, 30yrs on.
And the details about it.
And to finish, a nice shot of the needles.
Thanks for viewing.
Comment and suggestions welcome
Last edited:
)
Specially like the then & now shots-that must of taken some research & setting up! Great pics too! Thanks for posting them. 
