Educational Visits to
the Needles Old Battery & New Battery
• The Needles Old Battery
• Information
• Guided Tours
• The Needles New Battery
• Information
• Guided Tours
• Planning Your Visit
• Transport
• Clothing
• Refreshments & Shopping
• Supervision
• Risk Assessments
• Booking Details
• Charges
• Group Fees
• Guided Tours & Other Fees
The Needles Old Battery is a Palmerstonian Fort built from 1861-1863 following the threat of
a French invasion and was designed to protect the approaches to the Needles Passage. This spectacularly sited fort
contains exhibitions about its military history including its involvement in World War II.
School visits to the Old Battery combine learning with fun. Cartoon boards by leading comic book illustrator Geoff
Campion, help bring its fascinating history to life and exhibits include two original guns on the parade ground. Young
people particularly enjoy the trip down the spiral staircase and along the 60 metre tunnel to the 1899 searchlight
position overlooking the Needles.
The Old Battery is situated on the cliffs at the very western end of the Isle of Wight and offers superb views of the
Needles rocks and lighthouse, as well as a spectacular maritime panorama of the Hampshire and Dorset coasts. Fencing all
around the Battery allows visitors to enjoy views in safety.
The Needles New Battery was built between 1895 and 1898 as a replacement for the Old Battery
which could not accommodate the new weapons being introduced at the turn of the century. It played a part in both World
Wars before being decommissioned in 1947.
The main focus of the site however is the role it played during the Cold War. In the 1950s the site was taken over by the
RAE and Saunders Roe and the headland was transformed into a secret test site for the Black Knight and Black Arrow
rockets and was named the Highdown.
There is no admission charge for the New Battery which houses a small exhibition on the rocket test site but opening
times are limited. However guided tours can be arranged for groups so that pupils can explore the rocket test site,
discover its history and learn about the people who worked there. Please note: there are no toilet facilities at the
New Battery.
Needles Old Battery Educational Tours & Discovery Packs
1 Guided Tours:
Guided tours are provided by the Custodian or one of the volunteer guides. The tour is customised to the age of the
children but covers the varied history of the Battery from the Victorian era to the rocket testing site of the 1950s,
including WW1 and WW2.
School parties of up to 60 children can be accommodated on one of the tours and these are available at 10.30am, 12.30pm
and 2.30pm, Tuesday to Friday from 15th March – 28th October 2008, excluding August.
During August groups are very welcome to visit and can discover the site for themselves on a self guided tour.
2 Self Guided Tours
If you wish to conduct your own tour of the site we are able to offer a number of aids to plan your lesson including quiz
trails and guide books. Please contact The Custodian for more information.
3 Discovery Packs
Discovery Packs are designed as a family activity but a number of groups trialled them last year for use with schools.
The groups used the packs to explore the site using items such as maps and binoculars. Discovery Packs are more suited to
smaller groups of 30 or fewer children of primary school age and adult supervision is also required. Please note there is
a charge of £10 for the use of the packs.
Needles New Battery Educational Tours
Guided Tours:
Guided tours are provided by the Custodian or one of the volunteer guides. School parties of up to 40 children can be
accommodated on one of the tours so larger groups will need to be split. These are available at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Tuesday to Friday from 15th March – 28th October 2008, excluding August.
Planning Your Visit
1 Transport
There is no vehicular access to the Needles Old Battery. The nearest coach and car park is at the Needles Park, Alum Bay.
The walk to from Alum Bay to the Needles Old Battery is approximately ¾ mile along a well surfaced private road with
spectacular views across to the mainland.
Please arrive at Alum Bay at least half an hour prior to your tour to allow time for walking up the headland road.
Alternatively a Needles Tour Bus operated by Southern Vectis runs from Alum Bay to the Battery site: telephone 01983
522456 for further details including special offers.
Those coming on foot across the downs from Freshwater Bay should allow at least 1.5 hours for the journey.
2 Clothing
Please ensure that the pupils have the correct clothing with them as even in summertime some parts of the site can be
very windy and cold. Waterproof coats and jumpers together with shoes suitable for the amount of walking involved are
recommended. There is no shade on the headland so pupils should have adequate protection from the sun–hats, sunscreen etc.
3 Refreshments and shopping
At the Needles Old Battery there is a tea-room where drinks, snacks and ice creams can be purchased and although we do
not have a designated picnic area groups are welcome to eat their packed lunch on the grass overlooking the Needles rocks.
Our gift shop has been refurbished and school groups are very welcome. We sell postcards, gifts and pocket money items
for souvenirs of the visit. We have also introduced a Needles Souvenir pack containing a pencil, fridge magnet, Isle of
Wight rubber and a pack of 6 postcards for £3.00.
Due to the limited space in the shop and tea-room we would ask that no more than 6 pupils at a time use them. Your
assistance with this would be appreciated.
4 Supervision
All groups should be supervised by their adult leaders at all times; this includes groups of older pupils. We request
this to prevent overcrowding in exhibitions and to follow health and safety guidelines.
5 Risk Assessments
A site risk assessment can be downloaded by clicking here.
6 Booking Details
Details of admission fees and tour costs are given below. To make a booking please complete and return the booking form
included with this pack.
Please note: it is essential that schools arrive on time for their visit as failure to do so results in "school traffic
jams" and overcrowding. If you anticipate being late please telephone us and we will attempt to reschedule your visit.
Charges
1 Admission Fees for School Groups who are not National Trust Education Group Members
The admission charge for non EGM visits to the Needles Old Battery in 2008 is £2.10 per child and £4.20 per adult. There
is no admission charge for the Needles New Battery.
Most educational groups visiting the Needles Battery take out National Trust Educational Group Membership (EGM) as this
is often cheaper than paying for individual students and teachers. EGM is based on the number of pupils on the school
role. Membership lasts for 12 months and can be used to gain free entry to most National Trust properties (including all
the other National Trust properties on the Isle of Wight.).
As an Education Group Member you will receive:
• the annual Members’ Handbook
• the Guide for Education Visitors
• the Trust's membership mailings three times a year with the
National Trust Magazine and Trust Tracks, the poster-format
newsletter for young members
Plus free planning and preparation visits to sites for group leaders
Membership entitles card-holders to make as many pre-booked visits during the year as required. Group leaders are also
entitled to make free planning and preparation visits to sites. Such visits should also be booked in advance as this
enables the property staff to familiarise leaders fully with the site being visited.
EGM can be arranged at the Needles Battery on the day of your visit and current subscription charges are:
| To join under 50 pupils on role | £31.00 |
| 51 – 100 | £52.00 |
| 101 – 200 | £64.00 |
| 201 – 500 | £66.00 |
| Over 500 | £77.00 |
This type of membership covers colleges, scouts etc
Educational not school £99.00
Membership Prices are valid until 28th February 2009
2 Admission Fees for National Trust Education Group Members
Education Group Members are admitted free.
Existing Education Group Members must bring a valid membership card on the day of the visit. If you are unsure about your
membership status, please telephone The National Trust Membership Dept 0870 458 4000 who will be happy to help. If your
membership has lapsed a new membership can be taken out at the Battery on the day of your visit.
3 Guided Tour & Other Fees
| Needles Old Battery: | £25 |
| Needles New Battery only: | £25 |
| Needles Old Battery & New Battery combined (for groups of 40 & less) | £30 |
| Needles Old Battery & New Battery combined (for groups of 41 & more) | poa |
| Hire of Discovery Packs | £10 |
A non-refundable tour fee/deposit of £25 is required from groups requiring a tour. This deposit is payable in advance at the time of booking but we are happy to take a post dated cheque for the date of the visit.
Other National Trust Properties on the Isle of Wight
We have a number of other properties which may be of interest to you. For further details please contact the property
direct or phone the NT Estate Office on 01983 741020 or by email from the "Contact Us" page.
BEMBRIDGE WINDMILL TEL:01983 873945
MOTTISTONE MANOR GARDEN TEL:01983 741302
NEWTOWN OLD TOWN HALL tel:01983 531785
NEWTOWN NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE tel:01983 531622 or by email from the "Contact Us" page for the attention of Pema Marriot.
