Culver Downs gun battery near Bembridge Fort on the Isle on Wight became operational in 1906 to protect the area from enemy shipping. The guns were upgraded in 1924 and were then able to then fire over a mile out to sea. The battery became a test site for military equipment and the Fortress plotting system of range finding was tried here in 1927. During World War Two the guns saw regular action against German fighters and were manned throughout both wars. All guns were removed in 1956, however the remains of the site can still be seen and the underground workings still remain.
