Brown Down Battery is an overgrown yet atmospheric site that tells the story of Victorian coastal defences. With remnants of gun emplacements and barracks, it’s a quiet spot for history buffs and nature walkers alike. These Grade II listed fortifications built in the 1840s sit between Stokes Bay and Lee-on-the-Solent.

Facts:

1. It was built as part of the Palmerston Forts system in the mid-19th century.
2. The battery once housed heavy Armstrong guns, part of the Gosport Lines.
3. Rare wildflowers now grow among the ruins, creating a unique habitat.
4. The site has views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
5. It’s rumoured that soldiers stationed here saw ghostly figures on patrol.
6. The battery’s construction included innovative underground magazines.

Information:

Lee-on-the-Solent