Modern State and Usage
An unofficial tourist attraction, the Portland installation is the best preserved Battery of its type in the United Kingdom and is a scheduled ancient monument but remains hidden from view: a short walk across from a tiny car park that serves the nearby Verne will soon reveal its layout in the lower levels of the shallow quarry. Another attraction Nicodemus Knob, a landmark quarrying relic stack, is found close by.
In 1984-85, the Manpower Services team restored the site.
Various attempts have been made over the years to seal off the battery's tunnels however vandalism has caused the tunnels to remain open for the public to explore. The tunnels have gained the name 'The Ghost Tunnels' to locals of Portland. The battery itself remains in a good condition today, although is still a target of vandalism.
In both 2011 and 2012, the tunnels of the battery were used to hold the Halloween extravaganza by the community group Revive Portland. The tunnels were decorated with lanterns and other ghoulish displays. The event held various family-friendly activities such as a treasure hunt, live music, story telling and various Halloween themed games.
In April 2012, a large event/performance to herald the Olympic sailing events was based at the battery. A total of 2,692 handmade butterflies – the number representing each child on the island – were made by youth and community groups for the Battle for the Winds grand finale, which was a huge theatrical project that tells the story of a fight to regain the seven winds of the south west from the evil Doldrum in time to release for the Olympic sailing events. The project aimed to reach an audience of 530,000 through 40 events across the South West region from April to July, and the finale took place at Weymouth Beach and the High Angle Battery. The story was based on the butterflies playing a key role in Doldrum's Lair, featuring Doldrum in the quarry tunnels where he has imprisoned winds and trapped the voice and breath of youth. Reportedly, organisers had been busy recording people's memories of the battery to put into listening pods placed around the site. Lorna Rees, creative producer from Activate Performing Arts had stated "It's an outpost of a place and has a character that's all its own and it inspired me so much going to the High Angle Battery – it's such an evocative and amazing place. It's one of the best-preserved in the country."
Read more about this topic: Verne High Angle Battery
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