Description

The monument is the remains of a coastal artillery battery and associated accommodation camp and railway, established in 1940 and used during the Second World War. It is visible as the remains of a series of concrete structures, hut bases, communication trenches, temporary emplacements and a railway. It forms part of a network of coastal batteries built to defend the key strategic British naval anchorage of Scapa Flow. Located on the headland at Scad Head on the E coast of Hoy, and overlooking the bay at Chalmers' Hope to the N and Bring Deeps to the E, this battery was one of five covering the western channels into the Flow.

The main battery comprises a twin 6-pounder emplacement, with a battery observation post, crew shelter, magazine, two searchlight emplacements and two engine houses. The former accommodation camp is located around 250m WSW of the battery. It survives as a series of at least 12 hut bases in a variety of forms, together with parts of the walls of some accommodation buildings, and some surviving pathways and staircases connecting the structures. The former telegraph station for the site stands immediately E of the accommodation camp; some telegraph cabling survives around this structure, which connected the battery to its sister site at Houton Head. The remains of a temporary battery are located around 350m WNW of the accommodation camp, comprising the remains of the ready-use ammunition lockers and magazine, together with the gun emplacement and holdfast for the 12-pounder gun. There is a series of communication and cabling trenches traversing the site. The railway, built to transport material around the complex, connects with the road overlooking the site and runs between the main battery and the accommodation area.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction and use is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, specifically, the network of defences constructed in the Second World War to defend the key strategic harbour of Scapa Flow. This is a well-preserved example of a coast battery, showing multiple phases of construction and utilising a strong strategic position in spite of the inherent logistical difficulties presented by this location. Its significance is enhanced by the presence of unique or rare features, such as the railway and the survival of cabling across the site. The monument offers considerable potential to study the relationship between the various elements of the site, and to enhance our understanding both of the western Scapa Flow defences and the wider defences in place around Orkney and beyond. These monumental concrete structures are a tangible and powerful reminder of one of the defining events of the 20th century. If this monument was to be lost or damaged, it would significantly affect our ability to understand the nature and scale of the efforts made to defend Britain against enemy naval threats in the Second World War and diminish the association between Orcadians today and those who lived and served in Orkney during the war.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HY20SE 2.

References

Brown I 2002, 20th Century Defences in Britain: an Introductory Guide, Council for British Archaeology, York.

Dorman, J 1996 Orkney Coast Batteries, London, 31, 44.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland