Sadly, this unique Torpedo Attack Trainer, is rapidly being destroyed by Orkney’s harsh weather. Nearly all of the roof is now missing and the remains of the trainer “sphere” are almost gone. These pictures are from 2007. Research has identified this building as a Submarine Cyclorama Torpedo Attack Teacher. Abbreviated […]
Monthly Archives: August 2017
103 posts
See WW2 Airfield Battle Headquarters (battlehq.info) for more information about Airfield Battle HQs
The Italian Chapel stands as a poignant reminder of the troubled times Orkney went through during WWII. It is a remarkable survival and was saved because the bulldozer driver thought it too good to destroy.
Sadly this much loved building has been demolished despite a campaign to save it.
COAST ARTILLERY BATTERY: S0015230 (Extant) Twin 6pdr QF gun emplacement. A cable railway was laid to facilitate supply of the battery along with a jetty at the camp adjacent to the battery. Fragments of rail remain in-situ and some winding gear too. Some trucks are dumped on the shore below […]
2 x 12pdr QF guns emplaced here.
1 x Twin 6pdr QF gun house and associated buildings. Currently used as a paintball venue hence some of the additions visible in the pictures. Thanks to Orkan Adventures for giving us permission to wander round.
2 x 12pdr QF in gunhouses with different architecture.
Videos from June 2025 Air Raid Shelter at Stanger Head. Port War Signal Station 2020
2 x 4.7″ QF Mk4 on Mk3 mountings to start with and 2 6″ BL Mk7 on P8 mountings later. The degree markings on the gun mounts do not appear to correspond with a compass in any way, the 0 on the ring in the fourth picture is pointing SSE. […]
1 x Twin 6pdr Q.F.
1 x Twin 6pdr QF gun house survives along with the engine room and 1 of the 3 searchlight houses. Links Battery Director Tower (blown up by the army in the 1960s) from the golf course, photo of a video. Thanks to Wendy Barker of Orkney Escapes for permission to […]
2 x 12pdr QF one in concrete gun house the other in an open emplacement with a peat blast wall to allow all round traverse.
2 x 6″ breech loaders Mk7 on CP2 mountings. Much of this battery is built on top of the WWI 6″ QF battery. Pictures below from 2002 Pictures from 2015 showing “collapse” of the 2 6″ gun houses.
2 x 12 pdr QF and associated buildings.
Much of this WWII battery is built on top of the WWI 3 x 4″ QF battery. some of the emplacements can be seen between the WWII ones.
1 x Twin 6pdr with no overhead cover. Unigue double split beam searchlight houses.
1 x Twin 6 pdr QF emplaced here. Search light houses are facing collapse from erosion.
1 x 12pdr QF installed in a temporary emplacement allowing all round traverse.
2 4.7″ QF Mk4 on Mk3 mountings were emplaced here. The battery was never really finished – there being no overhead cover for the guns and the BOP was a Jane Hut.
Coast artillery Battery housing 2 x 12pdr QF guns. Remains of paintings in each gun house. Pictures are from 2003. Pictures from 2020
1 x Twin 6pdr QF gun house and associated buildings.
2 x Twin 6pdr QF guns for defence of Hoxa Sound against AMTBs and covering the Boom defence. Apparently this type of gun produced a lot of smoke – hence the need for the separate director towers.
Drone Hill lies 2½ miles (4 km) east northeast of Grantshouse and 4 miles (6 km) west of Coldingham. This is now the site of Highview Caravan Park, formerly Drone Hill Caravan Park, located amongst the remains of an historic military installation. Drone Hill was one of the earliest chain-home […]
Round Pillbox, Harlow Hill. RAF Ouston Thick Fronted Round Pillbox. S0007987
This pillbox closely resembles the standard “Northumberland D Type” but has a shorter side wall. It is completely sealed so no interior shots. The entrance is now at the top of a 30ft drop. It appears that it may have been built on top of a lime kiln which has […]
This pillbox is listed as a Type 24 but when measured it appears not to be it is a very strange shape. The last two pictures show the fancy grilles over a ventilation system. It still has it’s wooden shuttering in place inside the pillbox.
This Type 22 is slightly taller than usual and has a raised floor. There are holes either side of the, blocked up, doorway that indicate there may have been steps with railings fitted originally.
This variant pillbox is circular and brick shuttered, it has two large MG loopholes and a smaller rifle or pistol loop. The entrance is semi sunken and a hawthorn tree makes access very difficult.
Civil Air raid shelter built into bank. entrance hidden by hedge. emergency exit in concrete slab next to building at far end.
Type 22 now preserved in the new housing estate. The grilles on the loopholes look rather out of place but at least it’s still there. This pillbox will shortly be in the middle of a large new housing estate.
See WW2 Airfield Battle Headquarters (battlehq.info) for more information about Airfield Battle HQs
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0015722 (Extant)
This unusual pillbox was in the grounds of a large Victorian house until that was demolished and replaced by at least 14 modern houses. A planning condition was imposed that the pillbox must be preserved, enhanced and protected during and after the building works. This was done and the pillbox […]
This pillbox used to have a corrugated iron roof structure above as camouflage.
