A pair of air raid shelters on the small island of Glimps Holm, between Churchill barriers 2 and 3. There are the remains of an old jetty nearby and various artefacts associated with the construction of the Churchill barriers.
Orkney
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Some Anderson shelters on Hoy, the first of which appears to be in situ. This has now been removed (2025)
The distinctive feature of the Anti-Motorboat Boom is the BAULK: As shown in the sketch the standard baulk is a heavy iron-strapped wood and metal tank fitted with eye bolts and links for connecting the boom jack-stays, two pairs on top and one pair across the center line of the bottom. […]
Anti-Torpedo Close Protection Pontoons (ATCPP), were experimental devices used for close protection of naval vessels, at anchor in Scapa Flow, from attack by aircraft-launched torpedoes. These pontoons were only used in Scapa Flow for just over a year (March 1941–April 1942) and very few were brought into service. As such […]
Concentric rings of concrete anchor blocks used to hold the balloon when lowered. These at Neb on Flotta have been exposed by peat cutting.
Recently unearthed, this standard type Battle HQ has had it’s roof and cupola removed. The cupola is said to exist amongst a pile of concrete waste elsewhere on the farm. This BHQ is on private land and was visited with permission from the landowner.
Sadly this much loved building has been demolished despite a campaign to save it.
Deerness Chain Home Station 50, transmitter/receiver block at HY 5690 0736. Various radar types used inlcuding type 13 (Mk1), height finder and type 51, a high power surface watching set which was similar in appearance to the type 52 (for tracking shipping). Only three type 51 stations were built in […]
CHL72A Crustan.
Site Type: PILLBOX (20TH CENTURY) Canmore ID: 296529 Site Number: ND39SW 121 Grid Reference: ND 33922 91339 Description: A small rectangular concrete building with three loopholes is situated above the high water mark about 101m NE of the Martello Tower at Hackness (ND39SW 8). The entrance is in the SE […]
Norcon pillbox, with flat roof with hatch. Small circular Norcon type concrete pillbox built into the remains of a broch.
Located Between St Margarets Hope and Quindry on the road to Hoxa at Ronaldsvoe. The Chimneys are for camouflage only.
Located either side of Northside Road in Birsay Latitude / Longitude: 59.13761124, -3.30437422 Easting / Northing: 325461, 1028597 OS Grid Reference: HY 25461 28597 What3Words: ///erupts.dunk.catch
This pillbox shows some signs of damage probably from small arms fire.
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.
This observation building served as the main control centre for the Lyness Naval Base Air Raid Precaution System. There appears to be the remains of a periscope cupola above the (much enlarged) doorway to the front of the building.
Heading South out of Kirkwall, past the Highland Park distillery, there is, what appears to be, the roof and base of a type 22 pillbox, it looks like the roof has been propped up on bricks and the pillbox removed. This is very close to the line of the Inganess […]
Part of Inganess Stop Line. No close ups of this one as on a guided walk.
Pillbox, roofless. It has been incorporated into the fence line and has three strands of fencing wire which have been wound around the pillbox. The fence has now been moved. It is likely that this pillbox is ex-situ.
A type 22 pillbox with a sunken entrance located at Lyness on Hoy, Orkney.
A type CP/6/40/111 pillbox at the Sands of Wright, Orkney. Thought to have been moved from it’s original position.
In the angle of the junction of Holm Branch road and New Scapa road, Kirkwall.
A type 22 pillbox with a (blocked) sunken entrance located at Lyness on Hoy, Orkney. There is evidence that at least one of the loopholes has been modified using stone and concrete.
Type 22 pillbox. Location identified from the book “If Hitler Comes” Interesting construction with block built corners and shuttered panels between.
This pillbox is undoubtedly not in it’s original position and appears to have been converted for use as a water tank.
Naval Bombing Decoy (N Series): e18999 – locally known as The Brickie Hut.
This shelter is situated on the site of the former HMS Tern. Although similar in construction to the Stanton Shelter the internal shape is different in that it is less “pointy”. The “pointier” Stanton shape means the lower walls are more upright thus giving more room for seated occupants of […]
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 […]
An interesting Type 22 with overhanging roof and entrance hatch in that roof. Located in a Private Garden next to Orkney College.
A type 22 pillbox of unusual construction. Built by the Royal Marines whilst they were guarding Hatston airfield, the pillbox has been constructed using bags of cement, immersed in water and allowed to dry in that form. Exterior views taken September 2007 – Interior views taken September 2018.
Videos from June 2025 Air Raid Shelter at Stanger Head. Port War Signal Station 2020
Wee Fea Naval Communications And Operational Centre.
This massive WWI building provided a welcome rest and recreation centre for the many troops stationed on Flotta and for the Navy, who came ashore at the nearby St Vincent pier. There was a golf course and several tennis courts. The annual Grand Fleet Boxing Championship was held nearby, where […]
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.
1 x Twin 6pdr QF gun house and associated buildings.
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.
Coast artillery Battery housing 2 x 12pdr QF guns. Remains of paintings in each gun house. Pictures are from 2003. Pictures from 2020
2 x 12pdr Quick Fire in WWII and 2 x 4″ QF in WWI
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.
1 x 12pdr QF installed in a temporary emplacement allowing all round traverse.
4 x 12pdr QF guns were emplaced here. The battery remains fairly complete. The magazines are still extant but buried.
1 x Twin 6 pdr QF emplaced here. Search light houses are facing collapse from erosion.
1 x Twin 6pdr with no overhead cover. Unigue double split beam searchlight houses.
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.
2 x 12 pdr QF and associated buildings.
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 12pdr QF one in concrete gun house the other in an open emplacement with a peat blast wall to allow all round traverse.
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 […]
1 x Twin 6pdr Q.F.
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. […]
2 6″ BL Mk7 on CP2 mountings. This battery was built in 1938 and was still in M.O.D. ownership until the late 1990s. It has been preserved and tours are available. See http://www.nessbattery.co.uk/ for more details.
Located on the Golta peninsular on the Island of Flotta, This WWI battery initially housed 3 3pdr’s. This was upped to 4 12pdr’s which were transferred from Holm battery . The battery is extremely well preserved and even has blast baffles remaining in one of the trenches to the magazine.
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 […]
One of the two 12pdr temporary mountings for Scad battery – there’s no sign of the other. Pictures September 2025. Pictures and video June 2025. Light (for Orkney) rain falling.
2 x 12pdr QF guns emplaced here.
2 x 6″ breech loaders Mk7 on CP2 mountings. There was also a 4.7″ gun on a temporary mount next to the battery. Much of this battery has been destroyed by quarrying.
2 x 12pdr QF in gunhouses with different architecture.
There are four searchlights installed here and a Twin 6pdr with no overhead cover or director tower. Pictures below from June 2025. Extreme range photo’s taken from Pentalina Ferry.
