Defence of Britain Archive
Council for British Archaeology, 2002. (updated 2006) https://doi.org/10.5284/1000327. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 324
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000327
- How to cite using this DOI
A very extensive and well-preserved series of batteries and associated buildings. Military structures once occupied the whole area eastward from Rerwick farm; the batteries are mostly on the point of Rerwick Head and S from it. The Orkney Structure Plan lists this along with Ness Battery, Stromness, for retention with view to preservation as a historical monument. (Orkney Structure Plan 1975 amended 1978, appendix B, para 7.1).
There were defences here in both World Wars. Visited by R G Lamb April 1979. RCAHMS 1987.This battery included 2 x 6-inch guns on naval mountings from HMS Iron Duke. J Guy 1993; NMRS MS 810/2, 48-58; WO/192/264. At Rerwick Head are the extensive remains of a Coastal Battery with many of the associated buildings such as control positions, command posts, searchlight platforms and the machinery house still upstanding. In addition are the footings of the accommodation blocks, recreation rooms (including the billiard room), bathhouse and ablutions block. An interesting facet of this site is the survival of at least eight turf banked machine gun-posts along the cliff edge between the main battery site (From HY 5410 1187 to HY 5424 1146), with another possible one at HY 5392 1189. There is also a light anti-aircraft position at HY 5392 1187 which retains ammunition lockers. There are further accommodation blocks at HY 5383 1177 with what may be the remains of two air-raid shelters cut into the shoreline at HY 5380 1178, they are no longer are roofed but the concrete steps into them survive at the SE end. Visited by RCAHMS (DE) May 1996.
(Source: NMR )
| Official Name | Rerwick Head Battery |
|---|---|
| Type of site | COAST ARTILLERY BATTERY |
| Location | Rerwick Head. |
| Area |
St. Andrews and Deerness, Orkney Islands, Scotland |
| Grid reference |
HY 5410 1187
|
| Period | WW2 |
| Condition | Fair |
| Materials | Concrete, Reinforced Concrete |
| Recorder | Guy, John A. (Defence of Britain Project) |
| Defence grouping |
Orkney Islands defences - Defences of the Orkney Islands. Scapa Flow fixed defences - Coast Artillery batteries |
| DOB site reference: | S0012904 |
| Associated Identifier | Scottish NMR (ref: HY51SW 10) |
| Event |
Construction, In the period 1940 1941 Field Visit, During 1993 |
