Scanned image of view of trench leading to magazine

Description Scanned image of view of trench leading to magazine

Date 26/5/1996

Catalogue Number SC 673978

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 73036

Scope and Content Trench to magazine, World War I six-inch gun emplacement, Hoxa Battery, Hoxa Head, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands In both World Wars coast batteries were built to protect the channels into Scapa Flow and Kirkwall Bay, where there was an important contraband control. The greatest concentrations of firepower were at the main north-western and southern entrances to the Flow, the latter covered by the coast batteries on Stanger Head on Flotta and here on Hoxa Head on South Ronaldsay. This view, taken from the top of the magazine or ammunition store, shows the deep, curving, rock-cut and masonry-lined access trench leading down from one of the World War I six-inch guns; the former position of the gun is marked by the low, box-like structure visible on the right horizon. The trench was kept in use for one of the World War II guns which stands below the horizon, beyond the two crew shelters. The flights of steps into the deep trench were built in order to afford direct access between the magazine and the later gun. At the heart of the Orkney archipelago, Scapa Flow was the main fleet anchorage for the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Its vital importance led to the creation of one of the most concentrated defence networks in Britain. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/673978

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap