Archaeology Notes

Event ID 849643

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/849643

NT17NE 71.04 19748 78751, 19737 78764, 19724 78773, 19667 78776 and c. 1977 7863

Four of the five permanent searchlight emplacements built for the two coast batteries on Cramond Island survive. All are built of brick and concrete with steel reinforcing and are situated at the northern end of the Island to the W of the twin 6-pounder emplacement (NT17NE 71.03).

The searchlight emplacements were numbered from 1-5 by the War Office and nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 are those that are still extant.

One emplacement (No.1 at NT 19667 78776), retains the movable steel shutters to permit the adjustment of the light beam. Though heavily rusted, the emplacement also retains the steel shutter tracks at roof and floor levels, to allow this movement.

The history of the Cramond Island searchlights is quite complicated. After the site was re-acquired by the War Office in 1939 and once the two 12-pounder guns had been installed forming Dalmeny Battery (NT17NE 71.02), two temporary searchlight emplacements with 3 degree concentric beams from LCD lamps were positioned near to the later site of Nos. 3 and 4 permanent emplacements. They were powered by three Keighley engines housed in a temporary engine room (J Guy 1997).

In 1940, the twin 6-pounder emplacement was provided with one 16 degree dispersed beam and two 30 degree beams plus one 3 degree fighting light. These lights worked in conjunction with searchlights on Inchmickery (NT28SW 1.00 ) to form a greater illuminted area between the two (J Guy 1997).

Other searchlights installed were:

Early in 1941, a Lyon Light (since removed) was installed S of the No.1 12-pounder emplacement (c.NT 1977 7863) to illuminate the beach; May 1941 an Anti-aircraft projector was built, E of the highest point on the Island, to illuminate the anti-shipping boom (NT17NE 118), later removed to be replaced by No.5 searchlight emplacement. No.5 emplacement itself was installed to provide cover for the 75mm fixed gun mounting at The Knoll (NT17NE 100). In 1943 a further anti-aircraft searchlight was installed to assist in anti-ship illumination (J Guy 1997).

Visited by RCAHMS (DE, AL), May 1998

All are of reinforced concrete, not brick and concrete.

The shutters were not for adjusting the beam. They were to protect the crew and lamp from the elements and small arms/ blast. ( Fort Record Book; Fort Map, Scotland's War)

Information to RCAHMS via e-mail from Mr J Dods (Cramond Heritage Society), April 2006.