Archaeology Notes

Event ID 863656

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/863656

NT28SE 5.02 29241 83120

For Victorian period gun battery remains see also NT28SE 1.02

The North Battery housed 2x 6-inch Mk VII/II guns which were installed in September 1904.

J Guy 1994; NMRS MS 810/3; PRO WO/192/251.

This battery is situated 98m S of the fog horn located on the extreme northern tip of the Island (NT28SE 13). The battery Observation Post (BOP) is another 21m to the S. The BOP is built above the remains of the Victorian Fort No.2 (NT28SE 1.02) and the below ground magazines and accommodation rooms have been utilised in the operation of the later 20th cenutry battery.

The single circular concrete emplacement with the brick and concrete canopy supported by steel beams and stanchions is of later date. To the rear of the emplacement are several ready use ammunition lockers and the entrance to a tunnel/corridor leading to the 19th century magazines. The traces of at least one painted wall sign was noted and like the larger gun emplacements to the S, two metal rings are built into the wall of the gun pit to allow the servicing and replacement of gun barrels and breeches to take place.

The battery Observation Post stands to two storeys high is constructed of brick and concrete. The tower has the appearance of two phases with a main observation platorm facing NE to cover the N channel, but an additional upper storey with bi-driectional viewing. Entrances to the underground areas (NT28SE 1.02) can be found to the S and W.

Annotated as 'M group' on the WO plan of the Island (copy in RCAHMS as MS 879/83).

Visited by RCAHMS (DE, AL, JM), 25 February, 4 and 5th March 2009