Shapinsay, Galtness Battery
Coastal Battery (Second World War)
Site Name Shapinsay, Galtness Battery
Classification Coastal Battery (Second World War)
Alternative Name(s) Salt Ness
Canmore ID 104704
Site Number HY41NE 32
NGR HY 47558 19842
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/104704
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Shapinsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY41NE 32.00 47558 19842
For Castle Battery and Accommodation camp see HY41NE 31.00 and HY42SE 14
HY41NE 32.01 HY 47549 19845 Gun-emplacement; Observation post
HY41NE 32.02 HY 47810 19883 Engine house
HY41NE 32.03 HY 47544 19790 and HY 47628 19889 Searchlight battery
Galtness Battery: one twin 6 pounder gun emplacement with magazine and observation tower, engine room and searchlights. The battery was placed on a care and maintainance basis in 1945 and the final guns removed in 1951.
J Guy 1993; NMRS MS 810/2; WO/192/260 PRO
Galtness Coast Battery is situated at the end of a track from Gebro farmsteading on the tip of Salt Ness. The battery consists of a two tier brick and concrete observation tower and gun-emplacement, magazine and crew shelters. The engine room for electricity is at HY 47810 19883 and a searchlight platform to the S of the main structure.
The battery was initially armed in May 1940 with a single 12 pounder gun, which was removed during 1941 and then increased to a twin 6-pounder mounting in March 1941. (Public Record Office WO 192/260). The manning of 148 Battery during 1941 was by 535 Regiment. (PRO WO 199/2627 and WO 199/527 )
Visited by RCAHMS (GS), August 1997
