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Dirleton, Ground Control Intercept Radar Station

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Radar Station (20th Century)

Site Name Dirleton, Ground Control Intercept Radar Station

Classification Radar Station (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Dirleton New Mains Farm

Canmore ID 121938

Site Number NT58SW 72

NGR NT 51679 84851

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/121938

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

Building survey, Scanned photograph of the NW corner of the operations block from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East Lothian
Building survey, Scanned photograph of the NW corner of the operations block from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the sewage plant / pump house from the SE, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the sewage plant / pump house from the NW, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the S end of the operations block from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianOblique aerial view of the cropmarks of the field boundaries, looking W.Building survey, Scanned photograph of the operations block from the NE, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of IFF cubicle in field to W of the main block from the E, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianOblique aerial view of the cropmarks of the field boundaries, looking SSE.Building survey, Scanned photograph of the domestic accommodation from the S, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the domestic accommodation from the E, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the N end of the operations block from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the generator house from the N, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the guard dog enclosure from the SW, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianOblique aerial view.Building survey, Scanned photograph of the generator house from the SE, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the sewage plant / pump house from the NW, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianOblique aerial view of the cropmarks of the field boundaries, looking WSW.Building survey, Scanned photograph of the operations block from the SE, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the PPI aerial stance from the S, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the IFF cubicle from the NW, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of air raid shelter from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the operations block and domestic accommodation from the NW, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the generator house from the E, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the generator house from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the sewage plant / pump house from the NE, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of sub-ground control room for a Type 7 aerial from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East LothianBuilding survey, Scanned photograph of the stance of a Type 13 height finding radar set from the W, The Radar Station, Dirleton, East Lothian

Administrative Areas

  • Council East Lothian
  • Parish Dirleton
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District East Lothian
  • Former County East Lothian

Archaeology Notes

NT58SW 72 51679 84851

This radar station is situated to the N of Dirleton village and some 150m NE of Dirleton New Mains farm. It consists of a large long building with several separate brick and concrete huts. The radar station formed part of the ground control of the interception radar (G C I) for the Edinburgh area.

J A Guy 1997; NMRS MS 810/5, 165, 176-7, 184

The radar station was the Ground Control of Interception (GCI) radar for the Edinburgh area. The operations block is at NT 5168 8484. The station had various radar types including a type 7, which was a final G.C.I. version consisting of a large fixed aerial with equipment in an underground well below; a type 8, mobile G.C.I. and a type 21 which was a development of the G.C.I. comprising type 13 (height finder) and 14 (accurate detection, giving range and bearing radars operating in conjunction. The type 21 thus provided three dimensional information, range and bearing and also height.

Information from Mr I Brown to RCAHMS, 19 October 1998

Further Details

Activities

Standing Building Recording (2001)

NT 5167 8483 A survey of the WW2 radar station at Dirleton was undertaken prior to the development of the site for housing. Within the site boundary the standing structures comprise an operations block, generator house, filter bed, Type 14 radar plinth and an 'Identification Friend or Foe' (IFF) cubicle. These were constructed in 1943 and the years immediately afterwards, and formed a part of a Ground Control of Interception (GCI) station. Initially housed on lorries with the aerials on 'caravans', the first buildings were of wood, later to be replaced by the present brick and concrete structures. Further enhancements were made during 1945, but by the time the building was completed the war was largely over and the station was turned over to training. It worked closely with the night fighter units from Charterhall and Drem. The GCI closed down in 1946 but the site was used for training purposes until 1954.

Other features identified include the stance for a Type 13 height finding radar, the foundations of the administration block and a guard dog enclosure. Further structures associated with the station also survive outwith the survey area. These include a second IFF cubicle, the subterranean control room and stance for a Type 7 radar aerial, and a Stanton air raid shelter.

Full report lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Bankton Developments.

T Holden 2001

Further Details

References

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