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Edinburgh, Cramond Island, Cramond And Dalmeny Batteries, Nos 1, 3,4 And 5 Emplacements
Searchlight Battery (Second World War)
Site Name Edinburgh, Cramond Island, Cramond And Dalmeny Batteries, Nos 1, 3,4 And 5 Emplacements
Classification Searchlight Battery (Second World War)
Alternative Name(s) Forth Defences
Canmore ID 271554
Site Number NT17NE 71.04
NGR NT 19724 78773
NGR Description 19748 78751,19737 78764,19724 78773,19667 78776
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/271554
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
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.
Field Visit (31 August 2022)
Four searchlight emplacements are strung out along the top of the foreshore at the N end and NE corner of Cramond Island. All are brick-built upon concrete rafts and have flat concrete roofs that once supported a camouflage cover of grass retained in place by a low brick border. In all four structures the flat roof incorporates a circular aperture that once housed a vent directly above the searchlight. All four buildings are liberally covered inside and out with graffiti. They are described from W to E.
NT 19668 78779. This emplacement (No.1) comprises two internal components, a southern one that is square-ended and has a doorway (1.52m wide) in its E side, and a northern one which is angular on plan on the outside but circular internally. This northern compartment retains both the lower and upper frames for sliding steel shutters which are no longer in place though one now lies on the ground in front of the building. Internally, the emplacement measures 5.16m from N to S by 2.9m transversely within walls 0.46m thick. The flat roof, which has an overhang of 0.16m, is supported by two steel I-beams that run from side to side. Immediately outside the entrance is a small spread of concrete, the upper surface of which appears to bear the scratched date 22/5/44.
NT 19726 78776. This emplacement (No.2) measures 4.94m from NE to SW by 2.89m transversely within walls 0.46m thick and 2.36m high to the underside of the roof. The SW end of the building is squared and has a doorway (1.54m wide) in its SE side which retains it steel frame. One of the steel double doors lies rusting a little outside. In the NW side close to the W corner there is a firing embrasure with an external splay 0.55m wide. The NE end of the emplacement is rounded and contains three narrow vertical openings.
NT 19740 78766. This emplacement (No. 3) measures 6.37m from ENE to WSW by 2.87m transversely within walls 0.46m thick and 2.37m high to the underside of the roof. The WSW end of the building is squared and has a doorway (1.54m wide) in its NNW side which retains its steel frame. In the SW corner there is a firing embrasure. The ENE end of the emplacement is rounded and contains three narrow vertical openings.
NT 19751 78754. This emplacement (No. 4) measures 4.86m from E to W by 2.87m transversely within walls 0.46m thick and 2.32m high to the underside of the roof. The W end of the building is squared and has a doorway (1.54m wide) in its N side which retains it steel frame. In the W end there is a firing embrasure with an external splay 0.66m wide. A small round opening in the roof about half-way along the N side may have once housed a stovepipe. The E end of the emplacement is rounded and contains three narrow vertical openings.
The fifth emplacement mentioned in previous reports has been removed. It is likely that the large fragments of steel reinforced concrete that have been deposited down the cliff at NT 19754 78704, some 21m SW of the Second World War gun emplacement (NT17NE 71.03), are the remains of it.
Visited by HES Archaeological Survey (J. Sherriff, A. McCaig) 31 August 2022.
Measured Survey (30 August 2022)
HES surveyed the searchlight emplacement (DEL No. 1) at Cramond Battery on 30 August 2022 with tape and laser measurer at scale of 1:50. The resultant plan was redrawn in vector graphics software at a scale of 1:100.
