North Sutor, Coast Battery

Nothing now remains of the Security Fence, which was built by the Admiralty in 1913 to delimit Site No.1 and enclosed an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres). Although it followed a similar line to its Second World War successor (NH86NW 9.51) on the E and N, there were notable differences on the W, as well as in the outer defences with which it was strengthened. Its complete circuit is depicted on an undated map entitled ‘Cromarty North Sutor Sites Nos 1 & 2’ preserved in the Fort Record Book (WO78/5192) held by the National Archives at Kew. It is also depicted on a sketch map of the battery entitled ‘Telephone Circuits’ (ADM 7/942), dated 7 May 1919, while much of its northern sector is accurately laid down at a smaller scale on a plan depicting the principal buildings of the battery (WO78/5192–16/19).

Georeferencing the N sector of the fence line shown on the small-scale plan (WO78/5192 – 16/19) reveals that the N gate of the battery (NH 81970 68994) was situated 6m S of the gate that replaced it at the commencement of the Second World War. As this earlier gate was aligned with the rest of the security fence on this side of the battery, its position implies that the whole circuit was dismantled and removed sometime after 1918. The undated map showing its full course (WO78/5192) indicates that it commenced at the cliff edge on the ENE (NH 82309 68964) and then ran NW to the edge of the gully (NH 82291 68990), where it shifted its alignment to the WNW and continued to the NE corner of the enclosure (NH 82124 69028). A ‘break-out’, which appears to have been rectangular on plan, was located about one third along this last length (NH86NW 9.49). It not only overlooked the steep gully to the ENE, but also enabled flanking fire along the fence line to the ESE and ENE. A triangular break-out was situated at the NE corner (NH86NW 9.53), where the fence alignment turned WSW to run via the N gate to the NW corner of the enclosure and another triangular break-out (NH 81827 68964). Here the alignment shifted SSW and thence ran down to terminate on cliff top below (NH 81777 68674).

The only hint as to the security fence’s character is found on a photograph taken during the construction of the battery on 28 August 1913 (SC1116243). This shows a distant view of the fence on the NW side of the battery, but although the detailing is poor, it clearly indicates that it comprised a palisade made up of a series of uprights and bays. This suggests that it may have been little different from its successor. However, the photograph does not show the outer defences with which it was strengthened according to the Fort Record Book (WO78/5192). These included barbed wire entanglements beyond its line, which were designed to prevent the defences from being rushed and fire trenches positioned near the break-outs to provide them with cover. However, the photograph does illustrate how some of the structures, such as the large building containing the Canteen and Offices (NH86NW 22.9), together with the Paint Shop (NH86NW 9.74), lay outside its line. This was because they were built for the workers constructing the site and it was only later that the decision was taken to maintain them after the base had been built, on account of their practical utility.

(Visited by HES (ATW, AKK) 26 March 2019)