Forth Defences, Inner, Downing Point Battery
Engine House (First World War) (1914)
Site Name Forth Defences, Inner, Downing Point Battery
Classification Engine House (First World War) (1914)
Alternative Name(s) Forth Defences, Downing Point, Battery And Camp
Canmore ID 377372
Site Number NT18SE 24.04
NGR NT 15806 82486
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/377372
- Council Fife
- Parish Dalgety
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Dunfermline
- Former County Fife
Field Visit (6 December 2023)
What little remains of this Engine House, which is overgrown by brambles, ivy and trees, is situated 22m NE of the building platform that supported the magazine (NT18SE 24.3) of the Downing Point Battery and 13.5m W of the path leading to the sandstone steps (NT18SE 24.113) on the N face of the crag. Although the superstructure of the building has been demolished and the floor is not visible due to the dumping of soil and the vegetation, three rectangular plinths that may have been associated with the building are still visible. The most westerly (NT 15807 82482), measuring 1.7m from E to W by 0.8m transversely and at least 0.23m in height, is distinguished in having a broad central gutter running the full length of its upper surface. Three upright bolts at the edge of each side were provided to attach an engine. A second plinth (NT 15810 82483), which is situated 1.7m to the E, measures 1.1m from NE to SW by 0.95m transversely and at least 0.1m in height. This has a smooth, featureless upper surface and may possibly have been a threshold, although it is not certain that it lay outside the building. The third plinth (NT 15810 82476), which is situated 4.2m SE of the first, measures 3.2m from N to S by 1.05m transversely and at least 0.25m in height. It has a vertical slot 0.2m in length and 0.08m in breadth cut into its E edge, but is otherwise featureless. This appears to have lain outside the building.
The Engine House is shown on Barclay and Morris’ plan of the battery (Barclay and Morris 2019, 103 fig. 9.32) based upon maps dating from 1915-16 held by the National Archives at Kew (WO 78/5165). This indicates that the building was square on plan and was attached to an accommodation block situated on the NNE that contained cooking and dining facilities (NT18SE 24.23). The 1916 map (WO 78/4396), which does not distinguish between these elements, suggests that the Engine House was more rectangular than square on plan. It also shows three circular features just outside the SSW wall.
Visited by HES Archaeological Survey (A T Welfare, J. M. Hepher), 6 December 2023
