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Bressay, Bard Head
Coastal Battery (First World War)
Site Name Bressay, Bard Head
Classification Coastal Battery (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) World War I; Bressay South
Canmore ID 72080
Site Number HU53NW 11
NGR HU 51638 35742
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/72080
- Council Shetland Islands
- Parish Bressay
- Former Region Shetland Islands Area
- Former District Shetland
- Former County Shetland
HU53NW 11.00 51638 35742
HU53NW 11.01 HU 51516 35953 Military Camp
HU 5164 3574. This coast battery is situated on the S tip of Bard Head. Established in the First World War as a heavy artillary unit with one 6-inch gun, it formed part of the coast defences of Lerwick. The site still has its gun in situ with the gallows for installing guns and landing stores nearby.
J Guy 1995; NMRS, MS/810/4, 114-117
Gun-emplacement at HU 51638 35742, magazine HU 51643 35771 and gallow at c.HU 5158 3579.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), March 2006
Publication Account (1997)
Bressay is yet another island dominated by a hill named the Ward, suggesting that it was used in Norse times as a hill on which beacons might be lit to warn of enemy movements. The lighthouse guards the southern entrance to Bressay Sound in much the same way that the broch of Mousa to the south guarded Mousa Sound some two thousand years ago. The north end of the Sound is protected by the lighthouse on Easter Rova Head on the mainland north of Lerwick. Designed by David and Thomas Stevenson and built during 1856-8, the lighthouse tower has a corbelled parapet and a cupola lantern. There are two fine ranges of keepers' quarters, and the station was equipped with a fog horn.
The road ends at Kirkabister Ness, but from here it is possible to walk south-eastwards along the coast to the Bard, where a 6-inch gun on its mounting survives from the defences of the First World War (HU 516357 [ HU53NW 11]).
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Shetland' (1997).
Project (March 2013 - September 2013)
A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.
Note (20 September 2013)
The magazine is located next to the gun emplacement at HU 51630 35736.
For the accommodation camp for the battery see HU53NW 11.01.
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 20 September 2013.
