South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, Balfour Battery

Hut(S) (20th Century), Observation Post(S) (20th Century)

Site Name South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, Balfour Battery

Classification Hut(S) (20th Century), Observation Post(S) (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) World War Ii; Scapa Flow; Pentland Firth

Canmore ID 270386

Site Number ND49SW 19.02

NGR ND 40321 93058

NGR Description ND 40334 93091 and ND 40321 93058

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/270386

Digital Images

SC 670480

Scanned image of Battery Observation posts (towers) for W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacements, general view from North

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Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

21/5/1996

SC 1682280

Oblique aerial view, taken from the N, centred on Hoxa Batteries and Military Camp, and Balfour Battery.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682301

Oblique aerial view, taken from the W, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing Hoxa Battery in the left centre of the photograph.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682408

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, First World War coastal battery and the Second World War Balfour Battery taken from the SW. Also visible are the concrete hut bases of the accommodation camp.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

SC 670478

Scanned image of Battery Observation posts (towers) for W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacements, view from South East. Light beacon in the background.

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Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

21/5/1996

SC 1682282

Oblique aerial view, taken from the NW, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing the edge of Hoxa Battery in the centre right of the photograph.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

DP 053096

Oblique aerial view centred on the Balfour coastal gun battery, taken from the NW.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital

23/9/2008

SC 1166688

Oblique aerial view, taken from the NNW, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing Hoxa Battery in the background.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682299

Oblique aerial view, taken from the N, centred on Balfour Battery and Hoxa Battery.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682307

Oblique aerial view, taken from the N, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing Hoxa Battery in the top right-hand corner area of the photograph.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682308

Oblique aerial view, taken from the NW, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing Hoxa Battery in the top right-hand corner of the photograph.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682328

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, taken from the SW. Visible is Second World War Balfour Battery and part of the two open gun-emplacement First World War Hoxa Battery.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

SC 2596324

Battery observation post, view from South West

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Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

21/5/1996

SC 600936

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, First and Second World War coastal batteries and the Second World War Balfour Battery taken from the SW. Also visible are the concrete hut bases of the accommodation camp.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

DP 053097

Oblique aerial view centred on the Balfour coastal gun battery, taken from the WNW.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital

23/9/2008

DP 060124

General oblique aerial view centred on the Hoxa Head Battery, taken from the NW.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital

13/5/2009

SC 1682281

Oblique aerial view, taken from the NW, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing Hoxa batteries and Military Camp in the top right-hand corner of the photograph.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682300

Oblique aerial view, taken from the NNW, centred on Balfour Battery, and showing Hoxa Battery in the background.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682325

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, taken from the NW. Visible is the Second World War Balfour Battery and in the background the First World War Hoxa Battery with the rock-cut entrances to the magazines.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

SC 1682326

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, taken from the W. Visible is the Second World War Balfour Battery and the First World War Hoxa Battery with two open gun-emplacements and rock-cut entrances to the magazines.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

SC 670485

Scanned image of Battery Observation posts (towers) for W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacements, view from North

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Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

21/5/1996

SC 1682306

Oblique aerial view, taken from the NE, showing Hoxa Batteries and Camp Site in the centre and left half, and Balfour Battery in the centre right of the photograph.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

13/6/1995

SC 1682410

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, First and Second World War coastal batteries and the Second World War Balfour Battery taken from the NW. Also visible are the concrete hut bases of the accommodation camp.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

SC 600930

Scanned image of Battery Observation posts (towers) for W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacements, view from North East

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21/5/1996

SC 2596263

Battery observation posts W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacements, view from North East.

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Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

21/5/1996

SC 2596264

Battery observation posts for W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacement and lighthouse, view from South East

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Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

21/5/1996

SC 600931

Scanned image of Battery Observation posts (towers) for W.W.2 twin 6-pounder gun emplacements, view from South West

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21/5/1996

SC 910836

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

DP 060125

General oblique aerial view centred on the Hoxa Head Battery, taken from the NNW.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital

13/5/2009

SC 1682406

Oblique aerial view of Orkney, South Ronaldsay, Hoxa Head, Balfour Battery and lighthouse, taken from the WSW.

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

SC 1682409

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RCAHMS Aerial Photography

4/8/1997

Collections

Administrative Areas

Council Orkney Islands
Parish South Ronaldsay
Former Region Orkney Islands Area
Former District Orkney
Former County Orkney

Archaeology Notes

ND49SW 19.02 40334 93091 and 40321 93058

A pair of identical two-storey shuttered concrete observation posts are situated about 3.6m behind the gun-emplacements. The towers measure 4m by 2.9m overall and stand to about 10m high. The entrances are on the N side

Both viewing platforms have canopies and the window frames survive in both towers. Small stepped recessed windows have been cut through both the N and S elevations and a further two stepped recessed windows on the rear elevation at second floor level.

Internally concrete floors survive.

There are two concrete huts on each side of the towers, presumably crew shelters.

Visited by RCAHMS (DE, GS, SW), May 1996

References

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