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South Sutor
Searchlight Battery (First World War) (1913)-(1918)
Site Name South Sutor
Classification Searchlight Battery (First World War) (1913)-(1918)
Alternative Name(s) Cromarty Defences; South Sutor; Little Rock
Canmore ID 369626
Site Number NH86NW 11.45
NGR NH 80068 67247
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/369626
- Council Highland
- Parish Cromarty
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Ross And Cromarty
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
Field Visit (21 February 2020)
This searchlight battery, which formed part of the infrastructure introduced to the Cromarty defences by the Admiralty in the First World War, is denoted by three grass- and tree-grown platforms, which are cut back into the N-facing slope. Two are situated immediately S of the footpath leading to Cromarty, while the third lies to its N. The higher platform S of the path, which measures 7.9m from E to W by 6.3m transversely, is distinguished by a low swelling that may represent building debris. The lower platform to its W measures 11.7m from E to W by 6.3m, while that to the N of the path measures 6.8m from E to W by 3.7m.
The battery is annotated ‘Searchlights and Power Hos’ (Searchlights and Power House) on a plan of the South Sutor batteries in the Fort Record Book held in the National Archives at Kew (WO78/5192 15/19). This shows that it originally comprised five buildings. Its function was to scan the firth for any enemy vessel that succeeded in avoiding the minefield.
Visited by HES, Survey and Recording (ATW, AKK), 21 February 2020.
