Tay Defences, Castle Green, Broughty Ferry Battery

The estuary of the River Tay was heavily defended from the early 20th century, through both First and Second World Wars. A battery of two Quick Firing 6-inch guns, intended to tackle medium-sized enemy ships, was built between 1903 and 1905 just to the east of Broughty Castle on Castle Green, at a cost of £8814 (about £738,000 at 2013 values) by a local contractor, Mr J B Hay of Monifeith.

Along with the 4.7-inch guns on Broughty Castle, the battery covered a controlled minefield laid across the river, which is about 1.4km across at this point. A War Office map suggests that the expected course of an enemy ship would have been about 650m from the battery.

The battery comprised a magazine and store building, the front of which was covered by a deep layer of soil and the roof of the magazine formed the working level of the battery. The two gun emplacements were built on top of heavy concrete foundations at either end of the magazine. The battery control post was positioned to the west of the western gun. A searchlight emplacement (Electric Light) was located in the SW corner.

The battery was disarmed in 1935 and temporarily rearmed with two 18-pdrs in November 1939, and with 6-inch guns in April 1940. The site was placed on a care-and-maintenance basis in April 1945.

Information from HS/RCAHMS World War One Audit Project (GJB) 16 July 2013; The National Archives WO 78/5193; WO 78/5195; WO 78/5196..

NO43SE 69 centred 4660 3048

A two emplacement coast battery with gun mountings are still in situ situated some 100m NE of Broughty Castle (NO43SE 10) (visible on RAF aerial photographs CPE/Scot/UK/214, FFO: 0290-1, flown 1947). The two emplacements are protected by concrete canopies with aprons to the fore. A small accommodation camp consisting of several nissen huts and two brick built huts is situated in the rear. The earlier 19th century gun emplacements (NO43SE 10.01) are also visible on the photographs.

Information from RCAHMS (DE) November 1997

This battery was situated on Castle Green immediately E of Broughty Ferry Castle (NO43SE 10.00). All that can be seen at this location is an earth bank.

The battery was armed with two Mk VII/II 6-inch guns which were installed in 1905 and were removed in 1935. Two 18 pounder guns were installed as a temporary measure in November 1939. The battery was re-armed in April 1940 with two Mk VII/II 6-inch guns. The site was placed on a care-and-maintainance basis in April 1945.

J Guy 2000; NMRS MS 810/9.