Forth Defences, Middle, Braefoot Point Battery
Gun Emplacement(S) (First World War)
Site Name Forth Defences, Middle, Braefoot Point Battery
Classification Gun Emplacement(S) (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) Forth Defences; World War I
Canmore ID 271601
Site Number NT18SE 25.01
NGR NT 17904 83439
NGR Description NT 17904 83439 and NT 17877 83405
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/271601
- Council Fife
- Parish Dalgety
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Dunfermline
- Former County Fife
NT18SE 25.01 17904 83439 and 17877 83405
Two large concrete and brick gun-emplacements are situated at the top of the steep slope above Braefoot Bay. Both emplacements face SE and have large sloping concrete aprons, arc in plan, measuring to a maximum of 7.4m diameter.
The curtain wall between the two emplacements is about 25m in length. Depth from the rear of the apron to the floor of emplacement is 2.2m. On the NE and SW edges of both aprons are four notches possibly barrel rests.
Diameter of the holdfast for the 9.2-inch guns is approximately 4.10m and the diameter of the rusted bolts is 8cm, one or two still retain their fixing nuts.
The rear face of the curtain wall is pierced with ready-use ammunition lockers and recsses and immediately in front of the holdfast and set into the face of the curtain wall are a series of metal rings.
A tramway still in situ runs from the rear of the gun-emplacements to the magazine (NT18SE 25.03).
Two stone built flat roofed buildings, probably crews shelters or workshops (NT17863 83418 and NT 17864 83429), are situated 23m NW of the southern gun-emplacement
Visited by RCAHMS (DE), March 2005
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.
Field Visit (9 August 2022)
Two emplacements for 9.2inch guns were constructed on Braefoot Point in 1915 as part of the integrated defence of the fleet anchorage in the River Forth E of the Railway Bridge (NT17NW 70). The emplacements stand 45m apart (centre to centre) on the crest of a steep escarpment facing SE over the river. Each gun was mounted on a cast steel pedestal that was secured in position to a holdfast, this being a double ring of high tensile bolts anchored in concrete. The holdfasts in both gun-pits are still visible though overgrown. Enclosing the front and sides of each holdfast is a concrete shield , the inner face of which rises vertically from the level of the holdfast to an overhanging lip 2.2m high. This face contains several recessed lockers of varying size that are now missing their steel doors; the outer face of each shield slopes gently away to its outer edge. Other lockers are present in the high vertical wall that links the rear of the two gun-pits. Shells and propellants were moved from the magazine (NT18SE 25.03) 40m to the NNW by trolleys running on a narrow-gauge tramway that is still partly visible.
Visited by HES Archaeological Survey (J. Sherriff, A. McCaig), 9 August 2022.
Ordnance Survey 1918. 1:360 scale Plan of Special Survey War Department Site at Braefoot Point, Fifeshire - NLS: MapArea.C18:13(05).
War Office 1912 Plan, elevations and other details of the proposed gun battery at Braefoot Point. The National Archives, WO 78/5169.
