Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM10946_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013807)

Summary

Description

This monument comprises a Second World War Z battery (multiple rocket launcher site) and decoy light anti-aircraft battery, and the core associated camp buildings. It is sited on the brow the hill at Golta, part of a heather-covered headland on which many First and Second World War military remains survive.

The Z battery comprises a regular grid of 64 rocket launchers and 128 magazines with the outlying remains of what are interpreted as four personnel shelters and a command post. The command post is now partially collapsed, but it was of panelled concrete slab construction with an entrance in a side wall. The ammunition shelters are constructed of inner corrugated sheeting with raked walls infilled with bags of concrete. This was a part of the curtain of defences protecting the Lyness naval base and a part of what was one of the most heavily defended areas in the UK during the Second World War.

To the E of the Z battery is a dummy light anti-aircraft battery with five circular emplacements.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan with maximum dimensions of 300m WSE to ESE by 280m transversely, to include the batteries and an area around in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is the best preserved Z battery in the British Isles and a rare example of a surviving decoy battery. The network of First and Second War military remains in Orkney (primarily protecting the main fleet anchorage for the Royal Navy at Scapa Flow) is of national, indeed international significance, because of its importance in both World Wars and this site is an important component.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.