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

  SM13465_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014513)

Summary

Description

The monument is part of a network of Second World War coastal batteries defending the strategic harbour of Scapa Flow, and is located on Houton Head, which overlooks Bring Deeps and Houton Bay. It is visible as a series of concrete structures, hut bases, and communications and cabling trenches. The battery comprises two brick and concrete gun emplacements for 12-pounder Quick-Firing guns, along with a battery observation post, two crew shelters, a magazine, three searchlight emplacements, two engine houses, a machine gun nest, several concrete hut bases and a series of cabling and communication trenches.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction and use is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of the post-and-wire fences around the site to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular the coastal defences of the Second World War. This is a well-preserved example of a coast battery, showing multiple phases of construction, and utilising a strong strategic position in spite of the inherent logistical difficulties presented by this location. The monument offers considerable potential to study the relationship between the various elements of the site, and its relationship both with the other elements of the Western Scapa Flow defences and the wider defences in place around Orkney and beyond. It also offers the potential to explore and understand the re-use of First World War defences. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the construction and use of coastal defences in Scotland during the First and Second World War.

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.