Scheduled Monument

Bard Head,gun emplacementSM5367

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
24/02/1992
Type
20th Century Military and Related: Battery
Local Authority
Shetland Islands
Parish
Bressay
NGR
HU 51622 35764
Coordinates
451622, 1135764

Description

The monument consists of a gun, gun emplacement, magazine and associated remains, dating to the First World War.

The 6-inch naval gun installed in 1917 survives within its circular concrete emplacement, within which are ready-use lockers. A fox- hole, or entrenchment, near to the emplacement provided rapid shelter. To the north of the emplacement is a sunken concrete magazine, with ventilation holes in its roof. On the edge of the nearby cliffs are the remains of a hoist used to deliver supplies to the gun-crew, which was provided by the Royal Marines.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, bounded on the S by the top edge of the sea cliffs and including the gun, gun emplacement, fox-hole, magazine and hoist, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as one of the very few coastal defence sites with its gun in-situ, and also as part of an integrated system of defence which illustrates the principles of coastal defence as practiced in 1918, when the major threat was seen as water-borne. It is also of historical significance as a tangible reminder of the vital strategic role played by Shetland in the two World Wars.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU53NW 11.

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.

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Printed: 01/04/2026 12:30