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Tay Defences, Castle Green, Broughty Ferry Battery

Coastal Battery (20th Century), Coastal Battery (Second World War), Coastal Battery (First World War)

Site Name Tay Defences, Castle Green, Broughty Ferry Battery

Classification Coastal Battery (20th Century), Coastal Battery (Second World War), Coastal Battery (First World War)

Alternative Name(s) Broughty Castle; Castle Green

Canmore ID 123411

Site Number NO43SE 69

NGR NO 4660 3048

NGR Description Centred NO 4660 3048

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/123411

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Dundee, City Of
  • Parish Dundee (Dundee, City Of)
  • Former Region Tayside
  • Former District City Of Dundee
  • Former County Angus

World War One Audit of Surviving Remains (16 July 2013)

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..

Archaeology Notes

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.

Activities

Project (1 January 2005)

Pillbox Study Group comprised a list of Second World War sites, drawn together from various documentary sources and field work.

The project is informal and recording is mostly crowd sourced by submissions to the Pillbox Study Group Forum and Facebook Group as well as a number of other online groups and websites. The aim is to continue the work of the original Defence of Britain survey run by the CBA and record the locations and status of 20th century military and civil defence sites. Site visits are often undertaken group members to confirm the status of known sites and record new ones.

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.

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