The Torry Battery (formerly referred to as Torry Point Battery) is an artillery battery near Torry in Aberdeen, Scotland, which has overlooked the city's harbour since 1860. It was originally constructed for nine guns with a defensible barracks at the rear. In 1881 the battery mounted three 10-inch Smooth bore guns and five 68-Pounder Smooth bore guns.[1]
| Torry Battery | |
|---|---|
| Torry Aberdeen, Scotland | |
 Torry Point Battery entrance | |
  Torry Battery | |
| Coordinates | 57°8′31″N 2°3′21″W / 57.14194°N 2.05583°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1859-61 |
| Materials | Stone |
The battery was adapted for two 6-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns which were mounted by 1906.[2] These were used for practise by the local artillery volunteer unit, the 1st Aberdeenshire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers).[3]
Both guns were operational during the First World War.[4]
During the First and Second World Wars it was used to defend the city and was finally decommissioned in 1956.[5] It is now a scheduled monument.[6]
Construction
editConstruction began on Torry Point Battery in 1857 and concluded in 1861. Some sources claim that the battery was constructed to defend against France under Napoleon III, however, city council records and Napoleon III's history of alliance and cooperation with Britain contradict this.[7]
Torry Battery was built as a long overdue replacement of the 1780 battery on the north side of the River Dee. Council records show that requests for repairs to the existing battery began in 1806 and continued until the eventual construction of Torry Battery.[8]
Modifications
editIn the 1890's the battery was partially dismantled and decommissioned, but was reconstructed from 1904-06 and manned during World War I.[7] The original gun platforms were partly demolished to accommodate for new weapons technology in the First World War and were updated again in the Second World War.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Stevenson, Ian, 1999. Three Scottish Ports, Redan 46:Journal of the Palmerston Forts Society, Gosport, pp28-48
- ^ Plan of Torry Point Battery, The National Archives, WO78/5198
- ^ Lt Gen Sir James Moncrieff Grierson, Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859–1908, William Blackwood & Sons Ltd, 1909, p.154
- ^ Farndale, Martin, 2008. History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - The forgotten fronts and Home Base, Royal Artillery Institution, London, p402
- ^ Fort Record book, Torry Point Battery, 1940-1956, The National Archives, WO192/257
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Torry Battery, battery 130m ESE of Old South Breakwater (SM9215)". Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Aberdeen City - NJ90NE0013 - TORRY BATTERY". online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Aberdeen City - NJ90NE0257 - ESPLANADE, ABERDEEN". online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
Bibliography
editSinclair, Donald, 1907. The History of the Aberdeen Volunteers, Aberdeen Daily Journal Office, Aberdeen
Further reading
edit
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