Photographic survey of defence sites in the Highlands

Just noticed that the Highland HER page on Inchdown has the two photographic surveys of defences sites in the Highands available for downloading.

Reply related to another post.

mbriscoe wrote:

Did you notice that there were a couple of pictures of the Admiralty "Quadrant Towers" at Loth in the photo survey that I linked to on the HER?

No I didn't, but assumed it was the one for the Nigg Bay range at Pitcalnie. I had hoped the one at Ackergill Tower by the decoy pond was included as it is now gone. The index on those documents didn't marry up with the pages as the page numbers were either non-existent of out of sequence.

Peter wrote:

No I didn't, but assumed it was the one for the Nigg Bay range at Pitcalnie. I had hoped the one at Ackergill Tower by the decoy pond was included as it is now gone. The index on those documents didn't marry up with the pages as the page numbers were either non-existent of out of sequence.

I understood there were several along the coast and used when the warships from Invergordon fired at towed (surface) targets. The pictures are on page 30, the observation point, with pillar for instrument, is on the roof.

I understand now. These are probably the OPs for the Golspie gun calibration range, built at the end of the war. I think these were a specific design and not quadrant shelters for bombing ranges. I have a plan of the Golspie calibration range and it shows multiple OPs along the coast towards Helmsdale. The single storey control building is extant and is now converted into a dwelling which I suspect is semi-bomb proof. As I recall the OPs plotted the trajectory of the shell and it's eventual impact with the water so that the range at various angle of the barrel of the gun can be plotted. No moving or static targets were involved as far as I know. I'll see if I can plot the original locations and extant OPs.

I remember you see one or more nearer the coast as you drive up the A9 but not been to any.

I will pass on your comments and anything else you find.

Peter wrote:

I understand now. These are probably the OPs for the Golspie gun calibration range, built at the end of the war. I think these were a specific design and not quadrant shelters for bombing ranges. I have a plan of the Golspie calibration range and it shows multiple OPs along the coast towards Helmsdale. The single storey control building is extant and is now converted into a dwelling which I suspect is semi-bomb proof. As I recall the OPs plotted the trajectory of the shell and it's eventual impact with the water so that the range at various angle of the barrel of the gun can be plotted. No moving or static targets were involved as far as I know. I'll see if I can plot the original locations and extant OPs.

I took pictures of two whilst at the old church at Lothmore .

Splendid. That would be OP No.18. It looks remarkably like a standard Admiralty Quadrant Shelter. Then again, why create a new design?