WW2 camp near Tyrie in Aberdeenshire - April 09

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

This was a real surprise. I was actually looking for the ROC post at Strichen. I remembered it was beside a reservoir, so I popped into a shop to ask for directions.

Unfortunately, I was directed to the wrong reservoir.

Fortunately, THIS little lot was here instead. I'd no idea the place even existed. I have NO idea about the history, or even whether this was army, RAF or what. A guy I spoke to who was out walking his dogs did think it was either a radar site or a radio listening station. But he lives right beside it, and has never managed to find out much about it either. So if anyone has a clue, I'm all ears.

I've tried to condense this down as much as possible, but I've still nearly 40 pics to show to give a real flavour of the place. And I STILL want to get back to capture the ones I've missed.

Might be best if I break this down overa couple of posts. Thanks in advance for your patience.

Just a few buildings immediately obvious.

Spot the sky rats fleeing the building before entry?

Inside we go.

Original bottle? It has a proper cork stopper anyhow.

WTF? There's 2 of these things on site. THis one has a wee surprise, as you'll see later.

Time for a break.

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

On we go. Pillbox time. Another couple of surprises here...

Looks like the farmer has tried to block off access in the past. The place is miles from anywhere... Ned acivity would be fairly minimal. So I think it's to keep the livestock out.

I was puzzled by this on top at first. Other pilboxes have similar metalwork cemented on top. But all will become clear later on.

I've never seen one like this before. But wait! There's MORE!

Can I get inside this one? I do believe I can.

These steps do not just lead to the outside. They lead up to the roof.

And here we are on the roof. Come on then folks, what was this for? Searchlight? Anti aircraft gun? There's about 2 more of these that I know of, but this is the only one I had time to check out on this visit.

And so on to the next one.

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

Bunker 2, with pillbox.

Pillbox, again with strange metalwork on top.

Lovely inside. What was the V shaped groove for? Gun mount?

Rifle rest. Looking like it was only put up yesterday. Apart from the pigeon shit.

"You were only supposed to blow the bloody door off!" Oh, you have. Right. Carry on.

Onwards and upwards. Well, off to the bunker anyhow.

Black Shuck · Apr 16, 2009

I have never seen one like that before but I bet Jonney will be interested to see it. Good pics mate.

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

These bunkers are brick buildings, surrounded by reinforced concrete blast walls.

Nice tiled floor.

All the original doors are still in place.

Weird looking doorways through the blast wall to the inside building.

I had a peek inside the left entrance.

Strange metalwork on top of the bunker. I'm guessing something to do with antennas.

Time to move on again. I'd have got more pics of the main accommodation buildings, but it was fenced off, with a couple of horses in there. I'd have risked it, but I was wearing the same jacket that I use when I'm up at the stables, and the smell of my mare Pepsi had one of the amorous wee colts getting a bit frisky.

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

Black Shuck said:
I have never seen one like that before but I bet Jonney will be interested to see it. Good pics mate.

There's more to come. Let's start with a closer look at this pillbox.

A door!!! Still attached!!! A first for me.

Interesting detail on the other side.

Good to see the shelves still intact. And there were rifle rests all around too, but not as good condition as in the earlier pillbox.

And now the mystery of the rooftop metalwork is revealed. This is what's left of the original perimeter fence. Which went OVER the top of the pillboxes, so they were protruding through the fence, with the entrances on the inside. Of COURSE. Why didn't I think of that earlier??? :lol:

Nearly done. On to the other bunker.

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

Hmm. The other bunker didn't have this feature.

Up close. Looks as if it goes under the blast wall.

Between the walls.

A Hole!!! And me without a torch or coveralls.

The best I can do under the circumstances. I'll come better prepared next time. I just hope those 60 odd year old bits of wood aren't the only things holding the roof up.

That's it for now. Thanks for looking.

ww2nut · Apr 16, 2009

wow

wow wow and finally wow, great find never before seen gun rests in place and loved the fencing over the pill box story, true ww2 derelict place cheers for the post loved it

RichardB · Apr 16, 2009

Just as well you couldn't find the ROC post then.

Exploretime · Apr 16, 2009

Seahorse said:

I really like this shot, its quite amazing that the door is still attatched too. Its a wicked explore, i wish it was closer to home for me to go visit. A very carefully put togrther report aswell. Top class mate.

Sabtr · Apr 16, 2009

Wow what a huge site. Very clean too. We need more info from the experts on here!

krela · Apr 16, 2009

The pillbox with the hole in the middle is a type27 pillbox and the hole was for a lewis gun with anti-aircraft mounting.

zimbob · Apr 16, 2009

This looks great, my kinda place

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

Just been doing some very quick research. This is, apparently, Hillhead Chain Home Radar Station. As Krela says, the big pillboxes are Type 27's, with the hole on top holding the Lewis or Bren gun position for anti aircraft cover. Not at all sure if any of the twisted metalwork would have been a gun mount. I'll have to pop back and look at the other 2 to see what exists, if anything.

RCAHMS has details including photos, so I have a feeling I'm going to have to pay a visit to the search rooms.

Here's the blurb from the RCAHMS site...

Archaeological Notes
NJ96SW 30.00 9430 6170

NJ96SW 30.01 NJ 94205 61633 Building (Transmitter Block)
NJ96SW 30.02 NJ 94427 62607 Building
NJ96SW 30.03 NJ 94108 61877 Building; Masts (Receiver Block)
NJ96SW 30.04 NJ 94259 61591 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.05 c. NJ 9426 6194 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.06 NJ 94726 62065 Pillbox; Hut
NJ96SW 30.07 NJ 93919 62311 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.08 NJ 94572 61850 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.09 NJ 94453 61590 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.10 NJ 94183 61686 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.11 NJ 93976 61911 Pillbox
NJ96SW 30.12 NJ 94579 62327 Bunker; Building
NJ96SW 30.13 Centred NJ 94283 61692 Buildings
NJ96SW 30.14 Centred NJ 94252 61767 Buildings
NJ96SW 30.15 NJ 94714 61649 Pillbox

Camp Site (disused) [NAT]
OS 1:10 000 map, 1980

Radar site and domestic site surrounded by steel frame fence with integrated pillboxes and outer ring of pillboxes. The outer pillboxes are in very good condition. World War II; built of brick and concrete. The whole site is derelict but most structures extant.
Survey by J A Guy for Historic Scotland.
NMRS MS/712/6.

A Chain Home radar station, the transmitter block is at NJ 9450 6165.
Information from Mr I Brown, October 1998

This radar station is visible on post-war RAF vertical air photographs (V/RAF/882, 67-8, flown 30 March 1954) in the triangle of land between Hillhead and Whitewell farmsteadings. All elements of the site are visible, including the four masts surrounding the Rx block (Receiver) at NJ 9410 6188) and four masts in a row (NW to SE) to the immediate NE of the Tx block (transmitting) at NJ 9450 6165. The locations of four pillboxes have been identified from these aerial photographs.
Informaion from RCAHMS (DE), October 2002

This Chain Home Radar Station is situated in arable fields at the summit of a low hill about 392m ESE of Hillhead farmhouse. The radar station occupies about 53 hectares of land and the main area was formerly enclosed within a high metal fence.
The site consists of two large reinforced concrete and brick Transmiiter (Tx) and Receiver blocks (Rx), both of which have had the entrances enlarged to accommodate modern tractors as they are being used to store straw and hay bails. The domestic buildings are located between the two large Tx and Rx blocks and all are surrounded by a ring of pillboxes. The accommodation or domestic site is unusual in that it is located with the radar station fence and not remotely situated as with other military installations.
There are some dispersed sites relating to the site, at NJ (NJ96SW 30.02, 30.06 and 30.12 and ), notably the remote reserve and buried reserve between 600m and 800m to the N and NNE along with a pillbox and hut.
The remains of this military installation are notable for their relative completeness including the perimeter defences of type 27 and type 24 pillboxes, of which only one has been removed. More recently much of the metal perimeter fence has been removed and only the section on the N side now remains.
No trace of any of the mast bases was seen on the date of visit nor are they depicted on any of the OS maps.
The location was selected by the Air Ministry as a Radar site in 1939 and it was photographed by the Luftwaffe in 1940 whilst still under construction being named as Smiddyseat after the farmsteading to the S. The evidence on the photograph was interpreted by the Germans as a Radio Station (RCAHMS Luftwaffe Collection no.C47680). The station would appear to have become operational as a final type Chain Home station during March 1942, though it had been working as an Intermediate Chain Home (ICH) from 1941.
The Radar Station at Hillhead closed operationally during March 1946 and dismantling, such as it was began at the end of that month.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE, NG), 28 February 2008

There's also a Luftwaffe arial photo available online...

tom83 · Apr 16, 2009

Awesome Post and Awesome Site. Wish I lived closer to see it....

Seahorse · Apr 16, 2009

Flippin heck, there's a type 27 in Aberdeen. I must have passed it hundreds of times without really seeing it. I see the outer walls have been blocked off. I wonder if they bothered to do the same in the pit? Only one way to find out.

the_historian · Apr 17, 2009

Nice one. Got to admit, I was more interested in the pic with the cuddy in it!

jonney · Apr 17, 2009

Awesome photo's guys Iv'e never seen a rifle rest in a pillbox before. Great stuff am loving it

Foxylady · Apr 17, 2009

What A Find!!! Fantastic! :mrgreen:

I recognised the reinforced brick and concrete control rooms, as there is one like it at RAF Branscombe Chain Home Radar Station, but blimey, there's some amazing stuff there on the site you found, Seahorse. Unusual too!
Excellent stuff!

Seahorse · Apr 17, 2009

the_historian said:
Nice one. Got to admit, I was more interested in the pic with the cuddy in it!

I've a cuddy you could take off my hands, stroppy mare that she is.

Nah, not really. She's stolen my heart.

WW2 camp near Tyrie in Aberdeenshire - April 09

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