Military In Blyth, Northumberland
Two replica Mark VII 6"naval guns mounted on the Blyth beach promenade.
Blyth Battery includes the above and below ground remains of a World War I and World War II coastal artillery battery, situated among sand dunes in the South Beach area of Blyth. The bombardment of Hartlepool in December 1916 by the German High Seas Fleet, killing 86 civilians and injuring 424, was a turning point for coastal defence. It prompted the development of a wider coastal defence plan, and construction of a battery at Blyth commenced in August 1916 by the Durham Fortress Engineers RE.
The new battery's prime purpose was to prevent enemy landings and engage motor torpedo boats, but by the time of its completion in February 1918 it was also intended to protect the submarine depot ship Titania at Blyth. During World War I, the battery housed two six inch Quick Firing guns and two search lights. The guns were manned by four officers and 75 men of the Tynemouth Royal Garrison Artillery.
Officially known as Blyth Battery, the battery was also known as Coulson Battery after the RE Officer responsible for its construction, and also as Link House Battery.
In February 1940, the battery was re-excavated and by 14th March it was ready and mounted with two six-inch B.L. mk.VII guns. Initially called Seaton Battery, it was renamed Blyth Battery in June 1940. The battery was now manned by A Battery, 510 Coast Regiment R.A (TA) with five officers and 110 men. The regiment was an independent Fire Command and commanded Berwick, Amble, Druridge, Gloucester and Blyth Batteries. By April 1944 Blyth Battery was manned by the Home Guard and in late November 1944 was placed in care and maintenance.
The two gun emplacements are Grade II Listed, each housing a six inch gun and are of typical World War I open form. They are seaward facing and fronted by a sloping apron of reinforced concrete. During World War II, each emplacement was provided with overhead protection in the form of a flat roofed superstructure, to protect the gunners from aerial attack.
The guns that are on site today are in fact replicas of the original B.L. mk. VII guns used during WWII and are 6.9m long and had a range of 7 miles!
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What three words
entertainer.cycle.prom
Lat / Long
55.107172, -1.498374
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From the Mermaid car park, just head towards the beach huts and you should see the battery towards the end of the promenade.
What three words
descended.funds.cowboy
Lat / Long
55.108358, -1.500024
Plenty of spaces in the Mermaid Car Park or even further along the Links Road (A193).
Contributed by Andrew Gardner
I love being outdoors, in nature, and experiencing the relaxation it brings. Wandering through the northern countryside seeing unexpected buildings, historic places and occasionally surprised wildlife is one of life's great pleasures.
A beautiful set of beach huts situated on the Blyth Promenade.
The building used to house the rocket apparatus for saving crews from stranded ships near Blyth harbour.
Fisherman and his dog daubed on the back of a wall at Blyth Harbour.
A radome housing an RAF radar at Brizlee Wood sitting on top of Alnwick Moor.
A six storey lookout tower used to assist gun turrets in both World War 1 and 2.
A 14th century stone monument to the Battle of Otterburn in 1388
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