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Hackness Battery and Martello Tower is a coastal defensive structure located in Orkney, Scotland, dating from the Napoleonic Wars period of the early nineteenth century. The site comprises both a battery and an associated Martello tower, forms of fortification constructed to guard against French naval invasion during the wider conflict that dominated European affairs between 1803 and 1815. Martello towers were standardised circular or polygonal stone fortifications designed to mount cannon on their gun platforms, and this example represents the application of this proven defensive architecture to the Orkney islands, which occupied a strategically significant position in northern waters. The combination of battery and tower at Hackness reflects the period's investment in comprehensive coastal defence infrastructure across Scotland's vulnerable maritime regions.
Hackness, Battery and Martello Tower is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90211. View the official record →
Hackness Battery and Martello Tower is a coastal defensive structure located in Orkney, Scotland, dating from the Napoleonic Wars period of the early nineteenth century. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90211.
Hackness, Battery and Martello Tower is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90211.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Innan Neb, coast batteries, barrage balloon site and camp (1.5 km), Quoy, anti-aircraft battery (WW2) and radar 220m WSW of (2.3 km), Greenhill Broch, South Walls, Orkney (2.4 km).
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Research the area around Hackness, Battery and Martello Tower