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Swarbacks Head is a coastal gun emplacement located in Shetland, Scotland, dating from the Second World War period when the islands formed a strategically important defensive position against German naval and air attack. The installation represents part of the extensive fortification network established across Shetland during the early 1940s to protect shipping lanes and key installations in the North Sea. The emplacement would have been equipped to provide anti-ship or anti-aircraft defence from its elevated headland position, commanding approaches to the surrounding waters. Such fortifications remain significant archaeological evidence of Scotland's role in the Second World War home defence strategy.
Swarbacks Head,gun emplacements is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5371. View the official record →
Swarbacks Head is a coastal gun emplacement located in Shetland, Scotland, dating from the Second World War period when the islands formed a strategically important defensive position against German naval and air attack. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5371.
Swarbacks Head,gun emplacements 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 SM5371.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Point of the Hurds,chambered cairn 200m NE of (4.9 km), Point of the Hurds,homestead and field system E of (5.1 km), Newhouse,homestead and field system 200m S of (5.5 km).
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