Hackness Martello Tower was built some two hundred metres to the East of Hackness Battery. The tower was built at the same time as the Crockness Martello Tower, which lies across the water to provide overlapping fire. The Hackness Martello was built for a single 24-pdr on the roof and a garrison of fourteen soldiers under the command of an NCO. The barrack accommodation was on the first floor with the entrance. The basement was for the stores and magazine.
These two Martello Towers were built to protect ships in the Longhope Sound anchorage, who were often travelling to or from the Baltic.
In 1866 the Battery and Tower were upgraded but by 1888 there were only two artillerymen in Hackness Tower, possibly with their families. The Orkney Volunteer Artillery were expected to make up the numbers in the event of hostilities and they conducted their drills here.
The initial gun on the roof of Hackness Martello was a 24-pdr and in 1866 it was replaced by a much large 68-pdr, which was also a smoothbore gun. In 1900 this 68-pdr was also removed. The image shows a 64-pdr Armstrong RML from the same period which is on a traversing carriage.
Hackness Martello Tower was built some two hundred metres to the East of Hackness Battery. The tower was built at the same time as the Crockness Martello Tower, which lies across the water to provide overlapping fire. The Hackness Martello was built for a single 24-pdr on the roof and a garrison of fourteen soldiers under the command of an NCO. The barrack accommodation was on the first floor with the entrance. The basement was for the stores and magazine.
These two Martello Towers were built to protect ships in the Longhope Sound anchorage, who were often travelling to or from the Baltic.
In 1866 the Battery and Tower were upgraded but by 1888 there were only two artillerymen in Hackness Tower, possibly with their families. The Orkney Volunteer Artillery were expected to make up the numbers in the event of hostilities and they conducted their drills here.
The initial gun on the roof of Hackness Martello was a 24-pdr and in 1866 it was replaced by a much large 68-pdr, which was also a smoothbore gun. In 1900 this 68-pdr was also removed. The image shows a 64-pdr Armstrong RML from the same period which is on a traversing carriage.