The Torry Battery (formerly referred to as Torry Point Battery) is an artillery battery near Torry in Aberdeen, Scotland, which has overlooked the city's harbour since 1860. It was originally constructed for nine guns with a defensible barracks at the rear. In 1881 the battery mounted three 10-inch Smooth bore guns and five 68-Pounder Smooth bore guns.Stevenson, Ian, 1999. Three Scottish Ports, Redan 46:Journal of the Palmerston Forts Society, Gosport, pp28-48
The battery was adapted for two 6-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns which were mounted by 1906.Plan of Torry Point Battery, The National Archives, WO78/5198 These were used for practise by the local artillery volunteer unit, the 1st Aberdeenshire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers).Lt Gen Sir James Moncrieff Grierson, Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859–1908, William Blackwood & Sons Ltd, 1909, p.154
Both guns were operational during the First World War.Farndale, Martin, 2008. History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - The forgotten fronts and Home Base, Royal Artillery Institution, London, p402
During the First and Second World Wars it was used to defend the city and was finally decommissioned in 1956.Fort Record book, Torry Point Battery, 1940-1956, The National Archives, WO192/257 It is now a scheduled monument.
Construction Construction began on Torry Point Battery in 1857 and concluded in 1861. Some sources claim that the battery was constructed to defend against France under Napoleon III, however, city council records and Napoleon III's history of alliance and cooperation with Britain contradict this.
Torry Battery was built as a long overdue replacement of the 1780 battery on the north side of the River Dee. Records show that the Board of Ordinances made its first request for repairs on the existing battery in 1806 and continued to do so until the eventual construction of Torry Battery.
Modifications In the 1890's the battery was partially dismantled and decommissioned, but was reconstructed from 1904-06 and manned during World War I. The original gun platforms were partly demolished to accommodate for new weapons technology in the First World War and were updated again in the Second World War.
See also
Coastal fortifications in Scotland
References
Bibliography Sinclair, Donald, 1907. The History of the Aberdeen Volunteers, Aberdeen Daily Journal Office, Aberdeen
Further reading Ourpasthistory.com
BBC feature