SOUTH ISLES - FLOTTA SOUTH ISLES - FLOTTA T
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ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:34 Page 394 SOUTH ISLES - FLOTTA SOUTH ISLES - FLOTTA t h the inner boom defence net For most of World War II g i r y (initially an open-sited 12- Flotta became a huge army p o c pounder, but replaced with a camp, with huts, roads and n w o twin 6-pounder in a standard facilities all over the place to r C enclosed battery) and is typi- cater for the large number of cal of such installations with a personnel manning all the concrete observation tower, installations. New piers were gun emplacement and protect- also built and now Gibraltar ed magazine, plus searchlight Pier is used by the ferry link- houses on the shore, all pow- ing Flotta to Houton and The battleship “HMS Vanguard” blew up off Flotta in 1917 ered by a generator house. Lyness, while Sutherland Pier North Sea Oil The discovery run by Talisman Energy. is used by the Oil Terminal. of oil under the North Sea in At Roan Head in World War I FLOTTA (ON Flat-ey, Flat Station was built at Stanger the early 1970s was to lead to The Terminal exports a size- there was a twin 12-pounder Two wreck buoys which the Isle), belonged to the old Head (ON Steines-gardr, much longer-lasting and eco- able fraction of Britain's oil, in a concrete parapet to cover ferry passes on the approach Bishopric estate, and was Standing Stone Farm, nomically beneficial develop- and has given a big boost to the boom defence net. From to Flotta recall incidents in feued out along with Burray. ND375925) in World War I, ments on the island. Flotta the Orkney economy over the Gate/Innan Neb (ND349923) World War I. In January 1916 In the 18th century it became and enlarged in World War II. Oil Terminal (ND350950) last 30 years through employ- another covered the boom in the oiler Prudentia dragged part of the Stewart of Burray Access to this tower is diffi- was developed originally by ment and royalty payments. World War I, while in World her moorings, ran across the estate, and eventually most of cult, but there is a marvellous the Occidental Oil Company Large ships are again part of War II a twin 12-pounder con- bows of HMS Iron Duke, and the farms became owner- view from the top over Scapa in 1976, to take crude oil from the scene in Scapa Flow. crete gun house, with a single later sank. A much more seri- occupied. By 1911 the popu- Flow and its southern the Piper and Claymore fields tower and underground maga- ous incident occurred on 9th lation was 431 on this quiet, approaches. in the North Sea, the former Production fell dramatically in zine was installed. In addition July 1917, when the battleship but industrious island. starting in 1976, the latter in 1989 after the Piper Alpha dis- there were several anti-aircraft HMS Vanguard blew up at her Flotta had several gun batter- 1977. It was then taken over aster, when the platform and barrage balloon sites on moorings with the loss of over 20th Century Wars brought ies. At Stanger Head there by Elf Enterprise and is now exploded with the tragic loss the island. 800 men. an influx of servicemen and were twin 6in coast defence development to Flotta, which guns in pits with underground The Golta peninsula also saw A hut dating from World War I was much used by the Navy in magazines defending Hoxa much wartime activity. In recalls the detection and sink- both World Wars. There was Sound which were enclosed in World War I the stone St ing of the German submarine, even a golf course at Roan a permanent structure similar Vincent Pier on Roan Head UB116, on 28th October 1918. Head with its own steel jetty to Ness Battery at Stromness. was built by men from that She was detected by as well as a huge cinema, of This was mostly destroyed in battleship. The nearby and hydrophones, which were which one wall remains stand- quarrying operations. now ruinous YMCA building being monitored from this ing above the pier. dates from this time. “Silent Cabin” at Quoyness. Buchanan (ND375935), After the war the hut was A large Royal Navy Port faces the Sound of Hoxa, and During World War II a rocket dragged to Peerie Lurdy for Signalling and Observation during World War II covered battery with 66 launchers and use as an extra room. Innan Neb Coastal Battery Innan Neb Coastal Battery, Flotta a grid of over 100 shelters was Royal Navy Port Signalling and Observation Station Stanger Head, Flotta installed on Golta. Although never fired in anger the flames and noise during tests were apparently impressive. Large quantities of boom defence netting were dumped in Calf Sound at the end of the war and are slowly corroding away. 394 395 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:34 Page 396 SOUTH ISLES - FLOTTA SOUTH ISLES - FLOTTA Archaeology Nothing now remains of the supposed standing stone at Stanger Head or at the eponymous farm near the kirk. In the 19th century an altar slab dating from the 8th century was found on Flotta, implying the pres- ence of a Pictish chapel. The old farm name of Hallywell Scapa Flow and Flotta Oil Terminal from Wideford Hill suggests the presence of a holy well. Traditionally there of 167 men. Following instal- Foinaven floating production without having to suffer much Aerial view of Flotta Oil Terminal from the north with Pan Hope on the left is one, Winster’s Well on Roan lation of the Piper B platform facility to Flotta using shuttle change to the life of the com- Head. in 1992 and addition of sever- tankers. Production started in munity. With the western oil- al smaller fields, output was 1999 and is about 3.7m tons fields on stream, and new Wildlife As on some of the over 10 million tons of oil and per year. More fields out to technology being applied to other smaller islands the less gas in 2002, of which about the west will be developed maximise the older fields, it is intensive farming results in one third was from Foinaven. over the next few years and to be thought that the terminal beautiful pastures of wild A peak of over 13m tons was will probably considerably will continue to benefit the flowers in summer time. The reached in 1995. extend the life of the Terminal. community for a long time to verges, coastline and unculti- come. Hopefully its excellent vated areas all allow plants to The Terminal won the contract Oil-developments have been record in avoiding pollution thrive. Although not famous to handle oil from the Atlantic confined to Flotta, which will also be maintained. for its birdlife, the quietness of Frontier in hard competition means that Orkney has bene- Flotta from West Hill Flotta makes viewing of many with Sullom Voe in Shetland. fited from the new jobs and Visiting Flotta Despite the oil common species easy. which to see the Harbour the South Isles, especially BP ships oil from the royalties brought by the oil, developments and relics of Porpoises which are resident from Stanger Head and from wartime, Flotta makes an Seals lie up on many of the flat in Hoxa Sound for much of West Hill (ND352939), one of interesting visit. Compact rocks around the shore, and the year. the few places in Orkney from enough to explore on foot, this Otters are regularly seen near which both Kirkwall and little island has many contrasts the Oil Terminal. Stanger There are several panoramic Stromness can be seen. of old and new, past and pres- Head is a good place from views across Scapa Flow and ent. Well served by ferries, there is still a substantial local Carved 8th century altar front found on Flotta now in NMS population. The Orkney S M Ferries vessel Hoy Head calls N at Flotta several times per day and connects to Houton and Lyness. Kirk Bay and the Head of Banks, Flotta “Gibson’s Folly”, Pan Hope, Flotta Creels at Pan Hope, Oil Terminal in the background 396 397.