Longhope, Orkney

A coastal artillery battery, Hackness Gun Battery,{{cite web| url=http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/canmore.newcandig_details_gis?inumlink=9497| title=South Walls, Hackness, The Battery| publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland| accessdate=29 January 2009}} was established near Longhope at {{gbmappingsmall|ND338912}} to defend gathering Baltic convoys from enemy attack. Excavation undertaken by Headland Archaeology proved that this battery had undergone two stages of development. It was built between 1813 and 1815 in response to a perceived threat from American privateers. On recommendations made by the Admiralty the base was constructed alongside one of only three martello towers in Scotland;{{cite web| url=http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/canmore.newcandig_details_gis?inumlink=9478| title=Hoy, Crockness, Martello Tower| publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland| accessdate=29 January 2009}} the others being across the bay from Hackness at Crockness and the Tally Toor in Leith.{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst10725.html | title=Leith Martello Tower| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| accessdate=13 July 2007}} Eight 24-pounder guns were placed in the original battery, but were replaced in 1866 with four 68-pounder guns as part of an overhaul. This remodelling was in response to a perceived threat from Fenians based in America. No guns were ever fired in anger from the battery and the excavated remains have been left for public display.

{{main|Longhope Lifeboat Station}}

An RNLI lifeboat has been stationed at Longhope since 1874; the old lifeboat house is now a museum with a former Longhope lifeboat Thomas McCunn on display. On 17 March 1969 the station suffered one of the worst tragedies in British lifeboat history when its 47-ft wooden lifeboat, T.G.B., capsized with the loss of all eight crew after answering a mayday call from the Liberian cargo vessel Irene during a gale of Force 9.{{cite web| url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/hoy/longhope/index.html| title=Longhope| publisher=Undiscovered Scotland| accessdate=13 July 2007}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-47582287 |title=Longhope lifeboat disaster: 'They were an example for us to live by' |publisher=BBC |date=17 March 2019 |accessdate=17 March 2019 }} An unusually high wave, in what were described in the enquiry as "maelstrom conditions", is considered to have caused the capsize. Boats capable of righting themselves were subsequently introduced. The T.G.B. itself was salvaged, repaired and re-allocated to another station. It is now on display at the Scottish Maritime Museum. In total, as of 2004, the station has received 26 bravery honours.{{cite web| url=http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/LonghopeOrkney| title=Lifeboat Station : Longhope| publisher=RNLI| accessdate=13 July 2007| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515053633/http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/LonghopeOrkney| archivedate=15 May 2006}}

• Longhope Lifeboat Thomas McCunn ON 759

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{{commons category|Longhope, Orkney Islands}}

• [http://www.longhope.co.uk/ Longhope's website]

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Category:Villages in Orkney

Category:Hoy, Orkney

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