Heugh Battery facts for kids
The Heugh Gun Battery is an old military fort located on the Headland in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. It was built to protect the town's important port. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about its history and see old artillery.
A Look Back in Time
The Heugh Battery was one of three forts built in 1860. Their main job was to protect the growing port of Hartlepool from attacks by sea. The Heugh Battery and another called Lighthouse Battery were near the Heugh Lighthouse. They had large, older types of cannons called 68-pounder smoothbore guns. A third fort, Fairy Cove, also had similar guns a bit further north.
Over time, the battery was updated. In the 1880s, it was changed to hold three newer, more accurate guns called 64-pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading guns. These guns were better because they had grooves inside the barrel (rifling) which made the shells spin and fly straighter.
By 1893, even newer guns were invented. These were called breech loaders because they were loaded from the back, which was much faster. The Heugh Battery became less important then. However, the Lighthouse Battery was rebuilt for one of these new 6-inch guns. Two more were placed at Cemetery Battery, north of the town.
World War I Action
In 1900, the Heugh Battery was completely rebuilt. It was fitted with two powerful 6-inch Mk VII guns. These guns were placed in special spots with an underground room for storing ammunition between them. In 1907, the Lighthouse gun was also replaced with a 6-inch Mk VII gun, and Cemetery Battery closed.
These three guns were very important during the Bombardment of Hartlepool on December 16, 1914. This was a surprise attack by German warships during World War I. The guns were operated by soldiers from the Territorial Force, part of the 1st Durham Volunteer Artillery.
During the bombardment, a German shell landed very close to the Heugh Battery. Sadly, this event marked the first time a soldier died in battle on British soil during World War I. A special plaque remembering this moment can be found on the coastal path near the battery.
World War II and Beyond
In 1936, one of the Heugh Battery's guns was removed. The Lighthouse Battery was then joined with Heugh Battery, so its gun became Heugh's No. 1 gun. A special device called a Barr and Stroud rangefinder was also added. This helped soldiers figure out how far away enemy ships were.
When World War II began in 1939, the battery was once again staffed by soldiers. New equipment for finding ranges and controlling fire was brought in. By 1942, the battery was changed to help defend the coast and also to shoot down enemy aircraft. The Lighthouse and remaining Heugh gun positions were updated for powerful 6-inch Mk 24 guns. A third position was built nearby, but it's not clear if a gun was ever placed there.
The Heugh Battery was temporarily closed in 1944. It reopened in 1947, and new anti-aircraft guns were brought in. However, the battery finally closed for good in 1956 when coastal defenses were no longer needed.
Today, the Heugh Gun Battery is looked after by the Heugh Gun Battery Trust. It is now a museum that shows off its history and a collection of old artillery.
Images for kids
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Heugh Battery entrance
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Plaque remembering the events of December 16, 1914.
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Inside Heugh Battery Geograph 1997113 e0d8665.jpg
A view inside the Heugh Battery today.
