Heugh Gun
Battery was built on Hartlepool Headland from 1859, when fears of a French
attack on the British mainland were rife.
Nine guns were placed in three locations, though not all emplacements
remain. The original guns had a range of
about a mile and a half, but were never fired in anger.
In the 1880s and
1890s the weapons were upgraded, then at the turn of the century a major
overhaul of the whole site took place with substantial restructuring in
concrete – most of which remains today.
The new guns which were fitted at this time had a range of over seven
miles and, thanks to the uncertainties of 20th century international
relations, were kept primed until the mid 1950s.
In 1914, they
became the only British mainland guns to engage a 20th century enemy
when they exchanged blows with German warships who were having a pop at the
nearby town. During WWII, the guns were
upgraded again, doubling their range, but were never used. Eventually, the defences were, of course,
rendered useless by the development of long-range nuclear missiles, and the
battery was closed in 1956.
[Information
taken from the Heugh Battery Museum website]
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