Crosby Battery

Coordinates: 53°30′23″N 3°03′42″W / 53.5064°N 3.0616°W / 53.5064; -3.0616

Crosby Battery, also known as Crosby Point Battery and Fort Crosby, was an artillery battery situated between Crosby and Hightown in Lancashire, United Kingdom. The battery was used for port defence and anti-aircraft defence during WWII.[1][2] Crosby Battery worked in conjunction with the nearby Seaforth Battery.

History

Crosby Battery was built on the sand dunes north of Crosby around March 1906 to October 1907. The structure came with three gun emplacements, which were 40 yards (37 m) apart, with ammunition kept underneath the positions. The original compliment of guns were two 6 inches (150 mm) breech-loading Mark VII guns,[3][4] which were the same as those installed at nearby Fort Perch Rock, on the opposite side of the mouth of the River Mersey. Behind the positions were two barracks and soldiers' quarters. Around the battery was an observation post, a signal station, an officers' hut, caretaker's accommodation, a bath house, a workshop. An engine room, with coastal spotlights, was built later. The battery was given the designation S0011771.

After World War II, the Territorial Army used the area, until 1954. The base was subsequently closed in 1957.[5] The battery was the headquarters for the Lancashire and Cheshire Heavy Brigade of the Artillery.[3]

After permission was given for a housing development at Hightown, the Ministry of Defence sold the battery, in 1963, including 417 acres (169 hectares) of foreshore.[6] Many of the buildings were demolished, following this, in 1967.[6] However, the site of the battery still exists, as the site was not fully built on. Though, it was stated as being in poor condition, in 2000.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Liverpool and Merseyside Remembered Accessed 2014-02-07
  2. ↑ Burns, Alison (2015). "Forgotten Fort Crosby: Dune Heritage Revealed". Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Geocaching, Fort Crosby Accessed 2014-02-07
  4. ↑ Pastscape, Crosby Point Battery Accessed 2014-02-07
  5. ↑ An Archaeological Assessment of the Hightown Dunes, Dune Restoration Works Proposals Accessed 2014-02-07
  6. 1 2 3 Sefton Coast Partnership, Coastal Heritage Accessed 2014-02-07
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