Spirit of Orkney» Churchill Barriers

Experience Orkney’s Churchill Barriers

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:51:15 +0000

What better way to enjoy the journey over the Churchill Barriers in Orkney, than by motorbike.

The Churchill Barriers were constructed by Italian POW’s during World War II and now form an important road link between the southern Orkney islands of South Ronaldsay, Burray and Lamb Holm.

This video was taken using a GoPro HD camera attached to the helmet of a motorcycle rider on his Yamaha FJR1300.

His journey starts at Barrier number 4 which links the island of South Ronaldsay to the island of Burray.

To the right are clearly visible, the remains of one of the most complete and oldest sunken block ships, The Reginald. Built in 1878 and sunk in Weddel Sound in 1915, the 930 ton 3 masted motor schooner is today used to store lobster creels.

From the Island of Burray, the short second barrier links to the small island of Glimps Holm and continues on to the second barrier to Lamb Holm where the stunning Italian Chapel built by the prisoners of war can be found.

The journey continues onto the first barrier which links to the southern part of the western mainland.

Turning left through St Mary’s the A961 follows the coastline of Scapa Flow toward Kirwall.Similar Posts:

Churchill Barriers under new ownership

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:46:56 +0000

The Churchill Barriers that link the southern islands of Orkney have been purchased by Orkney Islands Council.

Churchill Barriers looking towards the mainland

Built during World War two as a defence against submarine attack following the sinking of the Royal Oak in 1939, the barriers now form an important road, linking the southern islands with the mainland.

The council purchased the barriers from the MoD for a nominal fee in order to address an “anomaly” in the ownership of the road network but this sale has also given the local authority ownership of the seabed underneath the barriers.

The purchase from the MoD may lead to a marine energy project harnessing tidal flows beneath the installations.

David Hartley of Orkney Islands Council said:

“Orkney Islands Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee has discussed possible options for incorporating renewable energy generation within the Churchill Barriers”.

“Members agreed there should be more detailed discussions of the proposals at a future meeting of the Policy Resources Committee – and on potential options to tackle the problem of waves breaking over Barrier No. 2 during severe weather conditions”.Similar Posts:

Walking in Orkney and the Isles

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:34:33 +0000

Wide open spaces, peace, tranquility and the sounds of nature blend together making Orkney one of the perfect places to strap on the walking boots and go for a walk.

Thousands of acres await any visitor to the mainland or the Isles who want to reset their brains and forget about the hustle and bustle of city life.

Looking out over the Churchill Barriers

During every walk you should stop and take in the surroundings. Take a moment to listen and look around and you may hear the sounds of the Atlantic beating against cliffs or see a seal enjoying the afternoon sun.

Signposted

Many walks are signposted and have well maintained paths and gates. Please keep to these paths and take care to keep away from animals. Keep dogs well under control at all times.

For the more adventurous or those people who want a local guide to help, a number of companies are now available to provide assistance. A local guide is especially useful during the winter or in bad weather to ensure your safety.

We have put together details of a number of walks, guides and maps on our sister site www.wherecanwewalk.com.

If you know of any walks not featured in this list or are a local guide then please get in touch and we can update our information.Similar Posts:

The Churchill Barriers

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:30:43 +0000

Arrive at St Margaret’s Hope on the Island of South Ronaldsay and head North on the A961 to Kirkwall.

This drive will take you over the incredible four causeways linking the Orkney islands of South Ronaldsay, Burray, Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm.

A total length of 1.5 miles (2.3km). The barriers were originally built in 1940 as a naval defence, sealing off the eastern entrances to Scapa Flow.

Since 1914 these eastern passages had been protected by sunken block ships, booms and anti-submarine nets, but during the Second World War, On 14th October 1939, A German U-47 entered at high tide under the cover of darkness, managed to navigate it’s way around the block ships and enter Scapa Flow via Holm Sound. From this point she launched a devastating torpedo attack on the Royal Navy battleship HMS Royal Oak.

The great ship was sunk at it’s moorings taking with her 833 members of her nearly 1000 strong crew. A memorial has been erected in St. Magnus Cathedral on Kirkwall.

No1 Barrier

Further measures were needed to prevent more attacks, and to this purpose, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill ordered the construction of permanent barriers.

Balfour Beatty were awarded the contract and work commenced in May 1940.

Gabions containing 250,000 tons of broken rock, quarried on Orkney, were dropped into place 59 feet deep from overhead cableways. Locally-cast concrete blocks weighing five tonnes were laid on the core followed by ten tonne blocks placed on the sides in a random pattern to limit the impact of the waves.

Building the barriers from a painting by Domenico Chiocchetti

Much of the labour was provided by over 1300 Italian prisoners of war.

Captured during the North Africa Campaign, the Italians were transported to Orkney from early 1942 onwards.

800 were stationed at two camps on the Island of Burray and 550 at the famous Camp 60 on Lamb Holm.

The use of POW labour for War Effort works was prohibited under the Geneva Conventions, so the works were justified as ‘improvements to communications’ to the southern Orkney Islands.

These black and white images were taken from the many interpretation panels around the site.

The barriers were formally opened on 12th May 1945, just four days after VE day.

Rusting hulls of WWI block ships rest in the bay

Rusting hulls and masts of the 21 block ships sunk during the First World War, can still be seen in the sound and are a popular haunt for divers in the region.

All that remains of the Italian POW camps is the breathtaking Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm.

May also be of interest:

Orkney’s Italian Chapel
Orkney Island Council Marine Services – History of Scapa Flow
Undiscovered Scotland: The Churchill Barriers
BBC Legacies: Orkney’s Architectural Heritage
The Orcadian – The Churchill Barriers

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Orkney’s Italian Chapel

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:38:52 +0000

Exterior of the Italian Chapel

A labour of love, exquisite artistic skill and craftsmanship transformed World War II nissen huts into a stunning Italian chapel on the isle of Lambholm.

The distinct white and red facade of the little church on Lambholm has become affectionately known as The Italian Chapel.

Prisoners of war, captured during the North African campaign of the Second World War were stationed at Camp 60 on this tiny island just between North Ronaldsay and Burray. They spent their days working on the Churchill Barriers, a massive series of concerete barriers which seal the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow.

The camp consisted of thirteen or more cheerless huts but the Italians soon transformed the area by planting flowers and

Statue of St. George built from Barbed wire and concrete

making concerete paths. Domenico Chiocchetti made a figure of St. George by building the framework from barbed wire and covering it with cement. They created a theatre with scenery and a recreation hut, but an important feature was still missing… a chapel.

Circumstances were to bring the artist Domenico Chiocchetti together with a new Commandant Major T.P Buckland and an enthusiastic padre, Father P. Gioacchino Giacobazzi. The idea of building a chapel saw reallity but what nobody could have forseen was the creation that took place at the hands of Chiocchetti and his fellow prisoners.

In late 1943 two nissen huts were joined end to end and Chiocchetti set about building a sanctuary at one end, even the lack of available materials could not hinder his artistic talent. Second hand materials and worthless scrap were turned into a masterpiece.

View to the sanctuary

Chiocchetti gathered a small band of helpers including Palumbi; a Smith, Primavera and Micheloni; electricians, Buttapasta; a cement worker and others. Between them they created the alter, rail and holy water stoop from concrete and the tabernacle from shipwrecked wood. Palumbi forged two candelabra from iron and Primavera made four in brass. Behind the altar, reaching to the roof Chiocchetti painted his masterpiece of the Madonna and Child (from a holy picture he had carried with him throughout the war).

Chiocchetti's Madonna and Child

Two painted glass panels flank the Maddona and Child depicting St Francis of Asisi and St Catherine of Siena. He frescoed the santuary vault with symbols of the four evangelists and on either side, lower down, he painted two Cherubim and two Sepraphim with a white dove in the very centre of the vault.

Palumbi was asked to make a rood-screen and gate in wrought iron, this took four months to complete. Needless to say, that the rest of the hut looked stark in comparison, so the camp Commandant managed to secure enough plasterboard to cover the interior of the entire hut. Chiochetti decided that this interior should be covered with patterns resembling brickwork with a dado imitating carved stone. A painter was sent from another camp to work under Chiocchetti’s instruction as this feat was too great for one man to complete.

A dove presides over the altar

A grand interior needed an exterior to match, so with the help of Buttapasta, an impressive facade was erected to hide the ugly outline of the nissen hut. An archway flanked by cement pillars was surmounted with a belfry and ornamented with gothic pinnacles. Widows of decorated glass added lightness and Pennisi moulded a thorn crowned head of Christ in red clay.

The prisoners left the island on 9th September 1944, but Chiochetti remained to complete the font which he had previously started. When the chapel was nearly finished a special service was held, incorporating the bells and Choir of St peter’s in Rome, provided by gramophone records in the vestry.

Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, Mr. P.N. Sutherland Greame, gave the prisoners a promise that the chapel would be cherished by the Orkney Islanders and in 1958 on the initiative of Father J. Ryland Whitaker, S.J., a preservation committee was formed. In March 1960 the committee dream came true, when Domenico Chiocchetti (expenses met by the BBC) visited the island for three weeks and during this stay assisted in some of the repairs and restoration of the paintwork.

A service conducted by Father Whitaker was attended by many Orcadians and Domenico Chiocchetti was the first to receive Holy Communion. Parts of this service were broadcast in the Italian National programme on Easter Monday 1960. On the last Sunday of Signor Chiocchetti’s visit, a service of rededication in the chapel was attended by two hunderd Orcadians. Father Whitaker chose as his text;

“And his work shall be made manifest to all”

In a letter to the people of Orkney, before Signor Chiocchetti left Kirkwall, he said;

“Dear Orcadians, my work at the chapel is finished. In these three weeks I have done my best to give again to the little church that freshness which it had sixteen years ago.

The chapel is yours, for you to love and preserve. I take with me to Italy, the remembrance of your kindness and wonderful hospitality.

I shall remember you always and my children shall learn from me to love you.

I thank the authorities of Kirkwall, the courteous preservation committee, and all those who directly or indirectly have collaborated for the success of this work and for having given me the joy of seeing again the little chapel of Lambholm where I, in leaving, leave part of my heart.

Thanks also in the name of all my companions of Camp 60 who worked with me.

Goodbye dear friends of Orkney – or perhaps I should just say “au revoir”.

DOMENICO CHIOCCHETTI”

Signor Chiocchetti returned again in 1964, this time with his wife Maria. They brought with them a gift of 14 stations of the cross, carved by hand in Cirmo wood and these have now been fixed to the chapel walls.

Crucifix donated by the Italian town of Moena

Chiocchetti’s home town of Moena followed the work with pride and in 1961 the townspeople donated the carved figure of the crucified Christ which was erected in the form of a wayside shrine beside the chapel.

A group of the prisoners of Camp 60 returned in 1992, but Signor Chiocchetti was this time too frail to attend. His daughter Letizia and her husband attended in his place.

Patterns resemble brickwork even on the roof

Signor Chiocchetti died on 7th May 1999 at his home town of Moena and on 9th June 1999 a Memorial Requiem Mass was held at the Italian Chapel at which his wife and daughters were in attendance. He asked them to “say goodbye to the friends in Orkney”.

Today, many tourists make their way to this little church which is the only remaining part of Camp 60.

The letter excerpt and quotations are taken from the Chapel handbook “Orkney’s Italian Chapel” also written in Italian “La chiesetta italiano di orkney”.

May also be of interest:

The Churchill Barriers
The Independent – Domenico Chiocchetti obituary

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