Blyth Coastal Defence Battery. Photo by Northumberland County Council.

Coastal defence fort, Grade II. Late 19th century origin, remodelled 1914-18, alterations 1939-45. Originally called Fort Coulson. Link House Battery carried two 6-inch guns in WW1, recommissioned in WW2. Rare survival of WW1 coastal defence complex. Fort comprises a pair of gun emplacements (NZ 32107930), magazine and shell store (NZ 32067930), shelter block (NZ 32087929), and a Defence Electric Light director station (NZ 32067936) and blockhouse (NZ 32047940). Flat roof of gun emplacement is 1939-45 addition. The director station is a two-storey 6-sided tower with metal sheeted rangefinder housing on top. Five-sided blockhouse. (1)

Post-war the gun emplacements adapted for shelter and seating, backfilling the emplacements and building dwarf brick walls. Seating removed and railings added.
Detailed description of all the buildings in the fort complex with a diagrammatic plan. Structure groups include: gun emplacements and associated buildings; fire control buildings; magazine and shell store; blockhouses; shelter; and domestic accommodation.
The domestic accommodation associated with the battery was largely demolished when the coast road was widened between the wars. In WW2 the accommodation was built to the east of the coast road, north and south of the battery. The principle area was to the south and structures remained until at least 1951 - no trace now remains.
The aim of the battery was to prevent landings, engage motor torpedo boats and act as an examination battery. Defence was needed because of the important coal trade from Blyth and the siting of a submarine base in Blyth Harbour. Construction commenced August 1916, built by Durham Fortress Engineer RE, and completed in February 1918. Three names in circulation: Fort Coulson, Link House Battery and Blyth Battery.
In WW2 the battery was in operation by March 1940 as 'Seaton Battery', renamed 'Blyth Battery' on 15th June 1940. Guns dismantled 1949. (2)

Blyth Battery coastal defence fort, First World War. Two emplacements with buildings behind. Graffiti covered but in good condition. (3)

The monument includes the above and below ground remains of a World War I and World War II coastal artillery battery, situated among sand dunes in the South Beach area of Blyth. The monument is divided into two separate areas of protection.
The bombardment of Hartlepool in December 1916 by the German High Seas Fleet killing 86 civilians and injuring 424 was a turning point for coastal defence. It prompted the development of a wider coastal defence plan, and construction of a battery at Blyth commenced in August 1916 by the Durham Fortress Engineers RE. The new battery's prime purpose was to prevent enemy landings and engage motor torpedo boats, but by the time of its completion in February 1918 it was also intended to protect the submarine depot ship Titania at Blyth. During World War I, the battery house two six inch Quick Firing guns and two search lights. The guns were manned by four officers and 75 men of the Tynemouth Royal Garrison Artillery. Offically known as Blyth Battery, the battery was also known as Coulson Battery after the RE Officer responsible for its construction, and also Link House Battery. The battery buildings are depicted on the third edition OS map for the area and are shown as two separate areas, each surrounded by an enclosure provisioned with landward defences. The exact nature of the enclosures is uncertain but they may have been temporary constructions. In 1925 Blyth Battery became incorporated into the development of the South Beach amenities when two of the buildings were converted into public toilets. In February 1940, the battery was re-excavated and by 14th March it was ready and mounted with two six-inch B.L. mk.7 guns. Initially called Seaton Battery, it was renamed Blyth Battery in June 1940. The battery was now manned by A Battery, 510 Coast Regiment R.A. (TA) with five officers and 110 men. The regiment was an independent Fire Command and commanded Berwick, Amble, Druridge, Gloucester and Blyth Batteries. By April 1944 Blyth Battery was manned by the Home Guard and in late November 1944 was placed in care and maintenance.
The first area of protection contains two gun emplacements, various shelters, a Royal Artillery store, a World War I and World War II battery observation post, a magazine and shell store and a block house. These were all contained within an enclosure and traces of the position of this enclosure are preserved in the sand dunes on the north and east sides, where they are visible as prominent scarps. The two gun emplacements are Listed Grade II.
The gun emplacements each house a six inch gun and are typical of World War I open form. They are seaward facing and each is fronted by a sloping apron of reinforced concrete. During World War II, each emplacement was provided with overhead protection in the form of a flat roofed superstructure, to protect the gunners from aerial attack. The gun emplacements are linked by a wall with a lower, flat-roofed, rectangular building to the rear. This building is divided into two separate rooms to form two lying down shelters in which the gun crews would rest. Access to the shelters was along a narrow lane to their rear. During the World War II alterations, the shelters were modified by the infilling of the original stairs and the insertion of a new door through the west wall. Internally much of the woodwork surives and one retains an original stove. The internal wall face at each end contains cupboards fitted with iron doors.
Immeditately opposite the mor southerly of the two shelters there is a rectnagular flat-roofed building that was used as a Royal Artillery store during World War I; gun and instrument parts were stored here and it also served as a workshop for the battery's artificier. During World War II it was used as sleeping quarters for the gun crews. To the south wesr of the store the officer's and men's shelters are contained within a rectangular building which was originally divided into three compartments; for the men, for the officers and a smaller room for the Battery Sergeant Major. This building was converted into public toliets between World War I and World War II.
The magazine and shell stores which stored the reserve ammunition, are situated to the rear of the gun emplacements. Facing west, this structure was built into the face of a sand dune. An artificial mound which originally protected the entrance has been removed. The complex of four rooms includes a shell store, a shifting lobby, a magazine and a lamp room. The western face contains two doorways with a narrow opening to the right, giving acces to the surrounding blast space. Internally much of the original woodwork and fittings survive. From this structure shells and cartridges were carried on trolleys to recesses beneath the gun emplacements.
The World War I Battery Observation Post, where all operations were controlled is situated to the north of the gun emplacements and magazine complex. This building is visible as a two storey flat-roofed tower which retains metal range finder housing on its roof. On its western side a metal stair leads up to a balcony supported on cantilever brackets. The lower storey housed the signallers, fire commander and associated services while the upper storey contained the battery Commander Post and the Defence Electric Light (D.E.L) installation Directing station. When the battery was recommissioned during World War II, this Observation Post was supersded by a new Battery Observation Post which was completed in August 1940. This new building, situated immeditately north of its predecessor, is visible as a rectangular, flat roofed tower of two storeys. The lower floor is divided into two rooms thought to be the Regimental Plotting Room and the signallers post. The upper floor of this building was equipped with a Depression Range Finder; the original pillar of which remains in situ.
Situated between the two Battery Observation Posts there is a five-sided block house which formed part of the landward defence of the battery. It has a flat concrete roof, a doorway, two hatches and nine loopholes. The five largest loopholes were intended for riflemen, while the four small loopholes were intended for machine guns and housed lamps to illuminate the immediate area at night. During World War II, this blockhouse was used to house an artificier's workshop.
The second area of protection lies 300m north of the first, and includes two World War I D.E.L (Defence Electric Light) emplacements and an associated engine house. [See HER 11977 and 11978]
The World War I Battery at Blyth is well preserved and retains the full range of features characteristic of this type of coastal battery. As well as evidence for its original layout including the surrounding defensive enclosures, these include the gun emplacements, operational buildings and ancillary buildings. The survival of the associated searchlight emplacements enhances the importance of the monument. This battery has been indentified as one of only 28 examples of its type in England which have survived in a complete state. The fact that it was reused during World War II, when some alterations were made and a new Battery observation post was constructed, adds to the importance of the monument as a whole. Blyth Battery will contribute to our knowledge and understanding of the two World Wars and it stands as a highly visible reminder of the measures taken to protect the coast of England during the 20th century. (4)

Blyth Valley Borough Council commissioned a condition assessment for Blyth Battery in 2007. The report assessed the condition of the structures, external metalwork and timber, walls and roofs and provided recommendations and costs for the conservation work required to the monument. (5)

Part of the condition survey included analysis of paint systems and colours used on the buildings. This suggests that the two Observation Towers were painted pink in the Second World War. (6)

Detailed description of structures from building recording exercise prior to restoration works. (7)

Battery built under the name of Fort Coulson to the south of Blyth to provide a defence against attacks. The battery was not completed until 1918 when it was too late to have any active role in World War I. The site had two emplacements, each with a 6" gun. A series of supporting buildings included magazine, searchlights and observation post. The site was decommissioned in 1924 and later refurbished in 1940 as part of World War II when two new 6" guns were installed and a new battery observation post built. (8)

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Chris Burgess during the groundworks required for the insertion of a memorial bench at Blyth Battery. The bench was located to the north of the southern gun floor, 2m out from the back walls of that part of the site. Two holes were hand excavated measuring 0.3m by 0.5m by 0.4m in depth. The same build-up of deposits were recorded in both trenches and comprised a sandy humic soil which exceeded the depth of excavation. It was overlain by windblown sand and topsoil/maritime turf. The report states that previous excavations at Blyth Battery and other sites of a similar period led to the interpretation of the humic sand layer as one of a number of layers constructed to counteract the impact of large calibre artillery shells such as would be expected from a German naval vessel in 1917-18. (9)

Coastal battery. 2 x searchlights. 2 x 6in gun emplacements in good condition, with the magazines and emplacement covers intact. Battery observation post (BOP). Original guardhouse appears to survive. [information from 1988 aerial photographs].S of Blyth. LOCATION: S of Blyth. (10a)

A Twentieth Century coastal battery is visible as earthworks and structures on air photographs at NZ 3209 7931. A large number of military buildings are centred at NZ 320 792 and a pillbox is at NZ 3205 7936. The features are still extant on the latest 1988-1993 Ordnance Survey vertical photography. (10b)

Blythe Battery located at NZ 3210 7924. It was opened in 1917 and equipped with four 4.7 inch Quick-firing guns mounted on travelling carriages. The battery was authorised for disposal in 1924. It was recommissioned during the Second World War and rearmed by March 1940. By January it was manned by the Home Guard and was still in use in 1947. A Battery Observation Post was located at NZ 3206 7937. The battery featured two 90cm moving searchlights. (10c-d)

Two Coastal Artillery Searchlights (CASL) and a building (possibly a range finder) survive in good condition. A magazine/machine house at the rear of the CASL also remains in good condition. The house at NZ 3201 7956 may have provided accommodation for the battery crew. The two 6 inch gun emplacements at NZ 3201 7932 are in good condition and the magazine and emplacement covers are intact. The Battery Observation Post and two ancillary buildings are visible at NZ 3206 7938 and a further Second World War building is extant at NZ 3204 7942. The building at the entrance to the site appears to be the original guardhouse. (10e)