AA Battery Limekilnburn Thorniehill

Emplacement 1

A World War II Anti-Aircraft Battery was sited to the south of Hamilton, near Limekilnburn. Site number S10. Part of the Clyde AA Defences, the site was also known as Thorniehill.

See also the page for AA Battery Limekilnburn Viewfield, a postwar battery located almost on the same site, a few metres to the north.

The area is said to remain above any mist that forms in the valley, and that aircraft were stationed there during both world wars. Subsequent to World War I, the site is said to have been the winter home of a flying circus (unnamed).

The site lies south of Hamilton on the A723 Strathaven road, where the junction with Muttonhole Road (to the west) marks the northern extent of the field containing the remains. A visit to the area (2006) showed the site to be visible and easily accessible, in a field where Keep Out - Bull signs mark the perimeter.

The battery was equipped with four emplacements, a command post, and other buildings, together with a GL Radar platfrom. The battery and camp are clearly visible in aerial photographs taken in 1946.^[1]

The battery survives on the site, with the emplacements and building still in place.

Site visit

Emplacement 1 interior

A site visit during 2008 confirmed that the four emplacements are of Type M and the command post is Type 2. The command post and two emplacements have suffered severe erosion.

The main section of the command post has two rooms, formed by a partition which is missing from many posts, and is badly flooded. Externally, there is a fairly complete outside shelter, possibly used for a chemical toilet as no similar facilities were observed elsewhere. At the rear is a small annexe, not seen on similar sites. Its purpose is unknown, but it may be related to the battery's GL Radar as the equipment ramp and mat area also lie to the rear of the post. The ramp now lies in an area of bog, and could not be examined in detail. The exterior of the command post and some of the emplacement walls have been rendered, which has not been observed on other sites.

Several hut bases lie to the north of the battery, and extend into the neighbouring field.

Note that the wooded area visible in the background of the GL Mat area photograph shown below marks the general area of the later Limekilnburn Viewfield Cold War battery, now (2008) being developed with private housing.