Dundees Law Hill Tunnel
Alan Davidson
I remember talk about a tunnel through a large hill in the area called the
Law Hill as I went to Rockwell School at the foot of the hill.
Does anyone know anything about it?.
Regards Alan
Nick Catford
"Alan Davidson" <ala...@frisurf.no> wrote in message
news:Jbln9.160$KZ2....@news2.ulv.nextra.no...
Nick
Russell W. Barnes
Wasn't it a railway tunnel? I was working up at Forfar in 1988 and I,
too, heard about it. I went for a ratch around where I thought the
portal was, but it appeared to have been blocked up.
While in the area, what are the buildings on the hill-top just to the
north-west(?) of the Angus UHF TV transmitter? I did hear that there
was a maze of underground bunkers associated with it. I didn't really
find out much at the time, but about 10 miles east, next to the Forfar
VHF transmitter, stands - or stood - a WWII radar bunker, possibly
Chain-Home.
I was told at the time that this bunker and the one near the angus
transmitter were related.
--
Regds,
Russell W. B.
Ian Brown
station, which went on the air in 1939. It may have been used for some
purpose after the CH station closed down, but if so I'm not aware of
this. However, I can state categorically that any transmitters,
aerials or anything else on top of Dundee Law have absolutely no
connection whatsoever with the CH station at Douglas Wood (or any
other CH station for that matter).
There are a lot of myths circulating locally in the vicinity of most
wartime radar stations and almost without exception they are
completely false, the result of the local civilian population knowing
nothing about what went on there. Lack of available information
results in rumours and this is just another example.
Russell W. Barnes
>...... However, I can state categorically that any transmitters,
> aerials or anything else on top of Dundee Law have absolutely no
> connection whatsoever with the CH station at Douglas Wood (or any
> other CH station for that matter).
>
> There are a lot of myths circulating locally in the vicinity of most
> wartime radar stations and almost without exception they are
> completely false, the result of the local civilian population knowing
> nothing about what went on there. Lack of available information
> results in rumours and this is just another example.
I didn't mean on top of Dundee Law, but on top of the hill just to the
NW (I think that is the direction) of the Angus UHF TV Transmitter
(Not the Forfar VHF one where the CH station was). I was curious as
to the purposes of these buildings - which I had been told contained
some underground function, especially that on the (private & farm
access) road up to the Angus transmitter stood some low, Ministry-type
barrack buildings which may or may not be still there. ISTR that the
Angus transmitter is about 10-ish miles north of Dundee Law (may be a
big "...ish").
--
Regds,
Russell W. B.
http://www.huttonrow.co.uk
Alan Davidson
The only other hill I can think of is Balgay Hill which is locally known for
the astral observitory thats still there AFAIK.
I am up in Norway now but if memory serves correct, Balgay Hill would be to
the West approx.
Other than that as Sgt Shultz would say "I know nothing"
Regards Alan
"Russell W. Barnes" <rwba...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:f3860a72.02100...@posting.google.com...
Jed Scott
Was Douglas Wood the station by the Montrose - Forfar road in the
woods by the fertiliser factory? If so, I believe it got a mention in
War Plan UK for something (No copy handy) and still appears to be on
care and maintainence today - there's sometimes vans and landrovers
parked outside. Does anyone know what it's used for now? It features a
short but sturdy mast and quite a large building complex. If it's not
Douglas Wood (I seem to recall it being called **something** Hill)
then what is it?
I can also state that there is *_Definetly_* no railway tunnel under
the Law - that's for certain.
Jed
Russell W. Barnes
"Jed Scott" <j...@surimail.com> wrote in message
news:cec5cc3a.02100...@posting.google.com...
> Was Douglas Wood the station by the Montrose - Forfar road in the
> woods by the fertiliser factory?
The remains of Douglas Wood CH station are adjacent to the Crown Castle
Forfar VHF Transmitting Station. There are one or two type 27 (ISTR)
Pill-boxes adjacent. It is just off the road between Broughty Ferry and
Forfar (can't remember if it's the B978 or not). I believe Budden(?) army
camp is just down the road.
It's all along time ago, and I cant find my OS map of the area :o(
> I can also state that there is *_Definetly_* no railway tunnel under
> the Law - that's for certain.
I must have been mis-informed....
>
--
Regds,
Russell W. B.
http://www.huttonrow.co.uk
Please take out dog before replying by Email!
Alan Hall
Barnes <rwba...@globalnet.co.uk> writes
>"Alan Davidson" <ala...@frisurf.no> wrote in message
>news:<Jbln9.160$KZ2....@news2.ulv.nextra.no>...
>> Hi everyone, I was born and bred in Dundee but left in 1982.
Me too (well approximately), you're surely not the Alan Davidson who
used to go gliding at Arbroath?
>> I remember talk about a tunnel through a large hill in the area called the
>> Law Hill as I went to Rockwell School at the foot of the hill.
>>
>> Does anyone know anything about it?.
Yes I have walked through it, and hopefully have the photos somewhere to
prove it. It carried the Dundee to Newtyle railway a very long time ago.
I know this probably sounds a bit bizarre to anybody who knows the local
geography, but it is indeed so. I first learnt of it during a school
lecture at the local museum, then went hunting for it myself with a
chum, not too hard to track down.
>While in the area, what are the buildings on the hill-top just to the
>north-west(?) of the Angus UHF TV transmitter? I did hear that there
>was a maze of underground bunkers associated with it. I didn't really
>find out much at the time, but about 10 miles east, next to the Forfar
>VHF transmitter, stands - or stood - a WWII radar bunker, possibly
>Chain-Home.
>
>I was told at the time that this bunker and the one near the angus
>transmitter were related.
Sounds like Craigowl hill, a personal favourite - a grand walk with
magnificent views and some interesting gadgetry on top. However your
plonker is being pulled about the "underground maze", I'm pretty sure
there is nothing subterranean.
If memory serves correctly (a trip to the attic may to be necessary
here) the site started life as a "GEE" station during the war, and last
time I was up there two of the original wooden towers were still in
service.
In view of it's obvious commanding position it later became festooned
with all the usual suspects as hilltop radio and microwave systems
mushroomed. I don't have Duncan's book to hand but I'm sure it must get
a mention in there as one of the many residents was the US Navy
microwave system which ran through to Edzell, long defunct. It was also
the terminal station for northern backbone (or should that be
Backbone?).
Having just returned late from a splendid Steve Harley concert must now
hit the sack, but will try to write more tomorrow if anybody is
interested. I'm sure all this stuff is really quite widely known (maybe
less so the railway tunnel).
--
Alan
Ian Brown
was reactivated for the Rotor Plan, finally closing in 1956. The
transmitter site is currently occupied by the Scouts.
Craigowl Hill was most certainly not a Gee station during WW2. I know
nothing much of its history, but I know there was no Gee station
anywhere in the vicinity. Certainly, if this is the site referred to,
it had no connection with Douglas Wood that I know of.
If you are referring to the TV mast just next to Douglas Wood, the
hill-top just to the NW would presumably by Fothringham Hill, just
south of Forfar. I have no idea what's there, but perhaps someone else
may know about it.
Incidentally, don't believe everything you read in War Plan UK. There
are an awful lot of mistakes, especially with regard to the air
defence organisation. I'm not saying it doesn't have its uses, but it
is very unreliable in many aspects. Nick McCamley's book is vastly
more accurate!
Nick Pedley
"Ian Brown" <ibr...@radararchive.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:31a287ce.02100...@posting.google.com...
> Douglas Wood is not used for any type of transmission now, although it
> was reactivated for the Rotor Plan, finally closing in 1956. The
> transmitter site is currently occupied by the Scouts.
>
there ;o)
According to a brief Google, the tennis court is now used for camping and
there's a big 8 foot high fence around the site to 'keep the cows out'.
Methinks it's more to keep the Scouts in!
As for the tunnel, read this website about Scotlands first passenger
railway.
http://www.railscot.co.uk/Dundee_and_Newtyle_Railway/frame.htm
Nick P
Nick Pedley
> the Law - that's for certain.
>
> Jed
You are wrong. Unless you mean it went * through * Law Hill.
http://www.railscot.co.uk/Dundee_and_Newtyle_Railway/frame.htm
Nick
Russell W. Barnes
> Sounds like Craigowl hill.....
It is indeed Craigowl Hill; I've just looked it up on "Multimap".
It's at: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=337500&Y=740000&scale=50000&coordsys=gb
The UHF TV Transmitter is to the right at NGR NO 394407, with the
buildings atop Craigowl Hill to the west of here.
>......a personal favourite - a grand walk with
> magnificent views and some interesting gadgetry on top. However your
> plonker is being pulled about the "underground maze", I'm pretty sure
> there is nothing subterranean.
Well, that's what I was told at the time, and I had no reason to doubt
it. The chap who told me was pretty reliable!
> If memory serves correctly (a trip to the attic may to be necessary
> here) the site started life as a "GEE" station during the war, and last
> time I was up there two of the original wooden towers were still in
> service.
>
> In view of it's obvious commanding position it later became festooned
> with all the usual suspects as hilltop radio and microwave systems
> mushroomed. I don't have Duncan's book to hand but I'm sure it must get
> a mention in there as one of the many residents was the US Navy
> microwave system which ran through to Edzell, long defunct. It was also
> the terminal station for northern backbone (or should that be
> Backbone?).
I've posted a picture on my website of what I think is the CH radar
building at Douglas Wood, next to the Forfar VHF Radio transmitter.
Using "Multimap" again, the location is:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=348000&Y=741000&scale=25000&coordsys=gb
The NGR being in the next field to NO 482409.
Have a look at: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rwbarnes/cornucopia/forfar.htm
for a picture and my memories of the site.
--
Regds,
Russell W. B.
http://www.huttonrow.co.uk
Ian Brown
Douglas Wood CH station. As such, it is A building, not THE building,
since the main technical buildings included the Transmitter Block and
the Stand-by Power House. The original perimeter fencing also survives
as does the Buried Reserve Transmitter Building, which consisted of
underground rooms housing backup equipment should the surface station
have been put off the air.
Neil Gove
news:<cec5cc3a.02100...@posting.google.com>...
> ibr...@radararchive.freeserve.co.uk (Ian Brown) wrote in message
news:<31a287ce.02100...@posting.google.com>...
> woods by the fertiliser factory? If so, I believe it got a mention in
> War Plan UK for something (No copy handy) and still appears to be on
> care and maintainence today - there's sometimes vans and landrovers
> parked outside. Does anyone know what it's used for now? It features a
> short but sturdy mast and quite a large building complex. If it's not
> Douglas Wood (I seem to recall it being called **something** Hill)
> then what is it?
I think you are referring to Montreathmont Moor. The mast is hidden in
the woods off the Montrose to Forfar road (A934/B9113), after it
crosses the Brechin to Arbroath road (A933).
I always used to see this mast from my parents house in Montrose.
I am now living in Lancashire, so never did find out what it was for.
Neil
Russell W. Barnes
"Ian Brown" <ibr...@radararchive.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:31a287ce.02100...@posting.google.com...
Many thanks.
I seem to remember that there was more to the site than that, but didn't
know to what extent. I have a feeling now that it was "out of bounds" on
private land. It may be where the current Scout camp is.
There were several pill-boxes over a larger area than the RX site covered,
so that might have been a clue if I'd had more time to look.
--
Regds,
Russell W. B.
http://www.huttonrow.co.uk
Please take out dog before replying by Email!
Russell W. Barnes
"Russell W. Barnes" <rwba...@DOGglobalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> Many thanks.
>
> I seem to remember that there was more to the site than that, but didn't
> know to what extent. I have a feeling now that it was "out of bounds" on
> private land. It may be where the current Scout camp is.
>
> There were several pill-boxes over a larger area than the RX site covered,
> so that might have been a clue if I'd had more time to look.
> --
Oh, I forgot to mention...! I thought at the time (It's all coming back
now!) that the buildings and masts at Craigowl Hill (see earlier posts) near
the Angus UHF TV Transmitter were part of the same set-up; that they might
have been the TX block and Douglas Wood the RX block. I didn't then
appreciate that TX and RX would be on the same site.