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Churchill Barriers
 The
Churchill Barriers were ordered to be built by Churchill
in 1940 after the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in 1939, by the
German U-boat, U47 to seal off the eastern approaches to
Scapa Flow. The Balfour Beatty firm was appointed as
contractors and to solve the labour shortage, several hundred
Italian prisoners-of-war were drafted in early 1942 to assist
in the work.
Camps and works were set up in the east Mainland,
and on Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm and Burray. Nearly 1
million cubic
metres of rock in wire bolsters was used to complete the
four Barriers, and by late 1942 they were breaking the surface. Over
50,000 5 and 10-ton concrete blocks were then used to clad
the sides.
 Today the Barriers provide Orkney’s
only fixed transport links between the mainland and other
islands. Beaches
have built up in Weddel and Water Sound on the east side
of Barriers #3 and #4. Many overwintering species of
birds, as well as occasional whales or dolphins can be seen
from the Barriers.
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