Churchill Barriers’ plaque unveiled

Still connecting communities in 2023, the Churchill Barriers have been recognised with the unveiling of a National Transport Trust Red Wheels plaque on Friday (12 May) – the 78^th anniversary of their official opening in 1945.

The Red Wheel Plaque is mounted in the entrance of Barrier View Cafe - with grateful thanks to Celina Rupp – on the site of Balfour Beatty’s Headquarters during the construction of the causeways.

The plaque was unveiled by John Cameron and John Yellowlees from the National Transport Trust, Britain’s only charity dedicated to the preservation of all modes of transport and its infrastructure.

The Churchill Barriers were built during World War Two as a result of German U-Boat 47 entering Scapa Flow and sinking HMS Royal Oak on 14 October 1939, with the loss of over 830 of her crew.

The plan was to protect the strategic naval base by blocking the eastern approaches between four of the South Isles – Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay.

The Barriers were built by Balfour Beatty with the initial work carried out by civilian labour, later joined by Italian Prisoners of War when the definition changed so that the Barriers would form a roadway connecting the islands.

The Churchill Barriers were officially opened on 12 May 1945 by the First Sea Lord A.V. Alexander, creating a road link with the Orkney Mainland.