Vementry

Vementry (Old Norse: "Vemunðarey") is an uninhabited Scottish island in Shetland on the north side of the West Mainland, lying south of Muckle Roe.

Description and history

The island is known for its well-preserved chambered cairn. The well-preserved remains of a Neolithic heel-shaped cairn about 10 metres (33 ft) in diameter and rising to over 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) in height.

Also on the island are two 6-in QF Mk I First World War gun emplacements which overlook the narrow entrance into the former naval anchorage of Busta Voe on Swarbacks Head, a cliff standing around 49 metres (161 ft) above sea level. These guns were removed from HMS Gibraltar an Edgar-class cruiser which was acting as a depot ship for 10th Cruiser Squadron. They were manned by a mixed crew of RN sailors and Royal Marines. The guns are mounted on concrete platforms en barbette on concrete platforms with a 0.45 metres (1 ft 6 in) high concrete parapet and gun shield to provide protection against incoming fire. There are two ammunition lockers built into the parapet of each gun platform and each platform is linked to a separate main magazine by a trench. A simple stone and concrete fire control pillbox also exists on the site. The guns were abandoned in situ after the end of the First World War and were never used after this time.