Monument record MHG47638 - WW2 Accommodation Camp, Mellon Charles

NMRS Report: (25/10/2004)
NG89SW 8.01 centred 8416 9113

The hut bases of the accommodation camp are visible on RAF vertical air photographs (CPE/Scot/UK182, 1348-1350, flown 8 October 1946). One hut of corrugated iron at NG 84157 91116 is still extant and is presently standing empty. Eight hut bases were noted to the E of the road and a further six to the N of the remaining upstanding building. Some of the hut bases have been cut through by a road constructed in the postwar period.
Many of the hut bases can still be found and there is two small concrete bases on the top of the small hill possibly for a flagpole or mast immediately to the S.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE), August 2000

This site was visited during a walkover survey in September 2008. A proposed new water main will pass between two concrete hut bases north of the road and directly through the concrete base on the knoll east of the fence. <1>

The small corrugated iron hut referred to by RCAHMS was not, in fact, associated with the military camp (see MHG54017). A photographic record was submitted to the HER in October 2010 to comply with a condition on planning permission. The applicant advised that this hut was built in the 1930s by the MacDonald family. It was vacated during use of the military camp, but was never used by the military during their occupation at the site. <2>

A map of features at Mellon Charles was submitted by the applicant of planning permission at 51 Mellon Charles (see above). The map depicts a cluster of Nissen huts to the N of the triangle in the road, with a canteen adjacent to No 51 (a private house) and a shower block to the W. The power generator lies 100m to the S of the camp, S of the Anti-Aircraft gun battery. <3>