HMS Tern Cinema

Situated to the north of the main Orkney Island, near to the villages of Birsay and Twatt, Royal Naval Air Station Twatt was built by the Admiralty, and was commissioned on 1 April 1941.

On 1st January 1942 it became an independent command as HMS Tern, and was the base for 771 Naval Air Squadron, the Home Fleet’s Fleet Requirements Unit. It was also used as a training airfield.

It closed on 20th October 1945, moving into a state of ‘care and maintenance’ before being disposed of in 1957.

In 1998 the Birsay Heritage Trust was founded to restore Barony Mill, a water-powered mill that had been built in 1873 but which was by then disused. Having achieved that aim, the Trust turned its attention to other historic sites, including HMS Tern.

Although some of the airfield’s buildings had been demolished as the land returned to agricultural use, a surprising number remained standing, including the control tower, the fire station - and the entrance and projection box of the cinema. Sadly, the ‘Nissen hut’ style auditorium had been removed, but the flooring is clear to see.

The Birsay Heritage Trust, in association with the Aviation Research Group Orkney & Shetland, hopes to gradually restore all the buildings.

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