6/19 Scapa Flow Barriers & Italian Chapel

Scapa Flow is a large body of water in the Orkney islands that was used by the Vikings to shelter their longships, but also by the UK in both WWI and WWII as a major naval base.  While the islands gave some protection, there were multiple entrances., so during WWII, the submarine nets and other defenses had fallen into disrepair, so German submarines were able to sneak in and destroy warships owned by both the British and the Allies, including US ships.  

To protect the entrances from submarines, barriers were constructed to make the eastern approaches safer.  You may have heard about the Churchill Barriers, which is what these were.

 Today, these barriers have become connecting roadways between the islands, and you can still see some of the ships that were sunk during WWI to act as protection before the barriers were completed. 

 

 

Also, during WWII, there were several hundred Italian prisoners of war who had been captures in North Africa, and who worked to help construct these protective barriers.  The also worked to make their camp more pleasant during their spare time by putting in sidewalks and planting flowers.  However, they wanted a Catholic chapel, so were allowed to construct it of scrap materials not needed for other purposes. 

 

 

In their spare time, a group of Italian prisoners began with two basic Quonset huts, but were lucky to have a talented Italian artist, Domenico Chiocchetti, and the result was something amazing.  The outside might look a bit garish, but wait until you see the inside!

This is the view of the front of the chapel. 

 

And the back of the chapel. The baptismal font, by the way, is made of old car parts!!

Keep in mind that these are smooth, flat, plaster walls with the only depth being the small gray shelf about 3' from the floor.  The rest of the depth of the "tiles" and trim is done with paint only! 

It said not to touch the walls, but I had to get up really close and touch them gently to not believe what my eyes were telling me. 

Again, all of the supposed plaster work around this door is just paint.  There are no carvings on stone or pillars. 

Can you believe that this ceiling is just flat plaster??

And none of this "carving" is real either.

I had to get up to within a couple of inches of this supposed "stained glass" window to determine it also is just paint on glass. 

Apparently, the four hanging lamps were made of tin cans.

I had been in Orkney way back in 2008, but bypassed this chapel then as not one of my priorities.  Glad I came here this time. 

Below is some of scenery in the area. 

One of the Churchill barriers protecting Scapa Flow.

An oil platform in the flow along with a big sea-going freighter  in the distance.

 Today, I walked 3,525 steps, which was 1.4 miles.  Obviously, I did more driving than walking!  Tomorrow, i catch the morning ferry back to the main part of Scotland.