Hoy, Lyness, Royal Naval Cemetery

The Royal Naval Cemetery, located at Lyness, Hoy, was established between 1915 and 1954 as a Commonwealth War Graves cemetery. It possesses an L-shaped layout and includes a prominent war memorial, the Cross of Sacrifice, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1925. The memorial is positioned centrally and flanked by two shelter pavilions, dating from 1939 to 1954 and attributed to Ralph Hobday. The cemetery is situated within the former Royal Naval base.

The Cross of Sacrifice war memorial stands on a stepped, octagonal base and features a tall granite Latin cross with a downward-pointed bronze sword fixed to its northeast face. The inscription 'THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE' is carved into the base. The west pavilion has an arched opening to its east wall, built with stugged voussoirs (roughly shaped stones), and plain surfaces elsewhere. This pavilion is flanked by a quadrant wall with semi-rounded ends and granite coping stones, featuring two arched openings to the east with stugged voussoirs. The east pavilion also has arched openings with stugged voussoirs and a corresponding flanking wall to the south. An eaves course runs along all elevations of both pavilions, accentuated by prominent, stugged keystones, and both have pitched, slated roofs.

The cemetery grounds contain predominantly parallel rows of granite Admiralty Cross gravestones, featuring carved anchor details, alongside Celtic Cross memorials and other gravestones made of sandstone, marble, and granite. A rectangular burial ground adjoins the main area to the northwest, encompassing the graves of service personnel from various Commonwealth and allied countries, including Norway, and also includes graves of fallen German servicemen.

A former mortuary and chapel, likely dating to circa 1925, is constructed of rubble and currently used as a tool shed (as of 2013). It features two horizontal windows on its west wall and two large timber-boarded doors on its north gable, with a timber louvred ventilation opening above. The roof is pitched and slated.

A rubble flagstone boundary wall encloses the cemetery, with semi-rounded entrance gatepiers to the north, featuring granite coping stones, inscription panels, and a timber gate. Granite plaques inscribed 'LYNESS NAVAL CEMETERY' and '1914-1918 1939-1945' are affixed to the piers. A flagged area lies in front of the entrance gates, leading to the roadside. A rear timber gate is present within the south wall.