Historic Antarctic Huts & Bases Pt1

Historic Antarctic Huts & Bases Part 1

The historic British Huts and Bases on the Antarctic Peninsula are protected under the international Antarctic Treaty and managed by the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT). The seven sites, with buildings and artefacts of international significance, represent the origins of the UK’s formal scientific programme in Antarctica. They are not only emblematic of the foundations of climate science on the continent, but also serve as powerful symbols of the UK’s legacy of exploration, scientific excellence, and global cooperation.

This commemorative issue from the British Antarctic Territory depicts historic and contemporary images of each in a se-tenant format.

80p Blaiklock Island Refuge is located on a wild and rocky island only accessible by ship. It was built and used by pioneers from 1957 to 1958 who charted the first maps of the region and is a rare example of a 1950s British sledging refuge. It provided the men with a place to shelter and rest with their dogs in bad conditions.

The modest hut has remained largely untouched since it was abandoned. It tells a vivid story of life, survival, and scientific discovery in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. During the 2024/25 austral summer, UKAHT sent a conservation team to the island to complete essential repairs to the building, catalogue artefacts and secure the site to make it safe for years to come.

86p Horseshoe Island (Base Y) was established as a scientific base 70 years ago in 1955. Research carried out here included geology, meteorology, and mapping. Extensive survey trips covering hundreds of miles were undertaken using dog teams and sledges until 1960. In 1995, Base Y was designated Historic Site and Monument no. 63 under the Antarctic Treaty and has been managed by UKAHT since 2014.

Located in Bourgeois Fjord, Marguerite Bay along the west coast of Graham Land, Antarctica, the small rocky island of Horseshoe was discovered and named by the British Graham Land Expedition under John Rymill, who mapped the area by land and from the air between 1934 and 1937. It was named because of the U-shape of its mountains, which climb as high as 900m (2,953ft).

£1.52 Damoy Hut is described as the ‘world’s southernmost waiting room’. The hut and its adjacent glacial skiway served as the British Antarctic Survey transit hub for researchers arriving by sea to make their way further south by air by Twin Otter during the austral summer. It is the only protected example of a historic Antarctic air transit station.

The hut became redundant in 1993 but was protected in 2009 as Historic Site and Monument no. 84. Under the care of UKAHT since 2009, during the 2022/23 austral summer, the expert conservation team rewound the clock to 1975 by restoring the exterior paintwork to its original orange used for visibility from the air.

FDC Port Lockroy (Base A) was established in 1944 as part of a secret wartime mission, Operation Tabarin. As the first continuously occupied British base, the site represents the birthplace of the British formal scientific programme for Antarctica.

Today, Port Lockroy is the flagship site for the charity and home to the world’s southernmost public post office. Designated as Historic Site and Monument no. 61 in 1995, it holds high cultural significance, representing both the early scientific era and the practical conditions under which the Antarctic Treaty was negotiated. The preserved buildings and associated artefacts provide tangible evidence of scientific life, construction techniques, and daily routines in mid-20th century Antarctica. Operated as a museum, post office, and gift shop in the austral summer, it offers an accessible and engaging experience to around 20,000 visitors each year.

Climate change is having a significant impact on the historic Antarctic Huts and Bases. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are accelerating the deterioration of these fragile wooden huts, with increased moisture contributing to rot, mould growth, and corrosion. More frequent freeze–thaw cycles, heavy snowfall and storms place strain on roofs and walls, leading to structural damage and water ingress. These effects are already creating significant challenges at the more northerly Port Lockroy and Damoy, and are beginning to impact the more southerly sites on Blaiklock and Horseshoe Islands. Such trends are expected to intensify in the coming years, further increasing the rate of decay and posing a growing challenge to the long-term conservation of the sites.

Proceeds from the gift shop and post office at Port Lockroy, along with public donations, memberships, penguin adoptions, grants and stakeholder support, help fund vital conservation work to protect Antarctica’s remarkable heritage to ensure our shared history is protected for generations to come.

We acknowledge with thanks the help and assistance of the UKAHT www.ukaht.org

Technical Details

Designer Bee Design

Photography Blaiklock Island Refuge then - BAS Archives/Margaret Rothera

Blaiklock Island Refuge now - UKAHT/Michael Duff

Horseshoe Island (Base Y) then - BAS Archives

HorseshoeIsland(BaseY) now – BAS

Damoy Hut then - Steve Garrett

Damoy Hut now - UKAHT/Jo Bradshaw

FDC Port Lockroy - UKAHT

Printer Cartor Security Printing

Process Lithography

Stamp Size 38 x 30.6mm

Perforation 13 ¼ x 13 per 2cms

Sheet Layout 10 (5 se-tenant pairs)

Release Date Expected Late November 2025

Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd