Scapa Flow Museum showing Orkney island’s wartime role up for top prize

Scapa Flow Museum tells the story of how the island of Hoy became essential to Britain’s defence in the two world wars. Photograph: Janie Airey Art Fund

A museum on a small island in Orkney that became the Royal Navy’s nerve centre during both world wars has been shortlisted for museum of the year.

The Scapa Flow Museum tells the story of how the island of Hoy became essential to Britain’s defence with the construction of a large naval base. It reopened last year after a £4.4m redevelopment.