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| HER Number: | MDV102555 |
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| Name: | Military training area on the Skern, Northam. |
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Summary
The area of the Skern was used for military training and development in the Second Word War, probably part of the US training area for Operation Overlord. Numerous structures, pits and tracks are visible on aerial photographs dating from 1945 to 1946, but only a few are visible on later aerial photographs taken in the 1950s, and only one manifests in a recognisable form above the ground surface in 2007. From 1953 oyster racks are visible, indicating that the primary exploitation of the Skern reverted to the fishing industry soon after the war.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SS 453 309 |
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| Map Sheet: | SS43SE |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Northam |
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| District | Torridge |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | NORTHAM |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- MILITARY TRAINING SITE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
Full description
Royal Air Force, 1944, RAF/106G/LA/88, NMR RAF/106G/LA/88 FPO/0015-0016 SS4531/21 31-DEC-1944 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349744.
Several frames show explosions and resultant rows of pits, indicating military testing.
Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011 - 2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.
The area of the Skern was used for military training and development in the Second Word War, probably part of the US training area for Operation Overlord. Several military oblique aerial photographs record explosions, suggesting testing of miitary equipment. Numerous structures, pits and tracks are visible on aerial photographs dating from 1945 to 1946, but only a few are visible on later aerial photographs taken in the 1950s, and only one manifests in a recognisable form above the ground surface in 2007. From 1953 oyster racks are visible, indicating that the primary exploitation of the Skern reverted to the fishing industry soon after the war. Greater detail on the individual features and aerial photograph sources is available in the linked records, although it was not always possible to identify exact locations.
Passmore, A. J., 2013, Northam Burrows FEP Consultation Pro-forma (Report - non-specific). SDV356811.
Military training area on the Skern. See individual records for details of assets within the HLS holding.
Passmore, A., 2014, Northam Burrows, Northam, Devon: Higher Level Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, 5; Figures 1-2 (Report - Survey). SDV356810.
It is suggested that this was part of the US training area for Operation Overlord. However research into this subject does not mention the area, and there is film footage and photographs of British vehicles and anti-aircraft guns being landed on a pebble beach at Northam Burrows. Many of the features only appear on 1944 aerial photographs indicating they are for training rather than early war anti-invasion defence, and were probably associated with the work of the Combined Operations Experimental Establishment at Appledore. See report for full details.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV349018 | Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011 - 2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital. |
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| | Linked documents:1 |
| SDV349744 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1944. RAF/106G/LA/88. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/88 FPO/0015-0016 SS4531/21 31-DEC-1944. |
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| SDV356810 | Report - Survey: Passmore, A.. 2014. Northam Burrows, Northam, Devon: Higher Level Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey. AC Archaeology. CD760/2/3. A4 Bound + Digital. 5; Figures 1-2. |
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| SDV356811 | Report - non-specific: Passmore, A. J.. 2013. Northam Burrows FEP Consultation Pro-forma. AC Archaeology Report. Digital. |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV73990 | Parent of: North Devon US Assault Training Centre (Monument) |
| MDV102564 | Part of: Anti-tank obstacles used for military training area on the Skern. (Monument) |
| MDV102565 | Part of: Craters from a possible minefield on the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102572 | Part of: Masts or poles on the eatern edge of Northam Burrows (Monument) |
| MDV102562 | Part of: Mock anti-invasion defences known as Czech Hedgehogs on the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102568 | Part of: Obstacle associated with military training on the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102557 | Part of: Possible anti-tank obstacles or debris north of Grey Sand Hill (Monument) |
| MDV102573 | Part of: Possible barbed wire apron on the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102575 | Part of: Possible firing range on the northern part of the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102556 | Part of: Possible military marker on Grey Sand Hill (Monument) |
| MDV102569 | Part of: Possible targets associated with military training on the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102558 | Part of: Scaffold structure on the north of the Skern (Monument) |
| MDV102571 | Part of: Targets associated with military training on the Skern (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project
- EDV6518 - Archaeological Survey of Northam Burrows (Ref: ACD760)
| Date Last Edited: | Jul 24 2014 12:32PM |
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