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Summary

A rifle range of Second World War date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s as earthwork embanked target butt structures and low earthwork embanked firing positions, overlooking the coast at Straight Point. Most of the wartime structures and earthworks were removed in later remodelling of the range but some concrete footings might survive to the south of the site.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RIFLE RANGE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Throughout))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3028-3029 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

Rifle range structures and trackways are visible as structures and earthworks. Map objects based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 1953-1969, 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial (Cartographic). SDV352727.

The Second World War rifle range structures remain schematically depicted.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SY0379_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The Second World War rifle range firing position structures and earthworks have largely been demolished and removed. Fragmentary structural remains of the butts remain visible near the cliffs.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A rifle range of Second World War date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as low earthwork embanked firing positions linked by a metalled track to earthwork embanked target butt structures overlooking the coast at Straight Point. The firing positions were orientated roughly north-north-west from the butts and spaced at intervals of 100 yards up to 400 yards. A second structure comprising a 30 metre long curved wall and eight possible firing positions spaced at intervals of approximately 5 yards might have been used for pistol target practice. Many of the structures and earthworks remain depicted on Ordnance Survey maps of the 1950s to 1960s but most of the wartime structures and earthworks were removed in later remodelling of the range. Some concrete footings are visible to the south of the site on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012. A possible concrete jetty visible on the 1946 aerial photographs at the foot of the sea cliffs is likely to be associated with the military training activities at Straight Point. No evidence of this structure is visible on the 2012 images.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SY0379_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 3028-3029 13-APR-1946.
SDV352727	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1953-1969. 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial. Digital Mapping. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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