See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Cold War underground monitoring post built within what may have originally been a cistern in a building identified as a store built in 1804-7. It is recorded as opening in 1960 and closing in September 1991. Above ground structures associated with the post are visible on aerial photographs from 1969. To the south, in the corner of the store building is a Second World War ROC post.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017322: Berry Head Fort and battery and Hardy's Head Battery

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX95NW/4/8
• Tide Project: 03/09/2020
• Torbay HER: MTO42875

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• UNDERGROUND MONITORING POST (Mid 20th Century to Late 20th Century - 1960 AD (Between) to 1991 AD (Between))

Full description

Griffith, F. M., 1986, DAP/HQ (Aerial Photograph). SDV337326.

The 1960 underground monitoring post is housed in what appears to be a solid walled enclosure and a ventilation shaft is visible.

Pye, A.R. & Slater, W.D., 1990, Berry Head Fort, Brixham, An Archaeological Survey, 20, Fig. 12 (Report - Survey). SDV362493.

A 20th century civil defence bunker built within what may have originally been a cistern in a building identified as a store built in 1804-7.

Fortress Study Group, 1994, List of Defensive Sites, JH00659 & JH01295 (Un-published). SDV362243.

The Fortress Study Group lists two ROC observation posts in the grounds of Fort 3 at Berry Head. One at SX9446 5652 and aother at SX9447 5652, both in good condition.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

Two small structures are visible on the site of the underground monitoring post.

Next Perspectives, 2006, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph (Aerial Photograph). SDV351300.

the Cold War monitoring post is visible as a rectangular enclosure within which two small structures are visible.

Subterranea Britannica: Research Study Group, 2012, Subterranea Britannica (Website). SDV349127.

The underground monitoring post is recorded as opening in November 1960 and closing in September 1991. Further details and photographs are also given.

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

The structural remains of both phases of the twentieth century Royal Observer Corps observer post are visible on aerial photographs from 1946 to 2012.
Approximately 12 metres to the north of the Second World War building, the Cold War era Royal Observer Corps underground monitoring post is visible in aerial photographs from 1969 as a solid rectangular enclosure 4 by 9 metres with two very small internal structures for ventilation. This is consistent with an opening date of November 1960 as stated on the Subterranea Britannica website. The external rectangular enclosure appears to have been removed between 2006 and 2012, but the vents and presumably the rest of the structure seem to be extant.

Ordnance Survey, 2020, MasterMap 2020 (Cartographic). SDV363413.

Rectangular structure depicted.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV337326	Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1986. DAP/HQ. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV349127	Website: Subterranea Britannica: Research Study Group. 2012. Subterranea Britannica. www.subbrit.org.uk/. Website.
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.
SDV351300	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2006. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital.
SDV362243	Un-published: Fortress Study Group. 1994. List of Defensive Sites. JH00659 & JH01295.
SDV362493	Report - Survey: Pye, A.R. & Slater, W.D.. 1990. Berry Head Fort, Brixham, An Archaeological Survey. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. EMAFU 90.10. Hardcopy + Digital. 20, Fig. 12.
	Linked documents:1
SDV363413	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2020. MasterMap 2020. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #126851 ]

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7797 - Architectural Survey by DA Buildings Section 1988
• EDV7832 - Documentary research on the Berry Head Fort
• EDV7834 - Archaeological Assessment of the Berry Head Forts
• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)
• EDV7835 - Archaeological Survey of the Berry Head Forts

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.