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Summary

A small square building is visible on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards as a structure on Braunton Burrows. The structure is probably the Explosive Store and Observation Post at Pine Heights within Area C of the Second World War U.S. Army Assault Training Centre.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXPLOSIVES STORE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/957, NMR RAF/106G/UK/957 4022-3 30-OCT-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349054.

A square structure is visible on the dunes.

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/540/1266 (F21), NMR RAF/540/1266 (F21) 0094-0095 08-MAR-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350049.

A ruinous structure is visible.

Nature Conservancy Council, 1989, Braunton Burrows Habitat Map (Cartographic). SDV339613.

'Ruin' marked on the Braunton Burrows Habitat Map.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 54-66 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Explosive store for mine and booby trap area at the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. A mound with concrete rubble and sawn timbers was found at this location in 2005. The remains of an Observation Post at SS4520035323 included metal tube and corrugated iron.

Miller, D., 2006, World War Two Features Annotated onto Braunton Burrows Habitat Map (Cartographic). SDV339606.

'Explosive Store', with an area of 'Rubble' to the south and 'Wire' to the north, is annotated onto the Braunton Burrows Habitat Map.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4535 04-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349344.

The structure cannot be seen.

Passmore, A. + Knight, S., 2009, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344664.

Visited 2009. Mound of concrete rubble located at NGR 245204 135317. No sign of observation post found, but a large block of stone to the south, and a timber fragment and post fragments within 20 metre radius of the mound.
Stable condition, but timber is rotting.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011 - 2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

A small square building, circa 7.5 metres to a side, is visible on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards as a structure on Braunton Burrows. The structure is probably the same as that identified by Richard Bass as an Explosive Store and Observation Post at Pine Heights within Area C of the Second World War U.S. Army Assault Training Centre.
The structure remained visible, albeit in a roofless and ruinous state, on aerial photographs of March 1954. It cannot be identified on interactive digital images derived from aerial photographs flown in 2007, but the field evidence described above indicates some remains survive.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 54-66.
SDV339606	Cartographic: Miller, D.. 2006. World War Two Features Annotated onto Braunton Burrows Habitat Map. Nature Conservancy Council. Photocopy.
SDV339613	Cartographic: Nature Conservancy Council. 1989. Braunton Burrows Habitat Map. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV342938	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946 - 1949. Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Digital). [Mapped feature: #101307 ]
SDV344664	Un-published: Passmore, A. + Knight, S.. 2009. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
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.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349054	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/957. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/957 4022-3 30-OCT-1945.
SDV349344	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4535 04-MAY-2007.
SDV350049	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/540/1266 (F21). Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/540/1266 (F21) 0094-0095 08-MAR-1954.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4737 - Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, Braunton Burrows
• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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