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Summary

A line of posts is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1944. The structure is interpreted as a barbed wire obstruction that was used for military training in the Second World War as preparation for Operation Overlord. No structures are visible in this location on later available aerial photographs, indicating that the structure was removed soon after the end of the war.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/256/1

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARBED WIRE OBSTRUCTION? (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• TRAINING STRUCTURE? (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1944, RAF/106G/LA/88, NMR RAF/106G/LA/88 FSO/0015 SS4531/26 31-DEC-1944 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349744.

A line of posts possibly staking a barbed wire obstrcution is visible. Location is approximate.

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

A line of posts aligned approximately north to south at the northern end of the Skern is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1944. The posts may fix barbed wire coils to create an obstruction, likely to have been used for military training in the Second World War as preparation for Operation Overlord. No structures are visible in this location on later available aerial photographs, indicating that the structure was removed soon after the end of the war when it became obsolete. The location given is approximate.

Passmore, A. J., 2013, Northam Burrows FEP Consultation Pro-forma (Report - non-specific). SDV356811.

The possible barbed wire apron was largely removed after the war, however, posts are visible on the mudflats in the Skern. Within the HLS area two features were recorded on the alignment of the apron. At 245045 131454 is a very rotten post. It measures 0.35m by 0.25m and project 0.10m out of the ground. It appears to be half a sawn log rather than a full round post. At 254024 131469 is an area of flat concrete measuring 0.90 metres by 0.20 metres. It may form the north-west end of the apron.

Passmore, A., 2014, Northam Burrows, Northam, Devon: Higher Level Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, 6; Plate 18 (Report - Survey). SDV356810.

Identified during the survey as having extant remains.

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.
	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 FSO/0015 SS4531/26 31-DEC-1944. [Mapped feature: #62038 ]
SDV356810	Report - Survey: Passmore, A.. 2014. Northam Burrows, Northam, Devon: Higher Level Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey. AC Archaeology. CD760/2/3. A4 Bound + Digital. 6; Plate 18.
SDV356811	Report - non-specific: Passmore, A. J.. 2013. Northam Burrows FEP Consultation Pro-forma. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project
• EDV6518 - Archaeological Survey of Northam Burrows (Ref: ACD760)

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