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Summary

An irregular ditch and bank is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs between 1945 and 2007, although it is increasingly obscured by scrub from the 1950s. It is within the Engineer Demolition Range, part of the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows, although it is not clear exacly what type of replica defences were being breached in this location.

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

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/264/12
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY TRAINING SITE (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 30-OCT-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349054.

An irregular ditch and bank are visible as earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1957, RAF/58/2205 F21, NMR RAF/58/2205 F21 0061-0062 05-JUL-1957 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349736.

The earthworks are visible but scrub growth has started to impact on their visibility.

Next Perspectives, 2001, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4634 22-MAY-2001 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349376.

The ditch appears to hold water, and immediately to the north narrow parallel lines are possibly the result of scrub ripping.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4634 04-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349344.

The line of the ditch is visible and appears to be filled with scrub.

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

An irregular but roughly linear ditch circa 2 metres wide with a very irregular bank of material up to 6 metres in width on its northern side is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs between 1945 and 2007. It is within the area demarcated as the Engineer Demolition Range on US Army plans and is likely to be the remains of intensive Second World War training activity, although it is not clear exactly what type of replica defences were being breached in this location. The ditch is aligned approximately east to west and its visible length is approximately 80 metres across the roughly rectangular and fairly flat land of Bomber Slack. Scrub growth starts to obscure the ditch from the 1950s up to 2007, although earthworks are very likely to survive as the ditch appears to be filled with water in aerial photographs taken in 2001.

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
SDV349054	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/957. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/957 4022 30-OCT-1945. [Mapped feature: #62103 ]
SDV349344	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4634 04-MAY-2007.
SDV349376	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2001. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4634 22-MAY-2001.
SDV349736	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1957. RAF/58/2205 F21. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2205 F21 0061-0062 05-JUL-1957.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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