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Summary

Three groups of craters are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1945. They border the Engineer Demolition Range, part of the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows, and are likely to have been caused during training activities associated with the Engineer Demolition Range. They are not visible on later available aerial photographs and are likely to have been covered by scrub and sand, or levelled by more recent military activity and habitat restoration works.

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

• BOMB CRATER (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.

Three groups of craters are visible as circular earthworks.

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

Narrow parallel lines in the north of the Engineer Demolition Range 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.

None of the craters are visible.

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

Three groups of craters are visible on the north-east, south-east and west central periphery of the area demarcated as the Engineer Demolition Range on US Army plans on aerial photographs taken in 1945. They range in size from 2 to 5 metres in diameter, and are presumably a result of training activity focussed on the demolition range in the Second World War. None of the craters are visible on aerial photographs dating from 2007; this may be due to the impact of modern military training tracks, scrub growth and sand ingress, but could also be a result of the levelling action of mechanical scarification or scrub ripping, which could have caused the narrow parallel features visible on aerial photographs dating to 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 features: #62104 ; #62105 ; #62106 ]
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.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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