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Summary

Six small possible structures visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s are probably part of a US Army obstacle course on Braunton Burrows. The structures are not visible on later aerial photographs.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows and nineteenth century reclaimed field system on Braunton Marsh NW of Horsey Island

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY TRAINING SITE (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3005-3006 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349927.

Six possible structures are visible.

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

p.80-81

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

Six small square or rectilinear features circa 3 by 2 metres in size are visible as possible structures on aerial photographs of 1946, arranged in an arc circa 120 metres long on the eastern edge of Braunton Burrows. The function of the possible structures is unknown but they may be hardened concrete structures part of, or associated with, a Second World War obstacle course on the burrows, part of the US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. The possible structures are not visible on later aerial photographs and it is probable they have either been removed or obscured by shifting dunes. The other ‘soft’ obstacle course features recorded for this area, such as barbed wire entanglements, are not visible on the aerial photographs available to the survey and were probably removed soon after the end of the war.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback.
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
SDV349927	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3005-3006 13-MAY-1946.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)

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