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Summary

A line of irregular earthwork mounds is visible on aerial photographs from 1945, with linear trenches, possibly shell grazes, adjoining them to the west. Their function is unclear but may be connected to Second World War military training by the U.S. Army, probably involving target practise. The mounds survive as earthworks, but some of the pits or trenches seem to have been levelled by mechanical ground scraping before 2007.

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

• MILITARY TRAINING SITE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• TARGET RANGE? (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Unknown, 1944, Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center (Un-published). SDV339604.

No features are marked in this exact location.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/102, NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5014-5015 17-JAN-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349060.

A line of irregular earthwork mounds is visible, with linear pits or trenches adjoining them on the west side.

Environment Agency, 2006-2007, LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution), LIDAR SS4532NE Environment Agency D0072686 03-NOV-2006 to 03-FEB-2007 (Cartographic). SDV349850.

The earthwork mounds and some of the pits are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4532 04-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349344.

Large areas of bare ground with small baulks appear to be the result of mechanical scraping. A track is sited immediately to the west of the site of the mounds.

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

A line of nine irregular earthwork mounds, measuring on average 3 by 5 metres and aligned approximately north to south, is visible on aerial photographs from 1945, with linear pits or trenches averaging 3 by 15 metres in size adjoining them to the west. No training aids are numbered in this area on U.S. Army plans, and the function of the feature is not known, although it is likely to be of Second World War date. However tracks seem to go around the earthworks rather than through them, which suggests that they were not used for vehicle training. The scooped appearance of the pits and the slight kidney shape of the mounds suggests that they may have been created by a blast rather than a cut, having some similarities with the ground scars made by rocket launch sites. They are likely to be shell 'grazes' relating to target practise. The earthwork mounds and some of the pits are visible on Lidar images derived from data captured in 2006-2007, but some of the pits or trenches may have been levelled by mechanical ground scraping, indicated by bare earth and baulks visible immediately to the west of the mounds on aerial photographs taken in 2007.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV339604	Un-published: Unknown. 1944. Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center. U.S. Plans from R.T.Bass. Mixed Archive Material + 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
SDV349060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/102. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5014-5015 17-JAN-1945. [Mapped feature: #62173 ]
SDV349344	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4532 04-MAY-2007.
SDV349850	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2006-2007. LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SS4532NE Environment Agency D0072686 03-NOV-2006 to 03-FEB-2007.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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