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| HER Number: | MDV102714 |
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| Name: | Two possible minefields on the foreshore at Broadsands |
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Summary
Two groups of craters in a rough grid pattern are visible as circular earthwork pits on aerial photographs taken in 1945. They are part of the Second World War U.S. Army military training area, associated with exercises undertaken on the foreshore to prepare for Operation Overlord. The earthworks are not visible on later aerial photographs and probably been levelled by water action since.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SS 469 328 |
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| Map Sheet: | SS43SE |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Braunton |
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| Civil Parish | Heanton Punchardon |
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| District | North Devon |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- BOMB CRATER (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- MINEFIELD (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Full description
Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/102, NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5001-5002 17-JAN-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349060.
Several craters are visible as circular earthwork pits in two rough grid patterns.
Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/221, NMR RAF/106G/LA/221 5033-5034 15-APR-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349986.
Several craters are visible as circular earthwork pits in two rough grid patterns.
Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.
Two groups of craters are visible as circular earthwork pits, circa 3 metres in diameter, on the foreshore at Broadsands on aerial photographs taken in 1945. Each group is arranged in a rough grid shape of at least 3 rows and 10 metres deep, and up to 6 rows and 40 metres long; the individual pits are circa 3 metres in diameter. They appear to have resulted from exploded mines, possibly from early Second World War anti-invasion defences but more likely to be associated with U.S. Army training activities for Operation Overlord. They are not visible on later available aerial photographs, presumably having been levelled by natural processes.
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. |
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| | 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 5001-5002 17-JAN-1945. |
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| SDV349986 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/221. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/221 5033-5034 15-APR-1945. [Mapped features: #62213 ; #62214 ] |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV102705 | Part of: Military training area between Broadsands and Crow Point, Braunton Burrows. (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)
| Date Last Edited: | Sep 25 2023 9:50AM |
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