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Summary

A number of huts, platforms and tracks, visible on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s, are interpreted as a Second World War military complex. One structure and the tracks survived until the 1950s, and the platforms appear to survive in 2007.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY SITE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• NISSEN HUT? (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3277-3278 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349927.

Four hut structures, one low building, linear trenches, numerous platforms and tracks are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1958, RAF 58/2555, NMR RAF/P58/2555 PSFO-P1 0367-0368 SS4643/3-SS4643/4 01-SEP-1958 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350309.

The low building and several platforms are visible, as are earthworks of the tracks.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4543 04-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349344.

No extant structures are visible, but the the platforms are visible as parchmarks.

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

A probable Second World War military complex is visible as a group of structures and tracks on aerial photographs from 1946. Four Nissen-type huts 11 by 5 metres in plan, five rectangular platforms or hut bases of the same size, a larger platform measuring 11 by 19 metres and a low flat structure 7 by 12 metres, are located in the northern part of the complex. They adjoin the track, which includes a large triangular section 235 by 180 metres and is 22 metres at its widest part, and in the centre of which is a linear trench, perhaps for drainage. It is not clear whether the complex is associated with US Army training in the latter part of the war, or for defense during the early war years. The Nissen huts had been removed by 1958, although the tracks survived as earthworks and the low building was still extant, but this too has now been demolished. The trackway is also no longer visible, but the rectangular platforms are visible as pale cropmarks or parchmarks on aerial photographs taken in 2007. An additional Nissen-type hut and probable hut platform on the other side of the track to the west are likely to be associated.

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
SDV349344	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4543 04-MAY-2007.
SDV349927	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3277-3278 13-MAY-1946. [Mapped feature: #62744 ]
SDV350309	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1958. RAF 58/2555. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/P58/2555 PSFO-P1 0367-0368 SS4643/3-SS4643/4 01-SEP-1958.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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