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| HER Number: | MDV104230 |
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| Name: | Slit Trenches at Challaborough |
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Summary
Second World War slit ditches are visible as crenelate-shaped earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1945, and may have been infilled soon after the war ended.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 649 447 |
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| Map Sheet: | SX64SW |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Bigbury |
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| Civil Parish | Ringmore |
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| District | South Hams |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | RINGMORE |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- SLIT TRENCH (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Full description
Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 3145-3146 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.
Several irregularly shaped ditches are visible as earthworks.
Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FP 3019 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.
The earthworks are visible.
Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.
At least three military trenches are visible on the cliff at Challacombe on aerial photographs taken in 1945 and 1946. They lead from the road, which appears to have been in a substantial cutting, one dividing and widening towards the two pillboxes (MDV39396 and MDV56252) and two others further to the south linking the cliffs to the road. The earthwork ditches are narrow at approximately 1.5 metres wide, and zig-zag or crenelate in shape, as would be expected of a military trench. They were presumably part of the ‘coastal crust’ of Second World War defences, enabling sheltered access to the defensive structures, and may have been deliberately infilled after the war ended.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV351060 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/967. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 3145-3146 01-NOV-1945. [Mapped feature: #63697 ] |
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| SDV351061 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FP 3019 10-DEC-1946. |
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| SDV351146 | Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital. |
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| | Linked documents:1 |
Associated Monuments
| MDV104227 | Related to: Anti-Tank Obstacles at Challaborough Sand (Monument) |
| MDV104229 | Related to: Anti-Tank Scaffolding on Challaborough Sand (Monument) |
| MDV56252 | Related to: World War II Pillbox at Challaborough Beach (Monument) |
| MDV39396 | Related to: World War II Pillbox south of Challborough (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)
| Date Last Edited: | Nov 3 2021 4:48PM |
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