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Summary

Several Second World War earthworks, perhaps gunpits, are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1945. Some are visible in aerial photographs taken in 1986 and they are likely to survive as earthworks.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 441103

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WEAPONS PIT (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 4117-4118 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

Several earthwork pits are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF/540/497, NMR RAF/540/497 RS 4113-4114 12-MAY-1951 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351212.

Two of the earthworks are visible.

Griffith, F. M., 1986, DAP/HS, DCC DAP HS/3 23-DEC-1986 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337032.

Three of the pits are visible as earthworks.

Next Perspectives, 2002, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX6443 13-SEP-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351301.

Three of the pits are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

Eight earthwork pits are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1945, around the coastal periphery of Burgh Island. They range in shape from sub-rectangular to circular, and in size from approximately 3 to 7 metres. One, at SX6485043839, appears to be two rectangular pits with a bank on the landward side, and others may also be banked. Their location and size suggests they are gunpits for defence of the coast in the Second World War. The track immediately inland of the pits is deep and may have been dug in as a defensive measure to allow safe access to these points. The three pits on the south of the island centred on SX6476443887 are visible on later aerial photographs up to 1986. Earthwork remains are likely to survive.

Pink, F., 2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV337032	Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1986. DAP/HS. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). DCC DAP HS/3 23-DEC-1986.
SDV351060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/967. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 4117-4118 01-NOV-1945. [Mapped feature: #63755 ]
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.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351212	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1951. RAF/540/497. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/540/497 RS 4113-4114 12-MAY-1951.
SDV351301	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2002. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX6443 13-SEP-2002.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. ACD618/4/3. Digital.
	Linked documents:1

Associated Monuments

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)

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