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Summary

A complex of Second World War trenches are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken between 1941 and 1945, to provide safe access to a probable pillbox defending the coast. They appear to have been quickly infilled or subsumed by vegetation after the end of the conflict.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019322: Roman settlement site at Bantham Ham

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TRENCH (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1941, RAF/S169/H1, NMR SX6643/7 MSO 31191/PO 56 01-JUN-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351056.

A number of sharp-edged trenches are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 3143-3144 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

A complex of trenches is visible.

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

Narrow zig-zag shaped ditches are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken between 1941 and 1945, apparently leading from Bantham Ham to the possible pillbox on the coast to the south (MDV104414). They appear to be newly cut in 1941, with pale borders each side of the ditch that could be bare earth or perhaps upcast from the trench. They are likely to be Second World War trenches, similar to the network of defences at Cockleridge Ham, to provide safe access to the military defence structures. An additional possible structure is visible at approximately SX6628843643, but it is difficult to make out and not distinguishable on aerial photographs of 1941. The trenches are not visible on later available aerial photographs and are likely to have been naturally or artificially infilled relatively soon after the war.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351056	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1941. RAF/S169/H1. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR SX6643/7 MSO 31191/PO 56 01-JUN-1941.
SDV351060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/967. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 3143-3144 01-NOV-1945. [Mapped feature: #63890 ]
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

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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