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Summary

A rectangular building with exterior blast walls is visible on aerial photographs from 1941 to 2007 and is tentatively interpreted as a Second World War military structure, perhaps associated with other similar buildings along this stretch of coast. Although part of the exterior wall has gone, the main structure is likely to be extant.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BLAST WALL (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• STRUCTURE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

No structure is depicted in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1941, RAF/S169, NMR SX6642/2 MSO 31191/PO 62 01-JUN-1941 - NMR SX6642/3 MSO 31191/PO 63 01-JUN-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351521.

A rectangular building with a pitched roof and external walls on the south and west side is visible as a structure.

Royal Air Force, 1941, RAF/S169/H1, RAF/5169/H1/1416 V 14-15 01-JUN-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351056.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 4121-4122 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

A retangular structure is visible.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2007, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX6642 22-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349355.

A rectangular structure is visible with an exterior wall on the west and south sides.

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

A rectangular structure with pitched roof, approximately 5.5. by 3.5 metres in plan, is visible on aerial photographs between 1941 and 1945. An external wall is visible parallel to the south and west sides, just over 1 metre from them, with an additional right angled wall attached to the west side of this. These have the appearance of defensive structures such as blast walls to provide safe access and greater protection for the building. The commanding location less than 10 metres from the cliff edge above Broad Sand is consistent with use as a defensive lookout, protecting against enemy approach from this possible landing point. A Second World War date is most likely, although it is possible that the building pre-dates the exterior walls and was re-used. It is different in plan and roof structure, but may be associated with several other small buildings sited along the coast within Thurlestone Golf Course (e.g. MDV104421), which may be connected by a path visible as an earthwork on the landward side of the buildings. Unlike the other structures, this particular building is visible on later aerial photographs up to 2007, although the offshoot from the exterior wall is not depicted on modern mapping and has probably been removed. A site visit would help to clarify the likely nature of this, and perhaps the other (removed) buildings in the area.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV349355	Aerial Photograph: Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC. 2007. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX6642 22-MAY-2007.
SDV351056	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1941. RAF/S169/H1. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/5169/H1/1416 V 14-15 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 4121-4122 01-NOV-1945. [Mapped feature: #63899 ]
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
SDV351521	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1941. RAF/S169. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR SX6642/2 MSO 31191/PO 62 01-JUN-1941 - NMR SX6642/3 MSO 31191/PO 63 01-JUN-1941.

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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