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Summary

A Second World War trench is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken between 1941 and 1945, defending the track from Yarmouth Sand. It does not appear to survive as an earthwork.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

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 SX6642/6 MSO 31191/PO 66 01-JUN-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351056.

A narrow trench is visible.

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

A narrow trench is visible.

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

A narrow trench, crenelate in plan, is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken between 1941 and 1945, extending from the north-west point of a bunker on Thurlestone Golf Course. It appears to lead to a sunken area, perhaps an established part of the golf course or a natural feature, which could have been intended as a dugout-type shelter. It is likely to be of Second World War date, intended for use as a first point of defence in the event of an invasion and perhaps guarding the track up from Yarmouth Sand. It is therefore likely that it was broadly associated with nearby structures (e.g. MDV104437). The trench is not visible on later aerial photographs and is 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 SX6642/6 MSO 31191/PO 66 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: #63908 ]
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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