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Summary

A probable Second World War air raid shelter on Preston Green is visible as a building on aerial photographs taken between 1941 and 1944. It appears to have been removed by 1946 and it seems unlikely that below-ground remains survive.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• AIR RAID SHELTER (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1941, RAF/S481, NMR SX8961/1 MSO 31260/PO-13 13-SEP-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352366.

A rectangular building is just visible as a structure.

United States Airforce, 1944, US/7PH/GP/LOC147, RAF/US/7PH/GP/LOC147 F24 5016 20-JAN-1944 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351618.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223, RAF/3G/TUD/UK223 5098-5099 12-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352279.

A pale mark appears to be a parchmark or a concrete building platform.

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

A rectangular building is visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken in 1941 and 1944, and is later visible as a pale parchmark or platform in 1946. Its size at circa 12 by 4 metres is consistent with an interpretation as an air raid shelter. No sign of the foundations of this building were visible later available aerial photographs, although a similar structure to the south was visible as a clear parchmark in 1988 with a blast wall around the entrance. It is likely to have been one of six such shelters on Preston and Paignton seafronts in the Second World War, which were removed soon after the conflict ended. In this instance, it seems that below-ground remains are unlikely to survive.

Sources / Further Reading

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
SDV351618	Aerial Photograph: United States Airforce. 1944. US/7PH/GP/LOC147. United States Airforce. Photograph (Paper). RAF/US/7PH/GP/LOC147 F24 5016 20-JAN-1944.
SDV352279	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/3G/TUD/UK223 5098-5099 12-JUL-1946.
SDV352366	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1941. RAF/S481. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR SX8961/1 MSO 31260/PO-13 13-SEP-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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