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Summary

Site of a Second World War oil storage tank visible as a circular structure on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2012, was camouflaged in the 1940s. The fuel was for use by the US fleet when they were training at Brixham and independent of other fuel storage tanks in Brixham during the Second World War. Remains of the sides of the structure survived in 2012.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STORAGE TANK (Constructed, World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1942, RAF/AC41, RAF/AC41 V 31-32 30-APR-1942 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352349.

No structures are visible in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 3208-3209 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

A circular covered structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1960, RAF/58/3510 F21, RAF/58/3510 F21 157-158 22-APR-1960 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352350.

The structure is visible but it is hollow with no roof.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX9356_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

A circular walled area is visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2010, Berry Head Hotel Brixham Part 1: Archaeological Assessment, 6 (Report - Assessment). SDV362409.

Site of a Second World War oil storage tank. The oil tank was brought to Brixham from Rosyth by 1946 where it was reassembled and enclosed in brick for protection. The fuel was for use by the US fleet that was training at Brixham and who eventually left for Normandy. It was independent of the Breakwater fuel tanks and the underground tanks to the rear of Berry Head Farm. The site was formerly a tennis court.

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

A circular structure, circa 28 metres in diameter, is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2012. It is not visible on aerial photographs taken in April 1942 but appears to have been painted in camouflage patterning by 1946, indicating that it was of military significance during the Second World War. There appear to have been possible structures on the roof at this stage, although they are difficult to distinguish on the available aerial photographs. It is possible that this was an additional fuel storage tank, associated with those in Breakwater Quarry to the west. By 1960 the structure had no covering or roof and appears disused, and although remains of the structure survive and are visible in aerial photographs taken in 2012 their condition is not clear.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 3208-3209 10-DEC-1946. [Mapped feature: #64877 ]
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
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SX9356_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012.
SDV352349	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1942. RAF/AC41. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/AC41 V 31-32 30-APR-1942.
SDV352350	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1960. RAF/58/3510 F21. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/3510 F21 157-158 22-APR-1960.
SDV362409	Report - Assessment: Exeter Archaeology. 2010. Berry Head Hotel Brixham Part 1: Archaeological Assessment. Exeter Archaeology. 10.05. Digital. 6.

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)
• EDV7960 - Berry Head Hotel, Brixham, Archaeological & Architectural Assessment 2010

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