See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Several rectangular structures, most linked by a linear trackway, are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and are interpreted as one of two Second World War military sites in this area. One building may remain but most appear to have been removed by 1965.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY SITE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

No features are depicted in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1432-1433 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A number of rectangular structurres and a trackway are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1965, RAF/58/7109, RAF/58/7109 F42 0014-0015 22-NOV-1965 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351186.

A few structures, cleared areas and some rectangular flat foundations are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2014, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SY2498 08-SEP-2014 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359479.

One structure is visible in the same location as on the 1940s aerial photographs.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

Several rectangular structures, most linked by a linear trackway, are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 to the north of Smiter’s Pit Lane. Given their regular form and the date they are interpreted as a military site of Second World War date, although a specific function is hard to infer from the aerial photographs alone. Several of the structures have curved roofs, and at 5 metres across are consistent in size and form with Nissen-type huts. However long shadows and poor resolution make many of them hard to transcribe and their extents may not be exactly accurate. Other structures appear to have flat roofs, and one centred at 324294,98545 corresponds to the location of an extant structure depicted on the modern mapping although it is not certain whether any of the original strcture survives. Other than this, a few buildings and some foundations survived in 1965 but no remains were visible on the later available aerial photographs. It may be associated with the similar site to the north-east (MDV118575).

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV351186	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1965. RAF/58/7109. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/7109 F42 0014-0015 22-NOV-1965.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1432-1433 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #77849 ]
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV359479	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2014. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SY2498 08-SEP-2014.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.