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| HER Number: | MDV126359 |
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| Name: | Hollicombe Beach Defence Area, Torbay |
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Summary
Hollicombe Beach was designated a classified beach during the Second World War, potentially vulnerable to landing by German invasion forces.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 898 621 |
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| Map Sheet: | SX86SE |
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| Admin Area | Torbay |
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| Civil Parish | Torbay |
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| District | Torbay |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | COCKINGTON |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | PAIGNTON |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- DEFENDED LOCALITY (Designated, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)
Full description
Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA64 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.
Following the retreat of the British Army from Dunkirk, a series of defence works was constructed across mainland Britain in 1940 to protect against a possible German invasion. Hollicombe Beach was designated a classified beach, considered to be vulnerable to a German landing and was defended by infantry troops and the Home Guard from the autumn of 1940 through to 1941.
The defence works comprised a number of pillboxes which were built on the cliff tops and on the railway embankment. Within the defence perimeter was Hollicombe Gas Works. The gas holders and other buildings were camouflaged against air attack.
The gas works have since been demolished and replaced by a park in 1979, although one of the gas holders still stands. One of the pillboxes that stood close by the railway has also been demolished.
Despite the fact that this is a small area with few surviving defence works, Hollicombe Beach can nevertheless be considered of national importance. It illustrates well the perceived need for beach defences even where backed by cliffs and also shows how defence works can survive in a built-up environment.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV360266 | Report - Survey: Foot, W.. 2005. Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England. Council for British Archaeology/English Heritage. Digital. DA64. [Mapped feature: #119569 ] |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV55647 | Parent of: Defence structure above the tunnel entrance to Hollicombe Beach, Torbay (Monument) |
| MDV55644 | Parent of: Pillbox above Hollicombe Beach, Torbay (Monument) |
| MDV55646 | Parent of: Pillbox at northern end of Hollicombe Beach, Torbay (Monument) |
| MDV126387 | Parent of: Pillbox at southern end of Hollicombe Beach, Torbay (Monument) |
| MDV55645 | Parent of: Railway guardhouse above Hollicombe Beach, Torbay (Monument) |
| MDV105244 | Parent of: Rocket battery platform on Hollicombe Beach, Torbay (Monument) |
| MDV44717 | Related to: Hollicombe Gas Works, Paignton (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
| Date Last Edited: | Aug 30 2019 12:39PM |
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