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Summary

Remains of the late 18th century site of Gunrow Signal Station

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Gunrow Signal Station, Napoleonic signal station on Gunrow's Down

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX54NW/29
• Tide Project: 03/12/2021

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• SIGNAL STATION (Built, XVIII - 1794 AD to 1794 AD)

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

A possible structure of the signal station is depicted on the 1841 Revelstoke tithe map.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Gunrow Signal Station is depicted on the First Edition 25 inch Ordnance Survey map of between the 1880’s-90’s.

Russell, P., 1955, Fire Beacons in Devon, 296 (Article in Serial). SDV336138.

Admiralty flat signal station. Gurnose (Bigbury Bay). This would seem to be Gara Head above the entrance to the Yealm but neither the 1809 Ordnance Survey map nor Greenwoods map are of any help. In use during the Napoleonic Wars. Set up in 1773. Russell sites the map reference as SX528470.

Collings, A. G., 1984, Signal Station (Worksheet). SDV347210.

Remains of Admiralty Flat Signal Station, circa 1794. Walls still standing up to three feet high. Situated on highest ground above Signal House point. Russell appears to have mis-sited the Gurnose Signal Station. The Ordnance Survey second edition 6 inch map marks Gunrow Signal Station at this location.

Batty, M., 2003, South Devon Coast Path Project: a study of the archaeology along the coast path in the South Hams from Staddon Heights to Sharkham Point (Un-published). SDV336214.

Site visit 20th August 2003. A stone built structure with brick dressings of an attractive type sitting within a perimeter wall on a raised platform. Doorways on the south side facing the sea and to the rear. Inside there is a fireplace across the south-ewast corner.
The building is rectangular, about 3.0 metres by 4.0 metres with an entrance lobby built onto the rear north-west corner. There is a walkway around the building between it and the perimeter wall. The overall dimensions within the perimeter walls are approximately 9.0 metres square.
The building stands in a lofty position, just above and back from the coastal path.
There is some blockwork repair to end of perimeter wall in the north-west corner.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

Pink, F., 2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

A possible small square building is illustrated within Plot 349 on the 1841 Revelstoke tithe map. In a similar position, the sites of 'Gunrow Signal Station' and a 'Flag Staff' are both depicted on the First Edition 25 inch Ordnance Survey map of between the 1880’s-90’s and the Second Edition 25 inch Ordnance Survey map of between 1904-06, although it is unclear which of these the possible structure may be associated with.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336138	Article in Serial: Russell, P.. 1955. Fire Beacons in Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 87. A5 Hardback. 296.
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336214	Un-published: Batty, M.. 2003. South Devon Coast Path Project: a study of the archaeology along the coast path in the South Hams from Staddon Heights to Sharkham Point. Mixed Archive Material.
SDV346129	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2011. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #83450 ]
SDV347210	Worksheet: Collings, A. G.. 1984. Signal Station. Worksheet.
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. ACD618/4/3. Digital.
	Linked documents:1

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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