See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

A group of redundant target bunds and their operator shelters/bunkers lie on a west-facing hillslope at SX53188380. The bunds are 10.1m long, 2.2m wide and 0.6m high stony banks. There is no evidence of the counterbalanced target mechanism which usually lay at the rear of each bund. The shelters (from which the targets were operated) are constructed of concrete blocks; they are 2.8m wide and 1.3m high. Surveyed as part of the RCHME Willsworthy project. Further group of three targets lies to the west (MDV26931).

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX58SW124
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1156692
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX58SW/151

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BUTTS (Constructed, Early 20th Century to Late 20th Century - 1901 AD (Between) to 1990 AD (Between))
• TARGET (Constructed, Early 20th Century to Late 20th Century - 1901 AD (Between) to 1990 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2149, 4290 (Aerial Photograph). SDV282746.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Five possible barrows / cairns / shell holes on west slope of Whitehill immediately below the summit. Slightly further west are what appear to be two banks that follow the curve of the hill. If these are target banks then the assumption would be that these are shell holes.

Probert, S. + Fletcher, M. + Newman, P., 1998, Willsworthy Training Area, Peter Tavy, Devon: An Archaeological survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (Report - Survey). SDV350638.

(29/07/1998) The remains of a former battlefield range consisting of target bunds and their associated shelters or bunkers are centred at SX53188380 and lie across a west-facing hillslope. Of the eleven shelters all but three have in situ bunds - these comprise a stony bank about 10.1m long, 2.2m wide and a maximum 0.6m high. There is however no evidence of the counterbalanced target mechanism which was usually mounted against the rear of the bank (c/f SX 58 SW 94).
The shelters, each protected by a substantial earthen mound are 1.1m wide, 0.8m deep and 1.3m high and are constructed of concrete blocks. Splayed wings of similar construction offer further protection. A recess in the side wall with metal hinges and a latch for either a metal or wooden door once contained a communications telephone.

Probert, S., 2001, Willsworthy Training Area, Peter Tavy, Devon. Integrated Land Management Plan Implementation: Archaeological Condition Baseline Survey Appendices 2-5 (Report - Survey). SDV357727.

(14/12/2000) No change in monument condition 14-Dec-2000.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7368 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area, Peter Tavy (1998)
• EDV6663 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area
• EDV6664 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area
• EDV6665 - Survey of the Willsworthy Training Area
• EDV8141 - Condition survey of the Willsworthy Training Area

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