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Summary

A Second World War pillbox is located on the cliff edge to the north of Branscombe Beach. The structure is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417371
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY28NW/65

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV2244.

Vis=estimated -/-/1988 (hellis). Pillbox of local pattern, oblong, with two gunports on each long side, four gunports set up for vickers machine gun though size of gunport would limit field of fire (hellis). Vis=1/9/1992 (dick). Currently used by national trust as a wood store (dick). Vis=-/-/1984 (nt) two second world war pillboxes, strategically placed at branscombe mouth as part of south coast defences. One stands at sy20668814, the other at sy20668813. The buildings are of concrete blocks, squarish in plan, with characteristic small windows. They are set into the slope. Restoration of these is currently being planned (ntas). Vis=pillbox visible on 1946 raf ap, covering branscombe beach and defences (crf:sy28nw/58) from the w side (horner).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV98824.

Des=hellis, j. /ms list of defensive sites(1990)/in smr.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV98825.

Des=dick, a. M. /(1/9/1992)as above.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV98826.

Ntas/branscombe and salcombe regis,devon/(1984)/in smr.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV98827.

Des=photograph (hellis, j. )/(24/10/1989)/hellis site 00179/photocopy in smr.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV98828.

Des=horner, b. /(27/9/1995)/as above.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV98829.

Aph=raf/106g/uk/1412/3197/(13/4/1946)/smr 45/21.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3196-3197 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SY2088_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2732 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pillbox. Survives.

Passmore, A. + Passmore, M., 2010, Second World War Pillboxes, 1-2 (Leaflet). SDV345308.

One of three pillboxes that guarded Branscombe Mouth. Only two are extant. Other details: Photograph.

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

A Second World War pillbox is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as a structure on the coastal cliff edge overlooking the beach at Branscombe Mouth. The structure remains clearly visible and appears to be in good condition on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012. Access or steps are visible to the western side of the structure but it is unclear if these are part of the original structure.

Pink, F., 2014-2015, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV2244	Migrated Record:
SDV345308	Leaflet: Passmore, A. + Passmore, M.. 2010. Second World War Pillboxes. A Brief Introduction to Twentieth Century Military and Civil Defence Archaeology in Devon. 13. A4 Folded. 1-2.
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 SY2088_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012. [Mapped feature: #90241 ]
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 2732.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 3196-3197 13-APR-1946.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014-2015. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV98824	Migrated Record:
SDV98825	Migrated Record:
SDV98826	Migrated Record:
SDV98827	Migrated Record:
SDV98828	Migrated Record:
SDV98829	Aerial Photograph:

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4917 - Site Visit to World War II Pillboxes at Branscombe

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