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Summary

A Second World War emergency coastal battery at Exmouth is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s as a range of structures situated between Foxholes Hill and Queens Drive.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY07NW/219

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EMERGENCY COAST DEFENCE BATTERY (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV123475.

APH=RAF/106G/UK/1412/3040/13/4/1946/SMR 44/154.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV123476.

Des=Horner, B. /(1/9/1995)/as above.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV2244.

Site of coastal battery at Exmouth. Armed with 2 x 4 7" guns (Guy). Vis= Estimated -/-/1989 (Guy). Nothing found (Guy). Vis= Site of one gun emplacement visible on RAF 1946 AP at this NGR. Battery control post visible to the north at c. SY01317998 and further building at SY01357994. Second gun emplacement may be at SY01207996, now a car park (APH). Vis= Angus, I. , of Fortress Study Group, has extensive file on this site, including wartime photographs (Horner).

Royal Air Force, 1941, RAF/1416/S403H55, RAF/1416/S403H55 PO-59 - PS-60 14-AUG-1941 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352644.

The battery is visible, the gun houses obscured by camouflage materiels.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3140-3141 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The battery structures are visible, uncovered by camouflage materiel.

Guy, J., 1990, List of Coastal Batteries (Un-published). SDV15882.

Des=Guy, J. /list of coastal batteries(1990)/copy in SMR.

Dobinson, C. S., 1996, Coastal artillery, 1900-56 VI.1 & VI.2, 316 (Report - non-specific). SDV323777.

Site of Emergency coastal battery at Exmouth. Armed with 2 x 4.7in (Naval) guns. Manned by 555 Regt 377 Bty, later by 556 Regt 377 Bty. Dobinson Quotes a slightly different OS Ref of SY012-799-. Other details: AAI.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2612 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Gun emplacements and buildings on 1946 Aerial Photograph. Non visible.
SMR.

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 emergency coastal battery at Exmouth is visible on aerial photographs of 1941 onwards as a range of structures situated between Foxholes Hill and Queens Drive. In addition to the structures described by the above authority, a second observation post can be seen to the south-east of the battery at SY01397993, and two rectangular structures, possibly accommodation blocks, are visible centred at circa SY01148004 and SY01188002.
The possible gun houses are camouflaged on aerial photographs of 1941 but are revealed as structures on 1946 vertical photography. A possible pavilion-type structure and tennis court visible within the battery compound on the 1941 aerial photographs might have been associated with the leisure activities of the troops manning the battery. No battery structures are visible on 2012 aerial photographs.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV123475	Aerial Photograph:
SDV123476	Migrated Record:
SDV15882	Un-published: Guy, J.. 1990. List of Coastal Batteries. Typescript.
SDV2244	Migrated Record:
SDV323777	Report - non-specific: Dobinson, C. S.. 1996. Coastal artillery, 1900-56 VI.1 & VI.2. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. VI.1 & VI.2. A4 Stapled + Digital. 316.
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
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. 2612.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 3140-3141 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #90369 ]
SDV352644	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1941. RAF/1416/S403H55. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/1416/S403H55 PO-59 - PS-60 14-AUG-1941.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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