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| HER Number: | MDV48737 |
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| Name: | Searchlight Emplacement to the east of Fort Bovisand |
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Summary
One of two early 20th century searchlight emplacements on the coast to the east of Fort Bovisand. Situated on an area retained by a curving wall dating from the 19th century, and installed circa 1910. It is visible as an open fronted structure on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s and 1950s, possibly hexagonal in plan. It was demolished in the 1960s or 1970s.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 488 506 |
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| Map Sheet: | SX45SE |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Wembury |
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| District | South Hams |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | PLYMSTOCK |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SX45SE/18/7
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- SEARCHLIGHT BATTERY (Edwardian - 1910 AD to 1910 AD (Between))
Full description
Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2105, RAF/CPE/UK/2105 RP 3138-3139 28-MAY-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351151.
A flat roofed structure is visible.
Royal Air Force, 1958, RAF 58/2546, RAF/58/2546/PSFO-P1-0376 26-AUG-1958 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351257.
An open fronted, flat roofed structure is visible.
McDonald, K., 1981, Untitled Source (Monograph). SDV342720.
Pye, A., 1992, Plymouth Fortress Survey (Report - non-specific). SDV167755.
Semi-circular retaining wall of rubble limestone, the eastern part of which has recently collapsed. Marked on plans from 1872 onwards. In 1872 it formed the retaining wall for a road down to the fort. It may date from the 1860s and be contemporary with the fort, or to 1816-1824 when the pier and seawall were built by Rennie. It is also the sight of a searchlight installed circa 1910 as a fighting light for Watch House Battery. It was used during the Second World War and demolished in the 1960s. It was probably of a similar type to the ones to the north of the battery, although from the map appears to have been smaller.
Pye, A. + Woodward, F., 1996, The Historic Defences of Plymouth, 208 (Monograph). SDV167752.
[One of] two searchlight emplacements on the coast to the east of Fort Bovisand which have now been demolished.
Woodward, F. W., 1998, Untitled Source (Monograph). SDV337824.
Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.
The early 20th century searchlight emplacement is visible as an open fronted structure on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s and 1950s. The vertical images suggest it has a rectangular roof, but oblique images show it as possibly hexagonal. It is one of two in this vicinity.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV167752 | Monograph: Pye, A. + Woodward, F.. 1996. The Historic Defences of Plymouth. The Historic Defences of Plymouth. A4 Paperback. 208. |
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| SDV167755 | Report - non-specific: Pye, A.. 1992. Plymouth Fortress Survey. A4 Unbound. |
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| SDV337824 | Monograph: Woodward, F. W.. 1998. Forts or Follies? The Story of Plymouth's Palmerston Forts. Hardback Volume. |
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| SDV342720 | Monograph: McDonald, K.. 1981. Fort Bovisand. The Book. Unknown. |
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| SDV351151 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/2105. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2105 RP 3138-3139 28-MAY-1947. [Mapped feature: #122211 ] |
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| SDV351257 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1958. RAF 58/2546. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/2546/PSFO-P1-0376 26-AUG-1958. |
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| SDV362982 | Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2019-2020. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP). Historic England Research Report. Digital. |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV17323 | Related to: Fort Bovisand, Wembury (Monument) |
| MDV48738 | Related to: Searchlight Emplacement to the east of Fort Bovisand, Wembury (Monument) |
| MDV17324 | Related to: Watch House Battery and Ditch, Staddon Heights (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV4534 - Survey of Fort Bovisand
- EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)
| Date Last Edited: | Oct 8 2019 5:18PM |
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