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Summary

Camp built in late 1930s as a Ministry of Employment training centre. Used from 1942 as accommodation for Haldon Airfield. After the war it became an open prison, closing in the 1970s.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1413097
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX88SE/93

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY CAMP (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• OPEN TRAINING PRISON (XX - 1946 AD to 1979 AD (Between))

Full description

ASHWORTH, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV291700.

War office camp until requisitioned by the admiralty in 1942 as accommodation for haldon airfield (ashworth).

APH, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV314984.

Military camp visible on raf 1947 ap (aph).

1964, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV314985.

"haldon camp (prison commission)" marked on os 6" (1964) map (os).

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV314988.

Aph=raf/cpe/uk/1995/2327/ (13/04/1947).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV314989.

Des=os 6" (1964)sx88se.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV314990.

Des=ashworth, c. /action stations 5/(1982)91.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1823, RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RS 4024-5 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354994.

A camp of Second World War date is visible.

Fairy Surveys Ltd, 1964, FSL/6412 V, FSL/6412 V 2028-2029 07-FEB-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357115.

The camp structures remain visible.

Jury, R., 1996, Haldon Camp (Worksheet). SDV314991.

Site visited on 7th January 1996. Camp built in late 1930s as a Ministry of Employment training centre. Used from 1942 as accommodation for Haldon Airfield. After the war it became an open prison, closing in the 1970s. Only hut platforms now visible. Part of site being redeveloped.

Young, A., 2005, Transcriptions from Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Cartographic). SDV321540.

The transcriptions correspond to the grid reference for PRN166868.

Young, A. & Turner, S., 2005-2006, North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project database records, PRN166868 (Interpretation). SDV358473.

A number of huts, laid out in a very regular fashion, a garden area and a sewage plant at SX 88999 84950 are visible on aerial photographs (p1) and were digitally plotted as part of the National Mapping Programme. It is possible that these features are horticultural but it is far more likely that the site is a WW2 military camp of some sort. This interpretation is supported by a large worn area in the field to the immediate south east, suggesting it has been used as a drill area. Given the presence of the garden area it is likely that the camp was a prisoner of war camp.
Photograph reference:
1. RAF CPE/UK/1823 4024&5 04-NOV-1946

Young, A. + Turner, S., 2006, Winkleigh Biomass Plant, National Mapping Project, Page 5; Fig 38 (Report - Interim). SDV358057.

The worn area to the south of the camp, visible on 1946 aerial photographs, may be a result of recreation or drill activity. There is a large area of gardens to the west.

Next Perspectives, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX8884-SX8984 23-AUG-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361515.

The camp structures have been cleared. The camp roads and tracks have been reused as part of landscaping associated with Kennford Court.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2018-2019, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (Interpretation). SDV361305.

A camp typical of Second World War temporary accommodation is visible as a series of structures and earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s to 1960s.
Despite being without the survey area, the camp was transcribed and recorded by the North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant NMP survey. The camp was re-transcribed as part of the South Devon to Dartmoor survey to incorporate additional detail.
Gardens were situated to the north-east and south-west of the camp proper. The plot to the south-east of the camp was probably used for sporting activity, worn areas of pasture suggestive of football.
The camp buildings remained visible on aerial photographs of 1964. The rectangular huts that comprise most of the camp accommodation were accessed by narrow regular tracks. The larger arterial tracks have been integrated into the landscaping for Kennford Court, the property now situated on this plot. No evidence of the camp is visible on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2016.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV291700	Migrated Record: ASHWORTH.
SDV314984	Migrated Record: APH.
SDV314985	Migrated Record: 1964.
SDV314988	Aerial Photograph:
SDV314989	Migrated Record:
SDV314990	Migrated Record:
SDV314991	Worksheet: Jury, R.. 1996. Haldon Camp. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV321540	Cartographic: Young, A.. 2005. Transcriptions from Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project. Plot of Cropmarks. Digital. [Mapped feature: #110902 ]
SDV354994	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1823. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RS 4024-5 04-NOV-1946.
SDV357115	Aerial Photograph: Fairy Surveys Ltd. 1964. FSL/6412 V. Fairy Surveys Ltd aerial photograph. Photograph (Paper). FSL/6412 V 2028-2029 07-FEB-1964.
SDV358057	Report - Interim: Young, A. + Turner, S.. 2006. Winkleigh Biomass Plant, National Mapping Project. Devon County Council + English Heritage. A4 Comb Bound + Digital. Page 5; Fig 38.
SDV358473	Interpretation: Young, A. & Turner, S.. 2005-2006. North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project database records. Cornwall Council Report. Digital. PRN166868.
SDV361305	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2018-2019. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV361515	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2015-2017. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX8884-SX8984 23-AUG-2016.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7455 - Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme
• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)

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