See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

The site of a radio towers enclosure, part of the Second World War US Assault Training Center on Braunton Burrows, is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and 1950s. All elements of the site had been removed by 1989.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows and nineteenth century reclaimed field system on Braunton Marsh NW of Horsey Island

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43NE/252
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RADIO STATION (XX - 1901 AD to 2000 AD)

Full description

Griffith, F. M., 18/12/1985, DAP/FU, 9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV74027.

Unknown, 1944, Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center (Un-published). SDV339604.

'Radio Towers' recorded in a rectilinear enclosure on the west side of Burrows Close Lane on US Army plans of the Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, 3006 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337198.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1631, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1631 4073-4074 08-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349549.

The radio station is clearly visible

Royal Air Force, 1949, RAF/541/402, NMR RAF/541/402 3039-3041 18-NOV-1949 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349942.

The radio masts have been removed but the blastwall protected structure remains visible.

Royal Air Force, 1953, RAF/58/1133 (F22), NMR RAF/58/1133 (F22) 0036-0037 28-MAY-1953 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349785.

The blastwall protected structure remains visible, albeit in a ruinous condition.

Royal Air Force, 1957, RAF/58/2205 F21, NMR RAF/58/2205 F21 0023-0024 05-JUL-1957 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349736.

The blastwall protected structure remains visible, albeit in a ruinous condition.

Ordnance Survey, 1989, OS/89115, NMR OS/89115 345-346 04-MAY-1989 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349086.

All evidence of the radio mast site has been removed.

Bass, R. T., 1992, Spirits of the Sand, 97 (Monograph). SDV339609.

On the east side of the Assault Training Centre against the lane were the Radio Towers for communications across the base and to sea during exercises.

Chugg, B., 1994, Untitled Source (Correspondence). SDV339615.

Wartime Radio Station to the west of Sandy Lane. Once the target of an aerial attack. Sketch shows five towers and a low building.

Horner, B., 1994, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV339692.

Rectangular structure associated with at least 5 radio/telecommunications masts recorded on 1946 aerial photograph.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 67-88 (Monograph). SDV325697.

'Radio Towers' in Area 'D' of the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows were not located during fieldwork in 2005.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 1645 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

Rectangular structure associated with at least 5 radio/telecommunications masts recorded on raf 1946 ap. "radio towers" recorded on us army (?1943/44) plans of the assault training centre.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

A communications complex of Second World War date can be seen as a number of structures visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and 1950s. The radio site comprises five square based pylon-like radio masts arrayed around a rectangular, blast wall protected structure, to the north of which a smaller rectangular structures is visible. Four masts were arranged in a diamond pattern, the rectangular, blast wall protected structure situated just south of the easternmost ‘point’ of the diamond. The fifth mast was located circa 175 metres south-south-east of the structure, in the corner of the field. Two small earthwork features, probably pits, are visible located at circa SS 466365. These may be latrine pits associated with the station. In total, the site covered circa 1.4 hectares.
The masts had been removed by November 1949 and the rectangular structure was ruinous by 1953, but remained clearly visible to July 1957. No remains of the complex are visible as of May 1989.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 67-88.
SDV337198	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 3006.
SDV339604	Un-published: Unknown. 1944. Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center. U.S. Plans from R.T.Bass. Mixed Archive Material + Digital.
SDV339609	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 1992. Spirits of the Sand. Spirits of the Sand. Unknown. 97.
SDV339615	Correspondence: Chugg, B.. 1994. Letter.
SDV339692	Personal Comment: Horner, B.. 1994.
SDV339712	Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 1645.
SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011-2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349086	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1989. OS/89115. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/89115 345-346 04-MAY-1989.
SDV349549	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1631. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1631 4073-4074 08-JUL-1946.
SDV349736	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1957. RAF/58/2205 F21. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2205 F21 0023-0024 05-JUL-1957.
SDV349785	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1953. RAF/58/1133 (F22). Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/1133 (F22) 0036-0037 28-MAY-1953.
SDV349942	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1949. RAF/541/402. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/541/402 3039-3041 18-NOV-1949.
SDV74027	Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 18/12/1985. DAP/FU. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 9.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)

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