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Summary

One of two generator houses that formerly supplied power to the Second World War coastal battery.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020411: World War II Emergency Coastal Battery and remains of a Victorian practice battery, at Battery Gardens

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX95NW/93/5
• Tide Project: 22/06/2023

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• GENERATOR HOUSE (Built, World War II - 1939 AD (Between) to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1942, RAF/AC39, RAF/AC39 V 54-55 29-APR-1942 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352346.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2488, RAF/CPE/UK/2488 5227-5228 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352767.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1958, RAF/58/2549, NMR SX9256/26 RAF 30137/PSFO-P2-0069 27-AUG-1958 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351446.

A rectangular building is visible with one or perhaps two openings on its north-west face.

Coleman, R., 1989, The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, 4 (Monograph). SDV362008.

One of two generator houses that provided power to the battery searchlights and gun floors. This one lies outside the pre-war perimeter wall. Each house contained two diesel-powered generators. It is unclear if one was a back-up.

Horner, B., 1994, Battery Gardens, Slide (Site Visit). SDV318352.

Site visit 14th April 1994. Sited below the park wall. Still intact but has been decorated by graffiti.

Phil Newman, 2001, Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, 7, pl. 11, plan (Report - Survey). SDV362290.

The concrete structure has been sealed to prevent entry.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX9256_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The area is obscured by tree growth.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2013 - 2014, South Devon Coast RCZAS National Mapping Programme Project Site Visit, 17-NOV-2013 (Site Visit). SDV351142.

The structure survives and barbed wire support ('spike') is present.

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

One of the generator houses of Brixham Emergency Coastal Battery is visible on aerial photographs between 1942 and 1958 as a rectangular structure circa 7 by 4.5 metres in plan. It appears to be sunken into the ground and approached by a trackway on the north-western side. The structure is not visible on the recent aerial photographs as this area is now obscured by trees. A barbed wire support 'spike' was observed on a site visit in 2013, suggesting that the building may once have been defended, although it may not be in situ.

Ordnance Survey, 2023, Mastermap 2023 (Cartographic). SDV365227.

Rectangular building depicted.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV318352	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1994. Battery Gardens. Slide. Slide.
SDV351142	Site Visit: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2013 - 2014. South Devon Coast RCZAS National Mapping Programme Project Site Visit. AC Archaeology. Digital. 17-NOV-2013.
	Linked images:48
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 SX9256_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012.
SDV351446	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1958. RAF/58/2549. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR SX9256/26 RAF 30137/PSFO-P2-0069 27-AUG-1958.
SDV352346	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1942. RAF/AC39. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/AC39 V 54-55 29-APR-1942.
SDV352767	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2488. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2488 5227-5228 11-MAR-1948.
SDV362008	Monograph: Coleman, R.. 1989. The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham. The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham. Unknown. 4.
SDV362290	Report - Survey: Phil Newman. 2001. Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey. English Heritage. Unknown. 7, pl. 11, plan.
SDV365227	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2023. Mastermap 2023. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #140813 ]

Associated Monuments

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)

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