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Summary

Emplacement for one of the two searchlights within the Emergency Coastal Battery. They were located close to the shoreline in order to maximise the effectiveness of the lights.

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/93/9
• Tide Project: 16/11/2023
• Torbay HER: MTO52999

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• COAST ARTILLERY SEARCHLIGHT (World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

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.

An open fronted building is visible.

Coleman, R., 1989, The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, 7 (Monograph). SDV362008.

Emplacement for one of the two battery searchlights. The lights were some 3 ft in diameter.

Phil Newman, 2001, Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, 6-7. Fig. 3, pls 7-8 + plan (Report - Survey). SDV362290.

One of two emplacements positioned to the north of, and in front of, the battery guns and as close as possible to the waterline. The lights were CASL type arc lights, about 3ft across, and remotely controlled from the Battery Operation Post. The emplacements are about 5m square built of brick with bomb-proof flat foofs which probably had protective steel shutters to prevent aerial strafing. Earthing up protected the sides, which in turn was roughly stone-revetted; this was one was built into the natural slope for added protection.
The cutaway sides have been bricked up to prevent collapse; the open front allows re-use as a shelter.

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

A rectangular building is visible although obscured by tree growth.

Newman, P. + Salvatore, J., 2003, An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay, 217-218, Fig. 5 (Article in Serial). SDV318361.

There were two searchlights which were positioned close to the waterline, to maximise the beams' effectiveness. The lights were remotely controlled from the Battery Observation Post. The searchlight buildings are rectangular on plan built of brick with prefabricated flat roofs. The have open fronts and sides with small concrete pillars supporting the roof at the front corners. The side openings have been bricked up to prevent collapse.
The eastern searchlight emplacement is built into the base of the slope with some earthing up around it for additional protection.

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

A rectangular structure, circa 5 metres wide, is visible on aerial photographs between 1942 and 2012, apparently built into the slope of the hill possibly with spoil mounded up on the southern and western sides. It is clearly visible on oblique aerial photographs taken in 1958 as an open fronted structure and identified in the English Heritage survey as one of two Second World War coastal searchlights within the Emergency Coastal Battery at Brixham. In 2012 the structure is obscured on the landward side by tree growth.

Watts, S., 2023, Battery Gardens, Brixham (Ground Photograph). SDV365626.

The searchlight emplacements.

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

Square structure shown. Marked as a shelter.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV318361	Article in Serial: Newman, P. + Salvatore, J.. 2003. An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 61. 217-218, Fig. 5.
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. 7.
SDV362290	Report - Survey: Phil Newman. 2001. Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey. English Heritage. Unknown. 6-7. Fig. 3, pls 7-8 + plan.
SDV365227	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2023. Mastermap 2023. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #141101 Location taken from SDV318361, ]
SDV365626	Ground Photograph: Watts, S.. 2023. Battery Gardens, Brixham. Digital.
	Linked images:5

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)
• EDV7848 - Archaeological Survey by Phil Newman - May 2001

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