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 40mm Bofors emplacement of the Second World War Emergency Coastal Battery is visible as a circular platform, circa 9 metres in diameter, on aerial photographs taken between 1948 and 2018.

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/93/12
• Tide Project: 03/05/2024
• Torbay HER: MTO53002

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ANTI AIRCRAFT GUN POST (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1942, RAF/AC41, RAF/AC41 20 30-APR-1942 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352349.

No features are visible in this location.

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

An earthwork platform is visible.

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

The earthwork is visible as a circular mound.

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

The gun was also used against raiding boats in the harbour area.

Phil Newman, 2001, Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, 9, Pl. 13, plan (Report - Survey). SDV362290.

The site of a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun was on higher ground and to the south west of the main 4.7" Gun emplacements. A circular base of 10m diameter was terraced into the slope and protected by a wall of sandbags. No fixings are evident; the Bofors being mobile.

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

The earthwork is visible, with a park bench in the centre.

Newman, P. + Salvatore, J., 2003, An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay, 220, Fig 3,e (Article in Serial). SDV318361.

The main anti-aircraft installation housed a 40mm Bofors gun. It was located a little higher and just to the south-west of the main battery. It is likely to have had a circular protective wall of sandbags. Today the site takes the form of a circular, 1m high earthwork mound which is occupied by a bench on a rectangular concrete platform. There is no evidence of ground fixings; the gun being a mobile weapon.

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

The 40mm Bofors emplacement of the Second World War Emergency Coastal Battery is visible as a circular flat platform, circa 9 metres in diameter, on aerial photographs taken between 1948 and 2012.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 2015 onwards, 2015 onward Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV362959.

A circular platform is visible on aerial photos taken in 2015 and 2018.

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. 220, Fig 3,e.
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.
SDV352349	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1942. RAF/AC41. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/AC41 20 30-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.
SDV362290	Report - Survey: Phil Newman. 2001. Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey. English Heritage. Unknown. 9, Pl. 13, plan.
SDV362959	Aerial Photograph: Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC. 2015 onwards. 2015 onward Aerial Photographs. Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC. Photograph (Digital). [Mapped feature: #142442 Polygon based on 2018 aerial photo, ]

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

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