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Summary

A level concrete platform, now with a bench upon it, was the site of an anti-aircraft rocket launcher during the Second World War.

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/93/13
• Tide Project: 03/05/2024
• Torbay HER: MTO53003

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROCKET PROJECTOR BATTERY (Built, World War II - 1939 AD (Between) to 1945 AD (Between))

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.

A rectangular platform and oval earthwork pit are visible.

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

The platform is just visible as a flat structure.

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

Site of a rocket projector which had a revolving turret with rocket racks on either side. The site is now marked by a platform and bench.

Phil Newman, 2001, Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, 12, plan (Report - Survey). SDV362290.

A rocket projector was sited c.10m NW of the Bofors position on a level concrete platform with a kerb to the rear. The multiple projector could fire 20 10mm or 20mm rockets at a time.

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

The platform is visible as a flat struture, although the area to the east is tree covered.

Newman, P. + Salvatore, J., 2003, An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay, 221, Fig 3 (g) (Article in Serial). SDV318361.

A level concrete platform with a low kerb to the rear was probably the location of an anti-aircraft rocket launcher which fired 10 or 20 2 inch rockets at the time. A bench is now situated on the site. There was a similar rocket launcher at Hollicombe Beach.

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

The concrete base for the Second World War rocket projector at Brixham Emergency Coastal Battery is visible as a rectangular structure, circa 5.5 by 2.5 metres, on aerial photographs taken between 1948 and 2012. It appears to be sited in a platform which is indistinctly visible as an earthwork. An earthwork pit clearly visible to the east is likely to be associated, and may survive below tree cover.

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

A rectangular platform is clearly 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. 221, Fig 3 (g).
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. 4.
SDV362290	Report - Survey: Phil Newman. 2001. Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey. English Heritage. Unknown. 12, plan.
SDV362959	Aerial Photograph: Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC. 2015 onwards. 2015 onward Aerial Photographs. Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC. Photograph (Digital). [Mapped feature: #142441 From 2015 layer, ]

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

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