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Summary

An earth-covered Second World War reservoir tank is visible on aerial photographs between 1946 and 1958. In 2012 the area was obscured by tree growth, but substantial remains survived on a site visit in 2013.
Located beside the perimeter wall adjacent to Northfields Lane.

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/93/15
• Tide Project: 16/11/2023
• Torbay HER: MTO53005

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RESERVOIR (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 3206-3207 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

An earthwork bank is visible.

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

An earthwork 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 indistinctly visible.

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

The battery reservoir tank remains in situ beneath an earth-covered mound against the perimeter wall of the garden Northfields Lane.

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

Site visit 14th April 1994. A flat topped earthen mound or platform is still visible.

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

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.

Newman, P. + Salvatore, J., 2003, An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay, Fig. 2, 223 (Article in Serial). SDV318361.

An earth covered reservoir tanks stands in the southern corner of the gardens. It served as a standby water supply and could also have been used for fighting fires if needed.

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.

Substantial earthwork remains survive.

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

The Second World War reservoir at Brixham Emergency Coastal Battery is visible on aerial photographs as a roughly rectangular earthwork circa 10 by 13 metres in plan. It is fairly well defined suggesting an earthwork that covers a structure, and is located in the southern part of the battery near the road. The earthwork is not visible on the more recent available aerial photographs as this area is now obscured by trees.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV318352	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1994. Battery Gardens. Slide.
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. Fig. 2, 223.
SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 3206-3207 10-DEC-1946.
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.
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. [Mapped feature: #141650 ]
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. 13.

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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