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Summary

The site of a United States Second World War camp is visible as a range of structures on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards, off Rydon Lane. All remaining traces of the former site have been completely cleared and developed by 2006-07.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1413110
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SE/173

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARRACKS (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• SLIT TRENCH (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/865, RAF/106G/UK/865 RVp6 6478-79 30-SEP-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355699.

The site is visible as a range of structures.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3403-04 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The site is visible as a range of structures.

RAF, 1946, Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV24165.

Other details: Approx 25" scale.

RAF, 1947, CPE/UK/1974/4454 (Aerial Photograph). SDV24164.

Other details: SMR 37/59.

Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1579, RAF/540/1579 F22 104-05 01-APR-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354850.

A number of the structures have been removed to the north of the site, but largely remain intact elsewhere.

BKS Surveys Ltd, 1967, BKS/2822, BKS/2822 V 3025-26 14-MAR-1967 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354836.

The central sector of the site remains largely unchanged, whilst that to the north and south have been developed.

Ordnance Survey, 1972, Untitled Source (Cartographic). SDV24166.

Ordnance Survey, 1992, OS/92196 V, OS/92196 V 156-57 14-JUN-1992 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355002.

All remaining structures have been demolished, although the building platforms remain largely visible.

Wasley, G., 1994, Devon at War 1939-1945, 145 (Monograph). SDV165766.

By-pass Camp, Exeter, was the base for 4th Quartermaster Company and 704th Ordnance Company of the US 4th Infantry Division.

Clarke, N. J., 1995, Adolf Hitler's Holiday Snaps, 30 (Monograph). SDV24161.

Luftwaffe aerial photo of 1/7/1940 records a barracks here. The Photograph key lists 4 buildings, 4 sheds, 40 "house" tents and 71 round tents.

Horner, W., 1995, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV24159.

An Raf 1947 aerial photo in the SMR records a military camp at the above NGR. A lower altitude RAF 1946 aerial photo held by Exeter Archaeology shows greater detail including stores pallets, crates etc. The OS 1:10,000 (1972) map records this site partly taken up by a caravan park and partly by the Devon Crest Motel.

Horner, W., 1996, Bypass Camp, Exeter (Worksheet). SDV357219.

A military camp is recorded on Luftwaffe aerial photographs of 1/7/1940. The site is identified as a troop barracks of huts and tents. RAF aerial photographs of 1947 also record the camp. This is now largely occupied by a caravan park and a motel. Low altitude aerial photographs of 1946 record detail such as stores pallets and crates alongside the Nissen huts. It is possible that this is 'Bypass Camp' which was the base for the 4th United States Army Quartermaster Company and 704th Ordnance Company of the 4th Infantry Division by 1944.

Cox, P. + Chandler, J., 2004, Archaeological Assessment of the proposed construction of the Walter Daw Primary School, Woodwater Lane, Exeter, 2 (Report - Assessment). SDV321662.

Bluesky, 2006 - 2007, Bluesky aerial photographs 2006 - 2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV341189.

All remaining traces of the site have been completely cleared and developed.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

The site of a United States Second World War camp is visible as a range of structures on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards, off Rydon Lane. The site occupies an area of approximately 6.2 hectares of land, within three adjacent former agricultural fields on the eastern side of Rydon Lane. The site comprises a number of nissen huts and pitched-roof structures, inter-connected by a series of trackways and paths. A crenulated earthwork ditch of a slit trench, approximately 60m in length, is visible alongside the western edge of the site, parallel to Rydon Lane, whilst to the southwest, the site is occupied by what appears to resemble a playing field. An additional site of uncertain function, but clearly associated in some way, is visible as a series of partly demolished structures and earthwork ditches and pits on the opposite side of Rydon Lane and has been recorded as a separate record. The military camp remains largely unchanged on aerial photographs of 1955, although a number of structures have been demolished to the north of the site. By 1967, the northern and southern sectors of the site have been developed, whilst the central portion of site remains largely intact. By 1992, these remaining structures have all been demolished, although a number of building platforms of these former structures are visible. Digital images of 2006-07 show that the site has been completely developed.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV165766	Monograph: Wasley, G.. 1994. Devon at War 1939-1945. Devon at War. Hardback Volume. 145.
SDV24159	Personal Comment: Horner, W.. 1995.
SDV24161	Monograph: Clarke, N. J.. 1995. Adolf Hitler's Holiday Snaps. Adolf Hitler's Holiday Snaps. Unknown. 30.
SDV24164	Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1947. CPE/UK/1974/4454. CPE/UK.
SDV24165	Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946.
SDV24166	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1972. 1:10,000. Map (Paper).
SDV321662	Report - Assessment: Cox, P. + Chandler, J.. 2004. Archaeological Assessment of the proposed construction of the Walter Daw Primary School, Woodwater Lane, Exeter. AC Archaeology Report. 2804/1/0. A4 Stapled + Digital. 2.
SDV341189	Aerial Photograph: Bluesky. 2006 - 2007. Bluesky aerial photographs 2006 - 2007. Bluesky. Photograph (Digital).
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3403-04 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #95071 ]
SDV354836	Aerial Photograph: BKS Surveys Ltd. 1967. BKS/2822. BKS Surveys Ltd. Photograph (Paper). BKS/2822 V 3025-26 14-MAR-1967.
SDV354850	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1955. RAF/540/1579. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1579 F22 104-05 01-APR-1955.
SDV355002	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1992. OS/92196 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/92196 V 156-57 14-JUN-1992.
SDV355699	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/865. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/865 RVp6 6478-79 30-SEP-1945.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV357219	Worksheet: Horner, W.. 1996. Bypass Camp, Exeter. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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