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Summary

Irregular and zig-zag trenches, visible on aerial photographs taken between 1942 and 1946 are within the perimeter of RAF Harrowbeer and likely to be associated with defence of the Second World War airfield. Small sections may survive as earthworks.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthwork and structural remains of the World War II RAF Harrowbeer airfield, as well as medieval fields and farms, industrial tin working, sections of the Devonport and Plymouth Leats, and part of the Plymouth and Dartmoor Tramway on Roborough Down

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NW/112/10

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1942, RAF/NLA/31, RAF/NLA/31 V 5010 26-MAR-1942 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363064.

Irregular and zig-zag trenches are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RP 3221-3222 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Irregular and zig-zag trenches are visible, with a sub-rectangular mound.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, DCC RAF/CPE/UK/1890 2350-2351 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

Irregular and zig-zag trenches are visible, with a sub-rectangular mound.

Horner, W., 1996, Untitled (Worksheet). SDV279171.

Stretches of zig-zag infantry trenches within a wire fence perimeter visible on Royal Air Force 1946-7 aerial photograph coverage. Probably for local airfield defence.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5168 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Small sections of the trenches are visible as subtle earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

Irregular and zig-zag trenches, not much more than a metre wide, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken between 1942 and 1946. A sub-rectangular mound is also visible, and might be expected to be an embanked structure, though no structural evidence was recorded from the available imagery. The trenches are within the perimeter of RAF Harrowbeer and are clearly defined on the 1942 images, so are likely to be associated with defence of the Second World War airfield. Small sections of the trenches are still visible as slight earthworks on visualisations of lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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