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Summary

Tide Ball northeast of Yell Pool, visible on aerial photographs taken in 1945 as a small structure on a rail-type construction, but lost to coastal erosion by 1989, although remains may survive on the foreshore.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows and nineteenth century reclaimed field system on Braunton Marsh NW of Horsey Island

Other References/Statuses

• Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: ND
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/267
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• NAVIGATION AID (XVIII to XXI - 1751 AD to 2009 AD)
• LIGHTHOUSE (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD (Between) to 1899 AD (Between))

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

'Small light' is depicted at this location.

Denham, H. M., 1839, Plan of Barnstaple and Bideford Creeks (Cartographic). SDV7779.

Ordnance Survey, 1906, 12NW (Cartographic). SDV335642.

'Tide Ball. Low Light (Fixed, Red & White)' is marked on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey 6 inch map.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/102, NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5014-5015 17-JAN-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349060.

A small square structure is visible, on a linear rail-like structure.

Ordnance Survey, 1971, Untitled Source (Cartographic). SDV47151.

The tide ball is not shown on the Ordnance Survey (1971) 6 inch map.

Ordnance Survey, 1989, OS/89115, NMR OS/89115 240-241 04-MAY-1989 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349086.

The site has been lost to coastal erosion.

Goddard, S. + Todd, M., 2005, Medieval Rudge, Morchard Bishop (Article in Serial). SDV344644.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 1550 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

[1550] "Tide Ball low light (fixed, red & white)" marked on 6" (1906) map; not shown on 6" (1971) map.
[2554] 'Low Light', on Ordnance Survey 1891 map is ' box mounted on a tramroad, on which it is moved to and fro - as the bar shifts position. - the 2 lighthouses must be brought into 1 by vessels making for the estuary'. Moveable 74ft high square white wooden structure (citing Denman, 1839, 9-11).

Passmore, A. J., 2009, Braunton Burrows Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme. Archaeological Survey 2009, 3 (Report - Survey). SDV344652.

Visited 2009. Nothing was visible in this area. The NGR for this site places the structure on the foreshore, some 20-30 metres from the shoreline. Concrete and rubble debris on the beach at SS4552532625 may relate to this structure. 'Small Light' marked on 1841 Tithe Map. 'The Low Light' and 'Tide Ball' depicted on Ordnance Survey 1891 map.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

The low light is visible as a structure, circa 5 metres square, on aerial photographs taken in 1945, and appears to be on a rail-type structure which is aligned at right angles to the shore and juts out of the edge of the dunes. It is not visible on aerial photographs taken in 1989 when this area has been lost to coastal erosion, although remains may survive on the foreshore.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV335642	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1906. 12NW. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 6 inch Map. Map (Paper).
SDV339712	Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 1550.
SDV344644	Article in Serial: Goddard, S. + Todd, M.. 2005. Medieval Rudge, Morchard Bishop. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 63. Paperback Volume.
SDV344652	Report - Survey: Passmore, A. J.. 2009. Braunton Burrows Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme. Archaeological Survey 2009. Exeter Archaeology Report. 09.113. A4 Stapled + Digital. 3.
SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011-2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/102. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5014-5015 17-JAN-1945. [Mapped feature: #95878 ]
SDV349086	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1989. OS/89115. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/89115 240-241 04-MAY-1989.
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV47151	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1971. Ordnance Survey 6 inch map. Unknown.
SDV7779	Cartographic: Denham, H. M.. 1839. Plan of Barnstaple and Bideford Creeks. Plan of Barnstaple and Bideford Creeks.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4737 - Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, Braunton Burrows
• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)

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