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Summary

A military site of Second World War date is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features and structures on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08SW/360

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY BUILDING (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• SLIT TRENCH (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• WEAPONS PIT (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RS 4157-58 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The military site is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features and structures. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

Map object based on this Source.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, RAF/CPE/UK/1995 FS 2305-07 13-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354842.

The military site is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features, although the two structures within the quarry have been completely removed.

Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/540/1437, RAF/540/1437 F21 002-03 07-OCT-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356239.

The former military features remain visible as recently levelled earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1960, RAF/58/3590, RAF/58/3590 F22 005-06 02-JUN-1960 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355806.

The former levelled earthworks remain partly visible as parchmarks.

Ordnance Survey, 1985, OS/85043, OS/85043 V 025 07-MAY-1985 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356241.

The former military site has become largely overgrown with vegetation.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 10, Part 1; 37, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 128 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

In the northwest corner of Coombe Common, three rectangular structures (probable buildings) aligned northeast-southwest, are visible on an aerial photograph of 1946, and other possible structures are visible to the south. The features lay to the south of an east/west trackway, which still exists, and are probably related to World War Two military activity. Many small features to the north, northeast and northwest probably represent trenches. During the field survey a brick wall 4.2 metres north/south by 2 metres high, by 0.4 metre thick (2 bricks thick) with a buttress at either end was seen in this area (SY 02435 85020).The wall appears to be a discrete structure rather than a fragment of former building, and could possibly represent a blast wall for army firing practice.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 128 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 128 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

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

A military site of Second World War date is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features and structures on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Coombe Common. The dispersed site occupies an area of approximately 2 hectares of common ground located on the eastern side of the B3180 and accessed via an extant trackway to the northeast. It is characterised by a number of earthwork pit and banked features representing possible slit trenches and gun pits, as well as several additional features of uncertain function. Two rectangular structures located within a former quarry to the west of the site also appear to represent associated features. It is unclear whether this isolated site represents part of a training ground for infantry troops based within the main camp located further to the east, or performed an alternative role, such as an anti-aircraft site or searchlight battery. A series of scars in the ground to the southwest and northwest of the site, possibly derived from artillery practice or from general training exercises, may suggest the former interpretation. The site remains visible as a series of earthwork pit and banked features on aerial photographs of 1947, although both structures within the quarry have been removed. By 1954, the earthworks appear to have been recently levelled, although the parchmarks of these former features remain partly visible up until 1960. By 1985, the site has become largely overgrown with vegetation.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY0284; SY0285 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Numerous earthworks of pits, trenches and banks are visible.

Sims, R., 2020, East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV363914.

Numerous earthworks of pits, trenches and banks are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016, within an area that encompasses circa 7.5 hectares. They are interpreted as weapons pits and slit trenches of a Second World War training site.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 10, Part 1; 37, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 128.
SDV342938	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946 - 1949. Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Digital).
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
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RS 4157-58 13-APR-1946.
SDV354842	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1995. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1995 FS 2305-07 13-APR-1947.
SDV355806	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1960. RAF/58/3590. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/3590 F22 005-06 02-JUN-1960.
SDV356239	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/540/1437. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1437 F21 002-03 07-OCT-1954.
SDV356241	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1985. OS/85043. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/85043 V 025 07-MAY-1985.
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 128.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 128.
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR SY0284; SY0285 Bluesky International DTM 24-APR-2016. [Mapped feature: #99375 ]
SDV363914	Interpretation: Sims, R.. 2020. East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment. Digital.

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)
• EDV8340 - East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment

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