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Summary

The Second World War radar base at West Prawle is visible as a range of structures on aerial photographs of the 1940s. The domestic site for the radar station is visible as hutted structures on the eastern edge of East Prawle.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of a former World War Two Radar Base at East Prawle

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RADAR STATION (XX - 1901 AD to 2000 AD (Between))

Full description

United States Airforce, 1944, US/7PH/GP/LOC292, US/7PH/GP/LOC292 V 5002-3 20-APR-1944 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351155.

Radar base is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2011-12 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

Radar base is visible. Map based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/58/1399, RAF/58/1399 V 9 30-MAR-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351147.

Radar base is visible.

Dobinson, C. S., 2000, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Vol. XI.1 & XI.2: The Cold War, 153 (Report - non-specific). SDV324255.

Location of Domestic site for the Cold War Rotor (Chain Home West) station at West Prawle. Radar station was refurbished during the 1950's and new, more sophisticated, equipment was installed. Reference 18 Jul 1952.

Passmore, M. + Passmore, A., 2011, Royal Air Force Air-Defence Radar Station West Prawle, 2-3 (Leaflet). SDV347322.

Little remains today of the domestic accommodation, which was provided for station personnel in a hutted complex on the northern outskirts of East Prawle. At one stage officers were accommodated at the former Gara Rock Hotel in East Portlemouth. Other details: Photograph.

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

The domestic site for the Second World War radar base at West Prawle is visible as a range of structures on aerial photographs of 1944. The site covers a total area of approximately 0.9 hectares and is roughly east to west aligned. The base is characterised by a series of hut structures for probable domestic use and smaller structures for possible storage and/or administration, linked by a network of paths. The site has been partly reinforced with a possible walled structure to the east and west. Two walled structures are also visible and may have served as storage tanks. The radar base and domestic site is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1954 and has been largely levelled by 1983, although structural elements of the site evidently still survive (Passmore 2011).

Sources / Further Reading

SDV324255	Report - non-specific: Dobinson, C. S.. 2000. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Vol. XI.1 & XI.2: The Cold War. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. XI.1 & XI.2. A4 Bound + Digital. 153.
SDV347322	Leaflet: Passmore, M. + Passmore, A.. 2011. Royal Air Force Air-Defence Radar Station West Prawle. A Brief Introduction to Twentieth Century Military and Civil Defence Archae. 40. A4 Folded + digital. 2-3.
SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2011-12 10-DEC-1946.
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
SDV351147	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/58/1399. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/1399 V 9 30-MAR-1954.
SDV351155	Aerial Photograph: United States Airforce. 1944. US/7PH/GP/LOC292. United States Airforce. Photograph (Paper). US/7PH/GP/LOC292 V 5002-3 20-APR-1944.

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)

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