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Summary

Pillbox largely obscured by a sand dune, dense marram grass and scrub, is visible as a two sided structure east of two possible barbed wire entanglements on aerial photographs from 1946. It is probably Training Aid 39 of the Second World War U.S. Army Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENT (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• PILLBOX (ASSAULT TRAINING) (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3003-3004 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349927.

Two sides of a small structure are visible.

Passmore, A. + Knight, S., 2009, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344664.

Visited 2009. Information provided by R. Bass. Damaged face. Southwest corner of pillbox visible, measuring circa 1 metre long by 3 metres wide, and constructed of reinforced concrete with impressions of corrugated iron shuttering, and later repairs. Largely obscured by a sand dune and dense marram grass and scrub on east face.
Good condition, but largely buried and obscured. Other details: Site 78.

Unknown, 2010, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Shapefiles of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344665.

Map object formerly based on this Source.

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

A small probably partial two sided structure circa 4.5 metres wide is visible on aerial photographs of May 1946. Its location corresponds with Training Aid 39 marked on a U.S. Army plan of the Second World War Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. Two ephemeral parallel linear structures, 25 and 75 metres east of the structure and up to 70 metres in length, may be barbed wire obstructions. A cluster of craters in a slack to the east of these linear features may have been created during training exercises that included live firing. The structure is not readily identifiable on later available aerial photographs but was observed during a site visit in 2009 and has probably been covered by shifting sand dunes following the war.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV344664	Un-published: Passmore, A. + Knight, S.. 2009. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
SDV344665	Un-published: Unknown. 2010. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Shapefiles of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
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
SDV349927	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3003-3004 13-MAY-1946. [Mapped feature: #104611 ]

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

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