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Summary

The site of a Second World War searchlight battery established in 1943 is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, within a single agricultural field to the north of Withycombe Barton.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• SEARCHLIGHT BATTERY (World War II - 1943 AD to 1943 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3115-16 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The site of the former searchlight battery is visible as a number of earthwork features.

Royal Air Force, 1950, RAF/58/369, RAF/58/369 V 5074-75 27-FEB-1950 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355804.

The site of the former searchlight battery is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features. Map object based on this source.

Meridian Airmaps Limited, 1969, MAL/69014, MAL/69014 V 183-84 05-MAR-1969 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355379.

The earthworks of the former searchlight battery have been completely levelled.

Francis, P., 1999, Exeter Airport. Historic Airport Survey for Devon County Council & East Devon District Council, 140 (Report - non-specific). SDV323390.

Site EX1 23 at Bystock. 506 Battery, 80th Searchlight Regiment / 469 Battery Battery, 74th Searchlight Regiment, Troop D, Oct/Nov 1943. Map object based on this Source.

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

The site of a Second World War searchlight battery is visible as a range of earthwork pit and banked features on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, within a single agricultural field to the north of Withycombe Barton. To the north and east of the field are two sub-circular shaped earthwork banked features. The northern of the two, which is complete with a central earthwork pit and measures approximately 6.5m in diameter, may represent a possible gun pit, whilst that to the south, which is much larger at approximately 10.5m in diameter, may have housed the main searchlight. Towards the northwest corner of the field and adjacent to St. John’s Road are a range of additional features. These include a rectangular shaped earthwork platform for a possible accommodation or generator block and measuring approximately 10m in length, in addition to a second possible gun pit visible as a sub-circular earthwork pit and bank and a banked feature of unknown function. The site shows evidence of being largely cleared on aerial photographs of 1946, although the earthworks remain visible up until 1950. By 1969 the earthworks have been completely levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV323390	Report - non-specific: Francis, P.. 1999. Exeter Airport. Historic Airport Survey for Devon County Council & East Devon District Council. Airfield Research Publishing Report. Digital + A4. 140.
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 RP 3115-16 13-APR-1946.
SDV355379	Aerial Photograph: Meridian Airmaps Limited. 1969. MAL/69014. Meridian Airmaps Limited Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). MAL/69014 V 183-84 05-MAR-1969.
SDV355804	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1950. RAF/58/369. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/369 V 5074-75 27-FEB-1950.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4774 - Historic Airport Survey, Exeter Airport
• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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