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Summary

A Second World War pillbox is visible on aerial photographs and postcards overlooking Branscombe Beach. It has been demolished and is no longer visible.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417370

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PILLBOX (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3196-3197 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Tuck Cards, 1951, Postcard of Sea Shanty and Beach, Branscombe, BC 35 (Ground Photograph). SDV356596.

The loopholed structure is visible overlooking the beach, forward of the anti-tank obstructions.

Taylor, B., 1997, Pillbox at Branscombe 'Sea Shanty', Photos (Worksheet). SDV366202.

A low lying square concrete block pillbox that was situated, mostly below ground level, in front of the beach huts. It was demolished in 1972 by cutting through the roof, which was dropped inside. The walls were then pushed in and the whole covered with soil.

Passmore, A. + Passmore, M., 2010, Second World War Pillboxes, 1-2 (Leaflet). SDV345308.

One of three pillboxes that guarded Branscombe Mouth. Only two are extant. 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.

A Second World War pillbox is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as a structure overlooking the beach at Branscombe Mouth. It is one of three that guarded the potentially vulnerable beach and access inland provided by the combe to the north. It is not as apparent as the pillboxes located higher up the slopes to the east and west and might have been disguised or adapted from a pre-existing structure. The structure showing loopholed windows are clearly visible on postwar postcards of unknown date. It is not visible on the most recent images available to the survey and was probably demolished some time ago.

Pink, F., 2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV345308	Leaflet: Passmore, A. + Passmore, M.. 2010. Second World War Pillboxes. A Brief Introduction to Twentieth Century Military and Civil Defence Archaeology in Devon. 13. A4 Folded. 1-2.
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 3196-3197 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #66428 ]
SDV356596	Ground Photograph: Tuck Cards. 1951. Postcard of Sea Shanty and Beach, Branscombe. A Tuck Card. BC 35.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. ACD618/4/3. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV366202	Worksheet: Taylor, B.. 1997. Pillbox at Branscombe 'Sea Shanty'. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital. Photos.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4917 - Site Visit to World War II Pillboxes at Branscombe
• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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