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HER Number:MDV128139
Name:Observation tower, south-east of Malborough

Summary

A possible Second World War observation tower is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 1954, within a walled enclosure, and could have been associated with Bolt Head airfield. It was not visible on aerial photographs taken in 1958.

Location

Grid Reference:SX 710 397
Map Sheet:SX73NW
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishMalborough
DistrictSouth Hams
Ecclesiastical ParishMALBOROUGH

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • WATCH TOWER? (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 RS 4018-4019 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

A mast or tower is visible, within a square enclosure.

Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/540/1278, RAF/540/1278 0028 05-APR-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351148.

A mast or tower is visible, within a square enclosure.

Royal Air Force, 1958, RAF 58/2542, RAF/58/2542 0241 22-AUG-1958 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351249.

The mast or tower is not visible.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

A mast-like structure is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 1954, within a 15 metre square walled enclosure. It appears to have a platform on top, suggesting that it could have been an observation tower of Second World War date, perhaps associated with Bolt Head airfield (MDV35349). It is not clear whether it had any later association with the nearby Hope Cove Rotor domestic site of Cold War date (MDV72108). The tower was not visible on aerial photographs taken in 1958 and had presumably been dismantled by then.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV169268Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 RS 4018-4019 10-DEC-1946.
SDV351148Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/540/1278. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1278 0028 05-APR-1954. [Mapped feature: #125351 ]
SDV351249Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1958. RAF 58/2542. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/2542 0241 22-AUG-1958.
SDV362982Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2019-2020. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP). Historic England Research Report. Digital.

Associated Monuments

MDV35349Related to: RAF Bolt Head Airfield (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

Date Last Edited:Sep 21 2020 6:10PM