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HER Number:MDV39337
Name:Second World War Pillbox to east of Branscombe Mouth

Summary

A Second World War pillbox is located on the cliff edge to the east of Branscombe Mouth. The structure is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards.

Location

Grid Reference:SY 208 881
Map Sheet:SY28NW
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishBranscombe
DistrictEast Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishBRANSCOMBE

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

  • National Monuments Record: 1417380
  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SY28NW/66

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV98898.

Des=photograph (hellis, j. )/(24/10/1989)/hellis site 00180/photocopy in smr. Pillbox of local pattern, oblong with two gunports on each long side, four gunports made for vickers machine gun though size would severely limit field of fire

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, 3197 (45/21) (Aerial Photograph). SDV336108.

A pillbox is visible covering Branscombe Beach and its defences from the east side. It appears to have had a defensive perimeter to the rear.

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

A square structure is visible.

National Trust, 1984, Branscombe and Salcombe Regis (Report - Survey). SDV325224.

Two Second World War pillboxes, strategically placed at Branscombe Mouth as part of the south coast defences. One stands at SY20668814, the other at SY20668813. The buildings are of concrete blocks, squarish in plan, with characteristic small windows. They are set into the slope. Restoration of these is currently being planned.

Wills, H., 1985, Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940, 74 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Wills lists a square, south facing concrete pillbox at SY210880.

Hellis, J., 1990, List of Defensive Sites (Un-published). SDV99101.

Horner, B., 1995, Pillboxes at Branscombe Mouth (Personal Comment). SDV98900.

The grid references as recorded by the National Trust appear to be slightly incorrect.

Taylor, B., 1996, Pillbox east of Branscombe Mouth, Photos (Worksheet). SDV366201.

Pill box above the beach to the east of Branscombe Mouth. Square, about 4m by 4m by 3m high, 2m buried on the landward side. Walls about 600mm thick. Concrete block construction. There are two vent pipes on the top. Steps down to the rearward door with access still available to the inside.
To the west of the pill box are three slit trenches.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SY2088_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2735 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pillbox. Survives.
SMR.

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

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

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 on the coastal cliff edge overlooking the beach at Branscombe Mouth. The structure remains clearly visible and appears to be in good condition on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2012, albeit with some vegetation growing on the roof of the pillbox. Access or steps are visible to the rear (north) of the structure but it is unclear if these are part of the original structure.

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

Ordnance Survey, 2024, Mastermap 2024 (Cartographic). SDV365834.

Square structure depicted

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325224Report - Survey: National Trust. 1984. Branscombe and Salcombe Regis. National Trust Archaeological Survey Report. Not applicable. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV336108Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 3197 (45/21).
SDV336210Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940. Pillboxes. Hardback Volume. 74.
SDV345308Leaflet: 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. 2.
SDV351146Interpretation: 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
SDV351226Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SY2088_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012.
SDV351568Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 2735.
SDV352504Aerial 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.
SDV357736Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. ACD618/4/3. Digital.
Linked documents:1
SDV365834Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2024. Mastermap 2024. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #143429 ]
SDV366201Worksheet: Taylor, B.. 1996. Pillbox east of Branscombe Mouth. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital. Photos.
SDV98898Migrated Record:
SDV98900Personal Comment: Horner, B.. 1995. Pillboxes at Branscombe Mouth. Digital.
SDV99101Un-published: Hellis, J.. 1990. List of Defensive Sites. Manuscript.

Associated Monuments

MDV55052Related to: Second World War Anti Invasion Defences at Branscombe (Monument)
MDV55051Related to: Second World War Anti Invasion Defences, Branscombe Mouth (Monument)
MDV106916Related to: Second World War Pillbox on Branscombe Beach (Monument)
MDV39336Related to: Second World War Pillbox to west of Branscombe Mouth (Monument)

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)

Date Last Edited:Oct 24 2024 3:56PM