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Summary

One of two Second World War coastal searchlights within the Emergency Coastal Battery. Now a shelter within the park.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020411: World War II Emergency Coastal Battery and remains of a Victorian practice battery, at Battery Gardens

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX95NW/93/8
• Tide Project: 16/11/2023
• Torbay HER: MTO52998

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• COAST ARTILLERY SEARCHLIGHT (World War II - 1939 AD (Between) to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1942, RAF/AC39, RAF/AC39 V 54-55 29-APR-1942 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352346.

A rectangular structure is just discenable.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2488, RAF/CPE/UK/2488 5227-5228 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352767.

A rectangular structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1958, RAF/58/2549, NMR SX9256/26 RAF 30137/PSFO-P2-0069 27-AUG-1958 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351446.

An open fronted building is visible.

Coleman, R., 1989, The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, 7 (Monograph). SDV362008.

Emplacement for one of the two battery searchlights. The lights were some 3ft in diameter.

Phil Newman, 2001, Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, 6-7, Fig. 3, Pls 7-8 (Report - Survey). SDV362290.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX9256_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

A rectangular building is visible.

Newman, P. + Salvatore, J., 2003, An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay, 217-8, Fig. 5 (Article in Serial). SDV318361.

The two searchlights (CASLs) were postioned as close to the waterline as possible in order to maximise the effectiveness of the beam. The lights were remotely controlled from the battery observation post.
The buildings are rectangular, mostly of brick with prefabricated roofs and originally had two rooms. The western of the two is in a more open position and earth has been heaped against the back wall. It is likely that the roof was also originally covered with earth as well. There are stone revetments to hold the earth back from the entrance.

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

A rectangular structure, circa 5 metres wide, is visible on aerial photographs between 1942 and 2012. It is clearly visible on oblique aerial photographs taken in 1958 as an open fronted structure and identified in the English Heritage survey as one of two Second World War coastal searchlights within the Emergency Coastal Battery at Brixham. In 2012 the structure appears to be deeper, apparently eroding out of the hillside on the southern side.

Ordnance Survey, 2023, Mastermap 2023 (Cartographic). SDV365227.

Structure marked as a shelter.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV318361	Article in Serial: Newman, P. + Salvatore, J.. 2003. An emergency coast artillery battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham, Torbay. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 61. 217-8, Fig. 5.
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
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SX9256_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012.
SDV351446	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1958. RAF/58/2549. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR SX9256/26 RAF 30137/PSFO-P2-0069 27-AUG-1958.
SDV352346	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1942. RAF/AC39. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/AC39 V 54-55 29-APR-1942.
SDV352767	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2488. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2488 5227-5228 11-MAR-1948.
SDV362008	Monograph: Coleman, R.. 1989. The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham. The Purpose and History of the Battery at Battery Gardens, Brixham. Unknown. 7.
SDV362290	Report - Survey: Phil Newman. 2001. Battery Gardens, Brixham, Devon: An Archaeological Survey. English Heritage. Unknown. 6-7, Fig. 3, Pls 7-8.
SDV365227	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2023. Mastermap 2023. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #141449 ]

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)
• EDV7848 - Archaeological Survey by Phil Newman - May 2001

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