See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A concentration of earthwork pits and trenches of Second World War date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Woodbury Common.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018052: Four bowl barrows at Four Firs on Woodbury Common
• SHINE: Earthworks of ridge and furrow cultivation of post medieval date or later, earthworks and trenches of World War II activity on Woodbury Common and four prehistoric barrows or 18th/19th century landscaping features at Four Firs

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NW/113

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BOMB CRATER (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• SLIT TRENCH (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))
• WEAPONS PIT (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Quinell, N. V., 10/10/1995, Woodbury Common (Worksheet). SDV105415.

2. In angle of road and car park track there is an area with at least 8 slit trenches.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3171-73 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The earthwork pits and trenches are visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 24 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 24 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 10, Part 1; Part 2: Gazetteer, 6-7, Site No. 24 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

SMR records existence of at least eight slit trenches in angle of road and car park. This area is under dense gorse; features could not be located during field survey.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2679 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Military Earthwork.
See description in East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey 10, Part 1; Part 2: Gazetteer, 6-7, Site No. 24 - SDV101648.

Exeter Archaeology, 2007, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 19, Site No. 2679 (Archive - Survey). SDV351571.

SMR records at least 8 slit trenches in angle of road and car park. This area is under dense gorse; features could not be located during field survey. Area lies to west of road under dense gorse. Features under no threat from foot traffic and not visible. Possible interpretation as World War Two military features in the area.

Exeter Archaeology, 2008, East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007, 3, Site No. 2679 (Report - Survey). SDV351570.

Features with World War Two training include trenches.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SY0286;SY0386 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

Several of the earthwork pits are visible.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

A concentration of earthwork pits and trenches of Second World War date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Woodbury Common. The earthworks are dispersed across an area of approximately 21.5 hectares of moderate to steep southwest facing slope, broadly parallel to and either side of the B3180. The earthworks are dominated by concentrations of small trenches and circular to irregular shaped pits generally between 1.5 to 3.5m in length/diameter. The earthworks likely represent a combination of slit trenches, artillery shell craters and or weapon pits associated with Dalditch infantry camp located further to the southeast. Other concentrations of similar such earthwork features are visible across Woodbury and Bicton Common. A number of the earthwork pits and trenches remain visible on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2010, although it is likely that many more survive but are obscured by vegetation cover.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 10, Part 1; Part 2: Gazetteer, 6-7, Site No. 24.
SDV105415	Worksheet: Quinell, N. V.. 10/10/1995. Woodbury Common. Devon County Sites and Monuments Register. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV351568	Archive - 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. 2679.
SDV351570	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2008. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Exeter Archaeology Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 3, Site No. 2679.
SDV351571	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. East Devon Access Land Archaeological Survey 2007. Mixed Archive Material + Digital. 19, Site No. 2679.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 3171-73 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #95140 ]
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SY0286;SY0386 22-MAY-2010.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 24.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 24.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.