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Summary

A heavy anti-aircraft battery of Second World War date is visible as a range of structures and possible earthworks on aerial photographs of 1944 onwards, to the northwest of Holbrook Farm.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1472081
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SE/146

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HEAVY ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

United States Airforce, 1944, US/7PH/GP/LOC252, US/7PH/GP/LOC252 RP 3014-15 20-MAR-1944 (Aerial Photograph). SDV358580.

The heavy anti-aircraft battery is visible as a range of structures.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RS 4373-74 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

The heavy anti-aircraft battery is visible as a range of structures and possible earthworks. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2458-59 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349479.

The heavy anti-aircraft battery is visible as a range of structures and possible earthworks. Map object based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1957, RAF/58/2113, RAF/58/2113 F21 066 20-FEB-1957 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356133.

The site of the former anti-aircraft battery has been completely levelled, although soil marks of the former site are visible.

Dobinson, C. S., 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. 1.4. Anti-aircraft artillery, 1914-46, 358 (Monograph). SDV323690.

Holbrook heavy anti-aircraft gun battery. Part of Exeter's defences. Earliest reference 20/6/1942. Four 3" guns and a GL mark II radar. Manned by 273 Battery of 118 Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Dobinson, C. S., 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Anti-aircraft Artillery, 1914-1946, 358 (Report - non-specific). SDV356328.

Horner, W., 1997, Holbrook Anti-Aircraft Battery (Worksheet). SDV357196.

Anti-aircraft battery at Holbrook Farm. The four gun emplacements and command post to their rear are recorded intact on a Royal Air Force aerial photograph of April 1947. The site is now levelled.

Morton, R., 1999, Clyst Honiton to Broadclyst pipeline: archaeological desk based assessment (Report - Assessment). SDV118377.

Francis, P., 1999, Exeter Airport. Historic Airport Survey for Devon County Council & East Devon District Council, 139 (Report - non-specific). SDV323390.

Site D2/Exeter 3. Four 3 inch Heavy Anti-Aircraft 421, 434 and 338 Batteries, 1942.

RSK Environment Ltd., 1999, Transco Broadclyst LDZ pipeline, Exeter: Environmental review, 11 (Report - non-specific). SDV325506.

CPM, 2000, Land at Clyst Hayes: Archaeological assessment (Report - Assessment). SDV325508.

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

A heavy anti-aircraft battery of Second World War date is visible as a range of structures and possible earthworks on aerial photographs of 1944 onwards, to the northwest of Holbrook Farm. The dispersed site occupies an area of approximately 1.5 hectares of land within a number of adjacent agricultural fields. The gun emplacements are arranged in an L-shaped pattern alongside and incorporated into two adjoining field boundaries. The structures are poorly defined on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1947 and had possibly been partly demolished by this time, but appear visible as a series of four rectilinear emplacements which measure approximately 14m in length by 8m in width. A possible earthwork cutting approximately 15.5m in length by 11m in width with internal structures and surrounded by an earthwork embankment is located adjacent to the gun emplacements and may have accommodated the main command post. A single nissen hut and a number of bases of former structures, for accommodation and ammunition storage for example, are visible to the north, south and west of the gun emplacements, with a trackway providing access with those to the west. The site of the anti-aircraft battery has been completely levelled on aerial photographs of 1957, although faint soilmarks of the former earthwork pit and site of the emplacements are visible. No further traces of the site are visible after this date.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV118377	Report - Assessment: Morton, R.. 1999. Clyst Honiton to Broadclyst pipeline: archaeological desk based assessment. Cotswold Archeological Trust Report. 991056. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV323390	Report - non-specific: Francis, P.. 1999. Exeter Airport. Historic Airport Survey for Devon County Council & East Devon District Council. Airfield Research Publishing Report. Digital + A4. 139.
SDV323690	Monograph: Dobinson, C. S.. 1996. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. 1.4. Anti-aircraft artillery, 1914-46. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. 1.4. Anti-aircraft artillery, 1914-46. I.4. A4 Bound. 358.
SDV325506	Report - non-specific: RSK Environment Ltd.. 1999. Transco Broadclyst LDZ pipeline, Exeter: Environmental review. RSK Environmental Report. A4 Spiral Bound + Digital. 11.
SDV325508	Report - Assessment: CPM. 2000. Land at Clyst Hayes: Archaeological assessment. CPM Report. A4 Spiral Bound + Digital.
SDV349479	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2458-59 11-APR-1947.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RS 4373-74 13-APR-1946.
SDV356133	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1957. RAF/58/2113. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/2113 F21 066 20-FEB-1957.
SDV356328	Report - non-specific: Dobinson, C. S.. 1996. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Anti-aircraft Artillery, 1914-1946. Council for British Archaeology Report. 1.3. A4 Comb Bound + Digital. 358.
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
SDV357196	Worksheet: Horner, W.. 1997. Holbrook Anti-Aircraft Battery. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV358580	Aerial Photograph: United States Airforce. 1944. US/7PH/GP/LOC252. United States Airforce. Photograph (Paper). US/7PH/GP/LOC252 RP 3014-15 20-MAR-1944.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4774 - Historic Airport Survey, Exeter Airport
• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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