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Summary

The site of a Royal Observation Post of Second World War date is visible as a structure on aerial photographs of 1947, on St. Andrew’s Hill, Cullompton. It was re-sited by November 1954.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019543: Two Roman forts and two Roman camps at St Andrew's Hill
• SHINE: Roman forts and camps on St. Andrew's Hill, Cullompton

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• OBSERVATION POST (Mid 20th Century - 1938 AD to 1954 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RP, RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RP 3131-32 13-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356899.

The Royal Observation Post is visible as a structure.

Royal Air Force, 1965, RAF/58/7109 F42, RAF/58/7109 F42 222-23 22-NOV-1965 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351204.

The former Royal Observation Post has been completely removed.

Wood, K., 1976, Attack Warning Red, 284 (Monograph). SDV143823.

'Granite' 1943.

Dobinson, C. S., 2000, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Vol. XI.1 & XI.2: The Cold War, 201 (Report - non-specific). SDV324255.

Site of Royal Observer Corps ROC post for Cullompton. Opened in September 1938, later resited to ST053070 (MDV72197) by November 1954.

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

The site of a Royal Observation Post of Second World War date is visible as a structure on aerial photographs of 1947, on St. Andrew’s Hill, Cullompton. The single, block-work structure is broadly rectangular in shape and measures approximately 7.5m in length by 5m in width. No traces of the former structure are visible following its re-siting by November 1954, although below ground elements of this former structure may, however, still survive.

Bampton, J., 2023, Cullompton Roman Fort, land adjacent to St Andrew's Primary School, St Andrew's Hill, Cullompton: Geophysical Survey and Test Pitting (Report - Survey). SDV366595.

The site is located at the Scheduled Roman fort (SM 1019543), at Cullompton, on St Andrew’s Hill, and a small open area slightly south of the fort, adjacent to St Andrew’s Primary School. The fort has been mapped via aerial photography and been subject to limited excavation in 1992 that identified a western rampart ditch; 3.6m wide and 1.8m.
deep.

The geophysical survey identified 41 groups of anomalies, comprising between 129-181 total anomalies across the survey areas and many of these were indicative of the fort rampart ditches and banks; possible rampart ditches; possible outer rampart ditches; possible access/entrance features to the ramparts including a possible track and a possible central enclosure to the fort.

Located at the west end of the fort area is anomaly Group 19, indicative of a spread of demolished building material including ferrous debris and weak thermoremanent debris. Equating to the location of a removed 20th century structure, a Royal Observation Corp Post; present on aerial photography in 1946 and removed c.1954.

The Resistivity Survey recorded anomaly Group D and P, located at the west end of the fort survey area in a spread around the location of a demolished and removed 20th century structure. Indicative of a stony or compacted spread of demolition material. Associated with Group 19.


Archaeological test pitting was undertaken between the 27th and 30th of March 2023. These test pits were organised as part of a strategy and attempted to target areas without probable archaeological features. The locations of these test pits were informed by the geophysical survey. The test pitting attempted to target areas without probable archaeological features based on the previous geophysical survey. The test pits revealed a probable posthole, three areas of probable modern spreads, and variation in the stratigraphy and geology associated with the topography of the site (see Figure 4). A relatively small number of topsoil and subsoil finds were also recovered, including a small amount of Romano-British pottery.

Test Pit 4 was located towards the western end of the fort. It was excavated to the depth 0.35m, which was within Spread (401). Spread (401) was overlain by Topsoil (400). It was a mid browngrey, soft silt-clay that contained 20th century debris, likely associated with a removed ROC post.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV143823	Monograph: Wood, K.. 1976. Attack Warning Red. Attack Warning Red. Unknown. 284.
SDV324255	Report - non-specific: Dobinson, C. S.. 2000. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Vol. XI.1 & XI.2: The Cold War. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. XI.1 & XI.2. A4 Bound + Digital. 201.
SDV351204	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1965. RAF/58/7109 F42. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/58/7109 F42 222-23 22-NOV-1965.
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
SDV356899	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RP. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RP 3131-32 13-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #99835 ]
SDV366595	Report - Survey: Bampton, J.. 2023. Cullompton Roman Fort, land adjacent to St Andrew's Primary School, St Andrew's Hill, Cullompton: Geophysical Survey and Test Pitting. South West Archaeology. 231213. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)
• EDV9250 - Geophysical Survey and Test Pitting: Cullompton Roman Fort, land adjacent to St Andrew's Primary School, St Andrew's Hill, Cullompton (Ref: 231213)

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