Principal Archaeological Landscape: Selworthy Military Complex (33)
Authority | Exmoor National Park Authority |
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Date assigned | 01 January 2011 |
Date last amended | |
Date revoked |
Previously known as Selworthy WWII complex
Location
The Selworthy military complex is located on a coastal ridge running westwards from Minehead towards Porlock Marsh. To its south is the Vale of Porlock and much lower ground, stretching eastwards through Holnicote towards Bratton and Minehead. The northern side is sharply defined by dramatic sea cliffs cut through by deep combes, running to the sea. Much of the ridge top is open heathland, but enclosed farmland also stretches upwards from its lower slopes.
Description of Archaeology
This area was used intermittently for military activity in the nineteenth century and was requisitioned by the army at the beginning of WW2 for military training, particularly tank crews in advance of the Normandy landings in June 1944. At the end of the war it was returned to civilian use. The physical remains of military activity cover an extensive area and include a concrete road, built from Minehead to Bossington Hill (approximately 6 km). This has now been surfaced with tarmac and provides access to a dramatic viewpoint, with views along Exmoor’s coastline. Administration and maintenance for the firing ranges was in Moor Wood, at the eastern end of the complex. The Luttrell plantation of Scots Pine trees provided camouflage from aerial reconnaissance and was filled with at least 12 Nissen huts, vehicle maintenance buildings and other structures. The ranges themselves comprise a large number of observation buildings (some subterranean), three triangular tank training circuits and three target railways. These structures remain visible today in varying levels of completeness within this relict landscape. The military complex also contains a radar station which formed part of the Chain Home Low group. A separate Cold War period Royal Observer Corps structure existed on Bratton Ball but is no longer extant. In addition the PAL includes some prehistoric remains in the form of flint scatters, an extensive funerary group of barrows and cairns and Furzebury Brake, an Iron Age enclosure. A number of these sites are Scheduled Monuments.
Principal significance
This relict military training landscape is a very rare survival nationally. Many training areas have continued to be used by the military, removing traces of their earlier functions, or have been partly lost since 1945. However the Selworthy military complex contains a relatively complete training landscape, with a number of its structures in very good condition. Of additional interest is the survival of two abandoned farmsteads within the area (West and East Myne); these were requisitioned by the military as part of the training ground and have never been re-occupied. Today they are in ruins, but are a poignant reminder of the impact of military training on some rural populations. The CD/CHL radar station is also a rare and important survival. The 1946-48 air photographs highlight the intensity of the military activities on this area of Exmoor and complement the archaeological remains. The relatively recent date of activities on this site means that there is the potential for a significantly greater understanding of its uses to be gained from research into military and other archives.
External Links (0)
Sources (1)
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 9287 4812 (5620m by 1670m) |
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Map sheet | SS94NW |
Related Monuments/Buildings (150)
- Alleged site of undated beacons on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7624)
- Bronze Age arrowheads west of Furzebury Brake (Find Spot) (MSO7629)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7654)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7655)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7656)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7657)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7658)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7659)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7660)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7661)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7662)
- Bronze Age burial cairn at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7663)
- Bronze Age burial cairn northeast of Woodcombe Plantation (Monument) (MSO7620)
- Bronze Age burial cairn on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8021)
- Bronze Age flint finds east of Selworthy Beacon (Find Spot) (MSO10185)
- Bronze Age flint scatter on North Hill (Find Spot) (MSO12429)
- Cold War military communications masts at Bratton Ball (Monument) (MSO12714)
- Cold War radar antenna at West Myne radar station (Monument) (MSO12638)
- Cold war ROC post on Bratton Ball (Monument) (MSO7683)
- Deserted farmstead at Grexy Combe (Monument) (MSO7583)
- East Myne farmstead (Monument) (MMO215)
- Furzebury Brake/ East Myne Camp, Selworthy (Monument) (MSO7577)
- Grexy Combe Reservoir on North Hill (Monument) (MEM23014)
- Hill Road (Monument) (MSO7609)
- Medieval field system on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7627)
- Medieval field system south of West Myne Farm (Monument) (MSO7636)
- Medieval or post-medieval enclosure on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO11597)
- Medieval or post-medieval field system at Western Brockholes (Monument) (MSO12579)
- Medieval or post-medieval field system northwest of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8050)
- Medieval or post-medieval field system on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8075)
- Medieval or post-medieval field system southwest of Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO8092)
- Modern and possibly prehistoric cairn at Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8025)
- Modern and possibly prehistoric clearance cairn south of Grexy Combe (Monument) (MSO12428)
- Neolithic and Bronze Age Implements found near Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7582)
- Possible 20th Century clearance cairn south of West Myne (Monument) (MSO12632)
- Possible 20th Century stone mound north of target railway B (Monument) (MSO8093)
- Possible Bronze Age cairn on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7610)
- Possible medieval or World War Two hollow way on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7607)
- Possible medieval or World War two rectangular enclosure west of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8069)
- Possible radar station stand-by-set house at North Hill (Monument) (MMO1488)
- Possible site of medieval Mene, north of West Myne (Monument) (MSO7648)
- Possible undated circular enclosure south of Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO11599)
- Possible undated rectangular enclosure south of Grexy Combe (Monument) (MSO7646)
- Possible World War Two ablutions block at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12480)
- Possible World War Two ammunition store on Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8106)
- Possible World War Two bomb crater on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7603)
- Possible World War Two building platform on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7598)
- Possible World War Two latrine building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12477)
- Possible World War Two observation post on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO12586)
- Possible World War Two rectangular platform on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7600)
- Possible World War Two slit trench on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO12578)
- Post-medieval boundary post near Bossington Hill (Monument) (MEM22953)
- Post-medieval boundary post near Lynch Combe (Monument) (MEM23013)
- Post-medieval building platform at Woodcombe (Monument) (MSO7611)
- Post-medieval deserted farmstead of Mene (Monument) (MSO8022)
- Post-medieval field bank and quarry at Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO7679)
- Post-medieval field system at Woodcombe (Monument) (MMO648)
- Post-medieval field system at Wydon Allotment (Monument) (MSO7680)
- Post-medieval or 20th Century mound southwest of West Myne (Monument) (MSO8083)
- Post-medieval or modern excavation spoil heap west of burial cairn (Monument) (MSO11436)
- Post-medieval or modern excavation spoil heap west of burial cairn (Monument) (MSO11437)
- Post-medieval quarry northeast of Wood Combe (Monument) (MSO12451)
- Post-medieval shelter near Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO8102)
- Post-medieval stone quarry on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO12649)
- Post-medieval stone quarry on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO12650)
- Post-medieval stone quarrying on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO12651)
- Post-medieval water meadow at East Myne (Monument) (MSO7652)
- Prehistoric fint scatter west of Grexy Combe (Find Spot) (MSO7581)
- Prehistoric flint finds at East Myne (Find Spot) (MSO7580)
- Prehistoric flint finds southwest of Selworthy Beacon (Find Spot) (MSO10184)
- Prehistoric flint scatter at North Hill (Find Spot) (MSO12433)
- Prehistoric hut platform on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8109)
- Probable modern clearance mound on North Hill (Monument) (MSO8089)
- Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7653)
- Tank training circuit A on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7678)
- Tank training circuit B on Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8107)
- Tank training circuit C on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8108)
- Target railway A at East Myne (Monument) (MSO7665)
- Target railway B, north of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8084)
- Target railway C on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8096)
- Undated prehistoric chert knife at North Hill (Find Spot) (MSO12430)
- Undated square enclosure at North Hill (Monument) (MSO7645)
- West Myne (Monument) (MSO7585)
- West Myne Rotor Station (Monument) (MSO7673)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12475)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12476)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12478)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12479)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12481)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12482)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12483)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12484)
- World War Two accommodation or administration building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12602)
- World War Two bomb craters on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MMO1495)
- World War Two buildings and quarry near Hill Road (Monument) (MSO8104)
- World War Two construction quarry on North Hill (Monument) (MMO607)
- World War Two construction spoil mound on North Hill (Monument) (MMO608)
- World War Two dugout on Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8105)
- World War Two earthwork on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7596)
- World War Two home radar stand-by generator power house on North Hill (Monument) (MMO632)
- World War Two military building platform at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12471)
- World War Two military buildings at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12472)
- World War Two military road at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12639)
- World War Two military structure south of Grexy Combe (Find Spot) (MSO12583)
- World War Two mortar position on North Hill (Monument) (MMO629)
- World War Two mound and trench on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7601)
- World War Two mound associated with tank training activities on North Hill (Monument) (MMO1492)
- World War Two mound at the eastern end of Target Railway A (Monument) (MSO7666)
- World War Two mound at western end of Target Railway A (Monument) (MSO7664)
- World War Two Nissen huts at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12605)
- World War Two observation post above Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO7681)
- World War Two observation post above Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO7682)
- World War Two observation post at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7676)
- World War Two observation post east of East Myne Farm (Monument) (MSO7668)
- World War Two observation post northwest of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8091)
- World War Two observation post on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8097)
- World War Two observation post on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8098)
- World War Two observation post on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8099)
- World War Two observation post on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO9601)
- World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7667)
- World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7669)
- World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7670)
- World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7671)
- World War Two observation post west of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7625)
- World War Two observation post west of target railway on North Hill (Monument) (MSO8088)
- World War Two or modern mound at target railway B (Monument) (MSO8094)
- World War Two quarry and dump site on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7675)
- World War Two radar station military complex southwest of Greenaleigh Farm (Monument) (MSO12288)
- World War Two radar station Tx\Rx building at North Hill (Building) (MSO7619)
- World War Two slit trench at Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MMO1490)
- World War Two slit trench northwest of radar station at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12490)
- World War Two slit trench southeast of radar station at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12488)
- World War Two slit trench southwest of radar station at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12601)
- World War Two slit trench west of radar station at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12489)
- World War Two slit trench west of radar station at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12491)
- World War Two slit trenches at North Hill (Monument) (MSO7606)
- World War Two slit trenches east of the radar station on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7602)
- World War Two structure west of target railway on North Hill (Monument) (MSO8087)
- World War Two tank loading ramps at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12469)
- World War Two tank maintenance building at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12470)
- World War Two tank marshalling area in Moor Wood (Monument) (MMO626)
- World War Two tank on North Hill (Monument) (MSO8086)
- World War Two tank range bunker at North Hill (Monument) (MMO825)
- World War Two tank range structure at North Hill (Monument) (MSO8085)
- World War Two tank training range at Bossington and North Hill and Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MMO627)
- World War Two tank washing platform on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7593)
- World War Two target area on North Hill (Monument) (MMO1491)
- World War Two tracks west of East Myne (Monument) (MSO7674)
- World War Two weapons pit west of Hill Road (Monument) (MMO609)
- World War Two winch dugout at North Hill (Monument) (MSO7672)