MMO627 - World War Two tank training range at Bossington and North Hill and Selworthy Beacon (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (3)
Protected Status
Full Description
SS 9555 4734 A Second World War tank training ground, visible as structures and earthworks, were mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1946. Located on Minehead's North Hill between Lower Moor Farm in the east, Wood Combe in the west, Greenaleigh Farm in the north and Camp Reservoir in the south, the military training ground consists of purpose built concrete military roads, Nissen huts and military buildings, tank marshalling and loading areas, as well as defensive earthworks such as weapons pits. Many of the structures were no longer visible in 1950, but the concrete roads and hard standing areas were still visible in 2001. [1-16] There are 3 triangular tank courses around which the tanks would drive shooting at targets moving on track. These tracks appear as linear earthworks. There are also numerous low platforms scattered over the north part of the range that were bulldozed from the surrounding area, some with sandbagged walls, which acted as observation posts (eg at SS 9080 4831 and five at SS 91 48) and gun platforms. In addition, there are many mounds that would have been obstructions. The tank courses are connected by three straight lengths of road to a larger road (now track) which runs from SS 9104 4765 E to SS 9504 4705. Another road runs north towards West Myne. This farm and East Myne were abandoned to make way for the range. There are also other building remains at SS 9077 4828. [3] Listed as 'AFV Range Minehead'. [18] See linked child records for individual sites. [19] Digital reconstructions of tank training activity and the targets created to support this were created as part of the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership Scheme (EMLPS) in 2015. [20,21]
Sources/Archives (22)
- <1> SEM7406 Unpublished document: McDonnell, R.. 1980. Gazetteer of Sites in the Exmoor National Park Identified through Aerial Photography. AP survey- WAT- 9047,9048,9147,9148,9248,9347,9447.
- <2> SMO4109 Serial: Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 1851-. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. Aston, MA and Murless, BJ (1977) 140-41.
- <3> SSO1777 Article in serial: Osborn, B.. 1983. Parish surveys in Somerset five: Minehead Without. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 5. 11.
- <4> SSO282 Aerial photograph: July 1946. LHL 106G.UK.1655. 3009, 3014, 3016-3018, 4005, 4011-4013.
- <5a> SSO255 Aerial photograph: September 19. HSL.UK.71-177 Run 91, 8681 and Run 93, 8735-8736. SCPD.HSL.UK.71-177 8681 Run 93 8735,8736, Run 95,8743, Run 97, 8681, Sept 1971.
- <5b> SSO259 Aerial photograph: September 19. HSL.UK.71-177 Run 95, 8743 and Run 97, 8681.
- <6> SSO289 Aerial photograph: 1947. LHL CPE/UK/1980. 3027.
- <7> SMO5308 Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Ministry of Defence to B Osborne, 16 May 1979.
- <8> SMO5301 Unpublished document: Eardley-Wilmot, H.. 1981. Worksheet in Devon HER. Slide SCPD.3.029.0046-0047.
- <9> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 106G/UK/1655 4004-4005 (11 July 1946).
- <10> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 106G/UK/1655 3007-3008 (11 July 1946).
- <11> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/CPE/UK/1980 4025 (11 April 1947).
- <12> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 541/544 3004-3005 (1 June 1950).
- <13> SMO4069 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Oblique Aerial Photograph. NMR SS 9447/1/187 (SF1459) (1 March 1979).
- <14> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR/OS 93297 038-039 (16 August 1993).
- <15> SMO4069 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Oblique Aerial Photograph. NMR SS 9547/9 (21106/05) (9 February 2001).
- <16> SMO5831 Collection: RCHME Exeter. 1993-1999. Exmoor Project.
- <17>XY SMO7542 Archive: Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment: SS 94 NW. MD000133. [Mapped feature: #35165 ]
- <18> SSO717 Unassigned: 1/5/1943. WO166-11001 (Somerset Sub Dist War Diary).
- <19> SMO5308 Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information.
- <20> SEM8589 Artwork: Lorimer, P.. 2015. Tank training activity at North Hill, Exmoor: Digital reconstruction drawing.
- <21> SEM8590 Artwork: Lorimer, P.. 2015. Tank training targets at North Hill, Exmoor: Digital reconstruction drawing.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1102198 (Original Monarch entry: 1102198)
Other Statuses/References
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11440
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO7616
- Local List Status (Candidate)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 NW64
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1102198
- Somerset SMR PRN: 33814
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 9566 4726 (1350m by 1226m) Aerial Survey |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS94NE |
Civil Parish | MINEHEAD, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Civil Parish | MINEHEAD WITHOUT, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (50)
- Parent of: Hill Road (Monument) (MSO7609)
- Parent of: Possible medieval or World War Two hollow way on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7607)
- Parent of: Possible World War Two bomb crater on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7603)
- Parent of: Possible World War Two building platform on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7598)
- Parent of: Possible World War Two guard hut on North Hill (Monument) (MSO12494)
- Parent of: Possible World War Two guard hut on North Hill (Monument) (MSO12495)
- Parent of: Possible World War Two rectangular platform on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7600)
- Parent of: Possible World War Two slit trench on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO12578)
- Parent of: Tank training circuit A on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7678)
- Parent of: Tank training circuit B on Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8107)
- Parent of: Tank training circuit C on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8108)
- Parent of: Target railway A at East Myne (Monument) (MSO7665)
- Parent of: Target railway B, north of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8084)
- Parent of: Target railway C on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8096)
- Parent of: World War Two bomb craters on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MMO1495)
- Parent of: World War Two buildings and quarry near Hill Road (Monument) (MSO8104)
- Parent of: World War Two construction quarry on North Hill (Monument) (MMO607)
- Parent of: World War Two construction spoil mound on North Hill (Monument) (MMO608)
- Parent of: World War Two Cruiser tank on North Hill (Monument) (MSO8086)
- Parent of: World War Two earthwork on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7596)
- Parent of: World War Two gun emplacement south of Camp Reservoir (Monument) (MSO7547)
- Parent of: World War Two military camp on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7546)
- Parent of: World War Two military structure south of Grexy Combe (Find Spot) (MSO12583)
- Parent of: World War Two military target on North Hill (Find Spot) (MSO12462)
- Parent of: World War Two mortar position on North Hill (Monument) (MMO629)
- Parent of: World War Two mound and trench on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7601)
- Parent of: World War Two mound associated with tank training activities on North Hill (Monument) (MMO1492)
- Parent of: World War Two mound at the eastern end of Target Railway A (Monument) (MSO7666)
- Parent of: World War Two mound at western end of Target Railway A (Monument) (MSO7664)
- Parent of: World War Two Nissen huts at North Hill (Monument) (MSO12605)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post above Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO7681)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post east of East Myne Farm (Monument) (MSO7668)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post northwest of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO8091)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post on Bossington Hill (Monument) (MSO8098)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7669)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7670)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7671)
- Parent of: World War Two observation post west of Selworthy Beacon (Monument) (MSO7625)
- Parent of: World War Two quarry and dump site on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7675)
- Parent of: World War Two slit trench at Eastern Brockholes (Monument) (MSO12582)
- Parent of: World War Two slit trench on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7604)
- Parent of: World War Two slit trenches on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7605)
- Parent of: World War Two structure above Henners Combe (Monument) (MSO8103)
- Parent of: World War Two structure west of target railway on North Hill (Monument) (MSO8087)
- Parent of: World War Two tank marshalling area in Moor Wood (Monument) (MMO626)
- Parent of: World War Two tank range bunker at North Hill (Monument) (MMO825)
- Parent of: World War Two tank washing platform on North Hill (Monument) (MSO7593)
- Parent of: World War Two target area on North Hill (Monument) (MMO1491)
- Parent of: World War Two weapons pit west of Hill Road (Monument) (MMO609)
- Parent of: World War Two winch dugout at North Hill (Monument) (MSO7672)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Oct 25 2021 12:36PM
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