MSO12292 - Royal Ordnance Corps observation post north of Porlock (Building)

Summary

The observation post appears to have been half brick built and part Nissen hut. It was renumbered from 22/K.1 Porlock to 10/Z.4 in November 1953 and resited to Minehead (MSO7683) in January 1960.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A ROC observation post survives in good condition. [1] Post 22/K.1 Porlock opened in September 1938. A phone line to Hurlestone Point coastguard station (MSO8110) was established in 1942 and warning flares for high ground (codename 'Granite') and radio direction for lost aircraft (codename 'Darky') were added in 1943. The post was renumbered 10/Z.4 in November 1953 and resited to Minehead (MSO7683) in January 1960. [2] The remains of a ROC observation post lie in Sparkhayes Lane at SS 8860 4738. The building is of brick with concrete floors and roof. It measures 4 by 2 ,4 metres and the walls are 0.2 metres thick. A door on the east side leads to the two lower rooms, one has the remains of storage racks. A doorway leads out to an open area over the store room, which commands a view over Porlock Bay. Bolts, presumably for an aerial, remain on the roof. [3] ST 8860 4738 A Second World War observation post, visible as a structure, was mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1946. Located in the corner of a field, west of Sparkhayes Lane, against the boundary and adjacent to the field entrance, the structure is about 10 metres long north to south and 4 metres wide east to west. The structure appears to be part Nissen hut and part brick built structure. The Nissen hut is about 5.5 metres long and the brick built part of the building 4.5 metres long, with an upper floor. By 1976, the Nissen hut part of the structure was no longer visible, but the remaining part of the structure was still visible in 1979. [4-7] Defence of Britain non invasion database number 94. [8] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [9]

Sources/Archives (9)

  • <1> Unassigned: Hellis, J.. March 1994. Fortress Study Group. Ref JH.00605.
  • <2> Monograph: Wood, D.. 1976. Attack Warning Red: History of the Royal Observer Corps. The Book Service Ltd.. 308.
  • <3> Unpublished document: Riley, H.. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 1998.
  • <4> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 106G/UK/1655 3021-3022 (11 July 1946).
  • <5> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. MAL/76047 228 (25 June 1976).
  • <6> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR OS/79013 157-158 (17 April 1979).
  • <7> Archive: Crowther, S., Dickson, A. and Truscoe, K.. 2007. Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment: SS 84 NE. MD000130.
  • <8> Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2002. Defence of Britain. DEB01. Reference 94.
  • <9> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 1158183, Extant 14 February 2022.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Coastal Risk 2014: Flood Zone 3 fluvial
  • Coastal Risk 2016: Flood Zone 2 fluvial
  • Coastal Risk 2016: Flood Zone 3 fluvial
  • DoB Anti Invasion Database UID: 94
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO1108
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO7981
  • Local List Status (Candidate)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 84 NE74
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1158183
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 35387

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 8859 4738 (24m by 23m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SS84NE
Civil Parish PORLOCK, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (4)

Record last edited

Feb 14 2022 9:31PM

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