MSO7546 - World War Two military camp on North Hill (Monument)

Summary

The site of ten Nissen huts on North Hill is associated with the military use of the area in World War Two. The bases now form part of a camp site.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

The concrete bases for five Nissen hut bases lie on North Hill, centred at SS 957 471. They are associated with the military use of the area in WWII. The bases are now used as part of a camp site. They were recorded as part of the RCHME survey of the ENPA holding on North Hill. Full details in survey report. [1] SS 9574 4714. A Second World War military camp, visible as structures, was mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1946. Located on the south side of Moor Wood, to the north of Hill Road on Minehead's North Hill, the camp consists of ten Nissen huts arranged around the northwest (SS 9570 4715, SS 9571 4715, SS 9572 4716, SS 9574 4717), northeast (SS 9575 4718, SS 9577 4716, SS 9578 4714) and southwest (SS 9571 4713, SS 9572 4711, SS 9573 4710) perimeters of a 78 metres square field next to the road. Nine of the Nissen huts are of a 11.3 metres by 4 metres standard size, the remaining hut being 9 metres by 4 metres. All buildings are accessed by paths from the northwest side of the field, adjacent to Hill Road. These were probably accommodation billets for the tank training area. The American military also ran a NAAFI (PX?) on North Hill and it is possible that it was located in one of these buildings. Although still visible in 1947, the buildings were no longer visible in 1950. However, the concrete floor pads of the buildings were still extant in 1993. [2-6] Several of the bases are still clearly visible on aerial photographs taken in 2017. [7]

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1> Report: Riley, H. and Wilson-North, R.. 1997. The field archaeology of North Hill: An archaeological survey of the Exmoor National Park holding.
  • <2> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 106G/UK/1655 3007-3008 (11 July 1946).
  • <3> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF CPE/UK/1980 3026 (11 April 1947).
  • <4> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF 541/544 3003-3005 (1 June 1950).
  • <5> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR OS/93297 038-039 (16 August 1993).
  • <6> Website: Various. Various. World Wide Web page. BBC; WW2 people's war http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/34/a6250934.shtml.
  • <7> Aerial photograph: Getmapping. 2017. Vertical Aerial Photography of Exmoor National Park.

External Links (2)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO645
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO12493
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 NE67
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1102272
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 35694

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 95747 47144 (118m by 116m) Aerial survey
Map sheet SS94NE
Civil Parish MINEHEAD, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (3)

Record last edited

Oct 25 2021 12:36PM

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