MSO7683 - Cold War ROC post on Bratton Ball (Monument)

Summary

ROC post 10/Z.4 Minehead was established in January 1960. It closed in October 1968.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A Cold War military installation was in use on North Hill between 1953 and 1964. The site consisted of a building compound (MSO7673) near West Myne Farm and two masts on Bratton Ball and was described by the tenant farmer. [1] An ROC post (10/Z.4 Minehead) was established at SS 945 476 in January 1960 replacing the post at Porlock (MSO7981). The underground post was opened in December 1961 and closed in October 1968. [2] There is nothing at the grid reference given but the Ordnance Survey map marks an enclosure at SS 9414 4749 of the appropriate size. [3] On the ground the enclosure is no longer there but there is an area of disturbed ground indicated by different vegetation with a vegetation covered area of hard standing to the east. [4] A small hollow and some concrete rubble lies close to the hedge in enclosed land on Bratton Ball at SS 9250 4731. Two areas of concrete lie in the car park close to this site at SS 9426 4739. These represent the remains of the two masts described by the farmer. [5] The installation referred to by [1] and [3] was the Royal Observer Corps Post for the Porlock and Minehead area. It was opened in 1938 and maintained at SS 886 475 until 1960. In January 1960 it was moved to SS 945 476. It was sited underground in December 1961. The ROC Post was closed in October 1968. [6] The Royal Observer Corps post referred to above [4] is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1970 but nothing was visible on aerial photographs taken in 1979. The post is centred at SS 9414 4749. The installation described by [1] is a radar station which has been recorded as MSO7673. [7,8]

Sources/Archives (9)

  • <1> Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Mr Knight, pers comm 1998.
  • <2> Monograph: Wood, D.. 1976. Attack Warning Red: History of the Royal Observer Corps. The Book Service Ltd.. 308.
  • <3> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1974. 1:10000 sheet SS94NW.
  • <4> Unassigned: Webster, Chris. July 1998. Comments from SMRO.
  • <5> Unpublished document: Riley, H.. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 1998.
  • <6> Monograph: Dobinson, C. S.. 2000. Twentieth century fortifications in England: The Cold War. XI. 2 (Appendices).
  • <7> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR OS-70066 028-029 03-MAY-1970.
  • <8> Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR OS-79013 163-164 17-APR-1979.
  • <9>XY Archive: Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment: SS 94 NW. MD000133. [Mapped feature: #40042 ]

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO946
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO12595
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 NW154
  • Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 1132582
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 35803

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 9414 4749 (43m by 27m)
Map sheet SS94NW
Civil Parish MINEHEAD WITHOUT, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Nov 11 2020 4:43PM

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