Monument record MDO45330 - Second World War searchlight battery, Tarrant Launceston

A probable Second World War weapons pit is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s but was subsequently filled-in. The L-shaped trench measures a maximum of 7.5m long by 4.5m wide and is flanked to the east by a narrow bank. The trench may have been used as an anti-aircraft light machine gun (AALMG) weapons pit. It is orientated north-west / south-east and is located at the edge of a field which also contains a radar beacon for RAF Tarrant Rushton and a Second World War searchlight battery. The trench had been filled-in on aerial photographs taken in 1982.

A probable Second World War weapons pit is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s and 1950s but was subsequently filled-in. The L-shaped trench is centred at ST 9557 0981, measures a maximum of 7.5m long by 4.5m wide and is flanked to the east by a narrow bank.

The trench may have been used as an anti-aircraft light machine gun (AALMG) weapons pit. It is orientated north-west / south-east and is located at the edge of a field which also contains a radar beacon for RAF Tarrant Rushton (see ST 90 NW 128 / UID: 1430476) and a Second World War searchlight battery (see ST 90 NW 154 / UID: 1479230). The trench had been filled-in on aerial photographs taken in 1982. <1-2>

<1> Thomas, Roger J C, Oral: Roger J C Thomas, Military Support Officer, English Heritage (York Office) (Verbal communication). SDO19183.

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 03-MAR-1945, RAF/106G/LA/194 V 93 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18878.

<1.2> Royal Air Force, 14-AUG-1953, RAF/58/1212 F22 0096-0097 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19180.

<1.3> Ordnance Survey, 13-SEP-1982, OS/82203 149-150 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19181.

<2> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1489456 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 3:45PM