Monument record MDO44381 - First World War practice trench, Tarrant Launceston

A First World War practice trench was visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1943 but had been filled in by the time of a subsequent aerial photograph in 1953. The site comprises two roughly parallel narrow ditches which zigzag roughly WSW / ENE over a length of 39m. The ditches are between 13m and 20m apart.

A First World War practice trench is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1943 but has subsequently been filled in. The site is centred at ST 9494 1103 and comprises two roughly parallel narrow ditches which zigzag roughly WSW / ENE over a length of 39m. The ditches are between 13m and 20m apart.

The trench is one of several in the area that were probably dug as training exercises by the Royal Naval Division who were stationed at Blandford Camp from 1915 to 1918 (eg ST 91 SW 118 / UID: 1480766). Other examples are recorded as ST 90 NW 134 to 136 (UIDs: 1478879, 1478883 & 1478884). The trench has been filled in on aerial photographs taken in 1953, by which time the common has been converted to arable agriculture. <1, 2, 3>

<1> Royal Air Force, 13-JAN-1943, RAF/HLA/651 1137-1138 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18390.

<2> Royal Air Force, 14-AUG-1953, NMR RAF/58/1212 F22 0094 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18520.

<3> Royal Air Force, 14-AUG-1953, NMR RAF/58/1212 F22 0095 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18521.

<4> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis, Object Number: MD002384 (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1481299 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 2:05PM