Monument record MDO44834 - Second World War searchlight battery, Tarrant Launceston

A Second World War searchlight battery is visible to the east of Tarrant Launceston on 1945 aerial photographs. The features are recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1479230 and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A Second World War searchlight site is visible as assorted structures on aerial photographs taken in 1945 but most of the site had been demolished by the end of 1946 <4>. The site comprises a group of huts in the west, from which a path formed an L-shape centred around ST 9445 0959. Several platforms of various shapes were situated along the path.

The huts were clustered around ST 9438 0959 and would have provided accommodation, offices and stores. The L-shaped path extends ENE from the huts to ST 9449 0964 and then SSE to ST 9450 0958. A square concrete floor within a circular shaped feature was located at the corner of the L, which was probably for a 150-cm radar controlled searchlight. The site was probably operated by men and women of the Royal Artillery as a "mixed" site.

Nearby contemporary sites include a Standard Beam Approach aerial plinth (ST 90 NW 186 / UID: 1489455) and an anti-aircraft light machine gun weapons pit (ST 90 NW 187 / UID: 1489456). <1-4>

A Second World War searchlight battery is visible to the east of Tarrant Launceston on 1945 aerial photographs <1< <3>. The features comprise a square, broadly 4.5m by 4.5m, plinth within a circular feature, situated at the corner of an L-shaped pathway. Along the southern leg of the path are a number of suare and rectangular structures. At the end of the western leg is a group of rectangular huts. The features are recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1479230 as comprising a searchlight battery with ancillary huts for offices and accommodation. The features are no longer visible on APGB imagery. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD002384 (Index). SDO14738.

EH: Tarrant Launceston 15 and environs aerial photograph survey and analysis. Material still held by aerial survey. The area comprises 10.5km² and is bounded by ST 930 080 (SW corner) and ST 965 110 (NE corner).

<1> Royal Air Force, 03-MAR-1945, RAF/106G/LA/194 V 93 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18878.

<2> Thomas, Roger J C, Oral: Roger J C Thomas, Military Support Officer, English Heritage (York Office) (Verbal communication). SDO19183.

<3> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FS 2152 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18054.

<4> Royal Air Force, 18-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1845 4058-4059 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19182.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1479230 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 3:36PM