TWENTIETH CENTURY MILITARY SITES: AIRFIELDS – DISPERSED SITES AND DEFENCES Final Report A THREAT-RELATED ASSESSMENT 2013-2014 DAT 115A Pillbox, one of a ring which encircles Aberporth airfield Prepared by Dyfed Archaeological Trust For Cadw DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST RHIF YR ADRODDIAD / REPORT NO. 2014/21 RHIF Y PROSIECT / PROJECT RECORD NO. 103632 DAT 115A Mawrth 2014 March 2014 TWENTIETH CENTURY MILITARY SITES: AIRFIELDS – DISPERSED SITES AND DEFENCES Gan / By Alice Pyper & Marion Page Paratowyd yr adroddiad yma at ddefnydd y cwsmer yn unig. Ni dderbynnir cyfrifoldeb gan Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf am ei ddefnyddio gan unrhyw berson na phersonau eraill a fydd yn ei ddarllen neu ddibynnu ar y gwybodaeth y mae’n ei gynnwys The report has been prepared for the specific use of the client. Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited can accept no responsibility for its use by any other person or persons who may read it or rely on the information it contains. Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited Neuadd y Sir, Stryd Caerfyrddin, Llandeilo, Sir The Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo, Gaerfyrddin SA19 6AF Carmarthenshire SA19 6AF Ffon: Ymholiadau Cyffredinol 01558 823121 Tel: General Enquiries 01558 823121 Adran Rheoli Treftadaeth 01558 823131 Heritage Management Section 01558 823131 Ffacs: 01558 823133 Fax: 01558 823133 Ebost: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Cwmni cyfyngedig (1198990) ynghyd ag elusen gofrestredig (504616) yw’r Ymddiriedolaeth. The Trust is both a Limited Company (No. 1198990) and a Registered Gwefan: www.archaeolegdyfed.org.uk Charity (No. 504616)Website: www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk CADEIRYDD CHAIRMAN: C R MUSSON MBE B Arch FSA MIFA. CYFARWYDDWR DIRECTOR: K MURPHY BA MIFA CONTENTS SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 7 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 7 PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................ 8 METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................... 8 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................................ 9 RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 11 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... 13 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 14 PRIMARY SOURCES ............................................................................................. 15 GAZETTEER OF SITES .......................................................................................... 16 RAF ABERPORTH/BLAENANNERCH ...................................................................... 17 RAF ANGLE ...................................................................................................... 29 RAF / RNAS BRAWDY ........................................................................................ 45 RAF CAREW CHERITON ..................................................................................... 52 RAF DALE / RNAS DALE .................................................................................... 65 RAF HAVERFORDWEST...................................................................................... 88 RAF MANORBIER ............................................................................................ 102 RAF PEMBREY ................................................................................................ 111 RAF PEMBROKE DOCK .................................................................................... 134 RAF ST DAVIDS ............................................................................................. 157 RAF TALBENNY .............................................................................................. 171 RAF TEMPLETON ............................................................................................ 207 OTHER SITES ................................................................................................ 229 The copyright of this report is held jointly by Cadw and the Dyfed Archaeological Trust. The maps are based on Ordnance Survey mapping provided by the Welsh Government with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence No: 100017916 (2009). Twentieth Century Military Sites: Airfields – Dispersed sites and defences Figure 1: Map of key sites .................................................................................... 10 Figure 2: A selection of site types represented (survival shown as percentage) .......... 12 Figure 3: Map showing RAF Aberporth and associated sites ...................................... 18 Figure 4: The easternmost pillbox tucked into the junction of two hedgerows ............. 22 Figure 5: Pillbox on western perimeter of airfield ..................................................... 24 Figure 6: 1942 Aerial Photograph showing hut camp (M2324(1) 107 1942) ................ 25 Figure 7: Pillbox to the south of the airfield at Aberporth .......................................... 26 Figure 8: Remains of demolished pillbox ................................................................ 27 Figure 9: A small building located to the northeast of the airfield .............................. 28 Figure 10: Map showing layout of dispersed sites at RAF Angle ................................. 30 Figure 11: Map showing RAF Angle and associated sites ........................................... 31 Figure 12: RAF Angle communal site ..................................................................... 32 Figure 13: High Frequency Direction Finding building located to east of airfield. .......... 34 Figure 14: Air Raid Shelter now found on Hubberston Farm formerly Site No 5. .......... 35 Figure 15: Modified pillbox to continue hedgeline to east of RAF Angle ...................... 36 Figure 16: Pillbox to the northwest of Angle airfield ................................................ 37 Figure 17: Former windmill modified for use as a gun emplacement ......................... 38 Figure 18: Ablutions block at the Communal site. ................................................... 39 Figure 20: The pumphouse located near South Studdock Farm ................................. 44 Figure 21: Map showing RAF/RNAS Brawdy and associated sites ............................... 46 Figure 22: Map showing layout of dispersed sites .................................................... 47 Figure 23: US Naval Facility building at Brawdy....................................................... 50 Figure 24: Map of RAF Carew Cheriton and associated sites ...................................... 53 Figure 25: Battle Headquarters and nearby pillbox at Flemington Farm ..................... 55 Figure 26: Pillbox to the east of the battle headquarters facing onto airfield ............... 56 Figure 27: Pillbox overlooking airfield beyond ......................................................... 57 Figure 28: Spigot Mortar overlooking Milton Bridge .................................................. 58 Figure 29: Spigot Mortar overlooking Sageston road junction ................................... 59 Figure 30: Motley stalk gun emplacement to the north of RAF Carew Cheriton. ........... 60 Figure 31: RAF AP showing hangar dispersals to the south of airfield (M 2330 1942) ... 61 Figure 32: Maplet showing location of RAF Carew Cheriton radio station..................... 63 Figure 33: Air raid shelter beside pillbox and gun emplacement ................................ 64 Figure 34: Map of RAF/RNAS Dale airfield and dispersed sites (inset map) ................. 66 Figure 35: Inset map showing location of buildings on the communal site. ................. 67 Figure 36: Map showing Dale dispersed sites .......................................................... 68 Figure 37: Motley stalk gun emplacement at the southwest corner of the airfield. ....... 79 Figure 38: Earthen bank remains of a firing range ................................................... 80 Figure 39: BCF huts, one Receiver block and the picket post..................................... 80 Figure 40: Maplet showing the Radio Station near Fopston Farm. .............................. 82 Figure 41: Mast fixing in the foreground and Transmitter block to the rear ................. 83 Figure 42: Second gun emplacement at the southwestern edge of airfield. ................. 84 Figure 43: Remaining air raid shelter at the WAAF site ............................................. 69 Figure 44: Map of RAF Haverfordwest showing dispersed sites ................................. 89 Figure 45: Map of RAF Haverfordwest showing sites recorded ................................... 90 Figure 46: Turret Instructional Building at RAF Haverfordwest .................................. 96 Figure 47: Gunnery and Crew Procedure Building .................................................... 97 Figure 48: Link trainer building ...........................................................................