MMO1714 - World War Two slit trenches on Shilstone Hill (Monument)

Three slit-trenches of Second World War date are visible on aerial photographs as earthworks on Shilstone Hill, centred on circa SS 7611 4631. The trenches are up to 25 metres long and approximately 1 metre wide. Each trench is irregularly shaped, zigzag, curvilinear or crenallated in form. Such shapes were designed to minimise the effect of explosive blasts along the trench. These features were probably dug as practise trenches or mock defences as part of military training associated with the activities of the military training area which operated across large areas of Exmoor during the Second World War, including Brendon Common. They can still be seen on aerial photographs of 1995. [1-3] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [4]