Monument record MDO24455 - Second World War heavy anti-aircraft battery, Blackhead, Osmington

Please read our .

Summary

The site of a World War Two heavy anti-aircraft battery is visible as extant structures on aerial photographs taken in 1946. Heavy anti aircraft battery Portland A/1 at Blackhead. It was armed with four 3.7-inch static guns, and was retained as an Off-Site Nucleus Force Battery in 1946.

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY. SRF. HAA. Blackhead. Recorder- R. Perry. <1-3> The site of a WWII heavy anti-aircraft battery is visible as extant structures on aerial photographs taken in 1946 <4>. This is the site of Portland A/1 at Blackhead, it was armed with four 3.7-inch static guns, and was retained as an Off-Site Nucleus Force Battery in 1946 <5>. The features were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project. Poorly preserved remains of a Heavy Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery south of Osmington. It consisted of six gun emplacements and a control block. Only three of the emplacements, all built of concrete blocks, survive at all. The three western emplacements have been demolished to create a helicopter landing pad, and a structure was built over one of the surviving emplacements to serve as an observation post associated with the helicopter activities. The contol tower has been demolished. The monument does not survive well, and is not recommended for scheduling. <7>

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <1> Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 1995. Defence of Britain Project.
  • <2> Machine readable data file: Council for British Archaeology. 2003. Defence of Britain Project Database.
  • <3> Excavation archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2006. Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01.
  • <4> Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 04-NOV-1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4448-9.
  • <5> Monograph: Dobinson, C S. 1996. Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 1. Anti-aircraft artillery: England's air defence gunsites, 1914-46. 439.
  • <6> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1413309.
  • <7> Scheduling record: English Heritage. English Heritage Alternative Action Report. MPPA, undated.
  • <8> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1408746.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Location

Grid reference Centred SY 72510 82481 (193m by 117m) (27 map features)
Map sheet SY78SW
Civil Parish Osmington; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Other Statuses/References

  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 78 SW 120
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 78 SW 127
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1408746
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1413309

Record last edited

Mar 26 2024 10:57AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.