Monument record MDO41179 - Early 20th century bomb decoy site, Canford Magna, Poole

A World War Two bomb decoy site on the open heath to the south of Canford Magna is visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The site was a QF decoy, whih consisted of a series of controlled fires which were lit during an air raid to simulate a site struck by bombs (Hob UID 1467763). The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project. Army Bombing Decoy A27. Civil Bombing Decoy C58a.

A World War Two bomb decoy site on the open heath to the south of Canford Magna is visible on 1940's aerial photographs <1, 2>. The site was a QF decoy, whih consisted of a series of controlled fires which were lit during an air raid to simulate a site struck by bombs (Hob UID 1467763). It was built as part of the 'A-series' of army decoys to deflect enemy bombing away from military installations in Poole. It also operated as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys for Poole. It is referenced as being in use during 1943. In 1946 it is visible as a 201m by 204m enclosure with a 15m wide bank or berm around its exterior. An entrance into the enclosure is visible at its northwest corner where the enclosure respects a historic field boundary to the west (MDO41177). A road or trackway access into the northwest corner of the site from a road to the west. Within the enclosure are a series of features, some irregular in shape, others rectilinear and some cub-circular in form. Some are banked, others appear to be more solid structures; these were presumably constructed to emulate certain types of potential targets when lit. The site overlies several historic field boundaries along its north side. Several trackways of probable post medieval date also cross the site. It is not so easy to assess the relationship of these with the bomb decoy site but the trackways are potentially earlier in date <1, 2>. The site is partially under the edge of a modern quarry but largely still open heath on current Google Earth imagery. The features are no longer visible, however. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP. A Second World War 'QF' bombing decoy located at Canford Magna (SZ 027 963). It was constructed as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Poole. It is referenced as being in use on 01-MAY-1943. <3> Aerial photography shows that by 1981 the site had been given over to agricultural use or was scrubland and no features of the decoy survive. <4> NGR concords with that given in source 1. The decoy also served as an 'A-series' army decoy to protect military installations in Poole. <5>

Record last edited

Oct 19 2022 7:07PM