Monument record MDO44878 - Possible Second World War anti aircraft battery, Blandford Camp, Tarrant Monkton

A group of structures on the east side of Blandford Camp are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are considered likely to be part of a Second World War searchlight and/or heavy anti aircraft battery and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A group of structures on the east side of Blandford Camp are visible on 1940s aerial photographs [1, 2]. The features are indistinct but an aerial photograph dated 1944 suggests a square of small rectilinear structures with a random arrangement of larger rectilinear huts to the west and north of this [1]. Within the square on its south side is a sub-cirular structure, possibly a searchlight emplacement. South of the square are two possible gun pits and a rectilinear command post. The features may be part of a Second World War searchlight and/or heavy anti aircraft battery, although the function of the square of small rectilinear structures is unknown and may be of different origin - perhaps something to do with the the earlier temporary camp, although this is currently speculation. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2022 4:26PM