Monument record MWX1306 - Coast Artillery Searchlight, Portland Hill, Brownsea Island, Studland

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Summary

A World War Two searchlight emplacement on Brownsea Island. A brick building with concrete roof, the remains of a searchlight emplacement situated to the south west of two six-inch naval guns, placed to guard the entrance to Poole Harbour. The emplacement was constructed in 1940-41 and comprising a building measuring 5 metres x 4 metres x 2.5 metres, built of brick with a concrete roof supported by iron girders. The seaward, southeast side, is open except for a low brick wall; the southwest and northwest sides are of solid brick, the entrance is via a doorway in the northeast side. A field visit in 1992 found the building to be in a very good condition but other buildings in the area had all been demolished.

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Site of searchlight emplacement. The building is of brick with a concrete roof supported by iron girders. The seaward SE side is open except for a low brick wall. The SW and NW sides are solid brick. Entrance via doorway in NE side. Dimensions are 5m x 4m x 2.5m. The building is in very good condition but other buildings in the area have all been demolished. <1-3> Searchlight building on Brownsea Island, used to house a searchlight and lay to the south-west of two six-inch naval guns, placed to guard the entrance to Poole Harbour. <4>

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <1> Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 1995. Defence of Britain Project. S0007722.
  • <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. S0007722.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Papworth, M. 1992. Brownsea Island, Dorset. Wessex region. 112,754.
  • <5> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1422103.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Location

Grid reference SZ 0289 8749 (point)
Map sheet SZ08NW
Civil Parish Studland; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Other Statuses/References

  • Defence of Britain database: S0007722
  • Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 6 019 104
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SZ 08 NW 141
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1422103

Record last edited

Aug 11 2023 3:14PM

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