Monument record MWX1470 - Second World War pillbox, Studland

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Summary

A World War II pillbox located east of Knoll House Hotel. It measures 3 metres by 3 metres and is 1.8 metres high. Construction is of concrete block with a solid concrete roof. The seaward east side of the structure narrows from 3 metres to 2.1metres and there are embrasures on the east, north and south sides of this half of the pillbox measuring 1metre long by 0.3 metre high. The entrance is in the west side and measures 1metre high and 0.6 metre wide. The pillbox had been constructed by early August 1940 and was situated within the Studland Sub-Sector, defended by the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment from October 1940, replaced in April 1941 by the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. The Home Guard unit manning defences within this sector was No.2 (East Purbeck) Company, 7th (Wareham) Battalion. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be in a good condition.

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

A pillbox of concrete block construction and solid concrete roof. Built into the E facing slope which leads up from the beach to the Knoll House Hotel tennis courts. Similar in shape to the pillbox at SZ 03308362, it measures 3m x 3m x 1.8m. The seaward E side of the structure narrows from 3m to 2.1m and there are embrasures on the E, N and S sides of this half of the pillbox measuring 1m long by 0.3 high. The entrance is in the W side and measures 1m high and 0.6m wide. The site is becoming increasingly inaccessible due to encroachment of scrub woodland with marshy ground at the foot of the slope and nettles growing up and around it. Despite this the site is in good condition. There is a telegraph pole 10m E of the pillbox. E of Knoll House Hotel, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. <1>

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 1995. Defence of Britain Project. S0007716.
  • <2> Excavation archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2006. Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01. S0007716.
  • <3> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1422097.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Location

Grid reference SZ 03400 83400 (point)
Map sheet SZ08SW
Civil Parish Studland; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Other Statuses/References

  • Defence of Britain database: S0007716
  • Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 6 019 119
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SZ 08 SW 113
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1422097

Record last edited

Mar 22 2023 2:44PM

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