Monument record MWX1471 - Second World War pillbox, Studland Heath, Studland
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Summary
Site of a Second World War pillbox located in dunes 400 metres southwest of Shell Bay, Studland Heath. The pillbox was built of reinforced concrete and had been constructed by early August 1940. It 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. The pillbox was blown up by the army about 15 to 20 years prior to 1995. A field visit in 1995 found the site marked by large concrete blocks within a 6 metre diameter.
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
Remains of a reinforced pillbox in dunes 400m SW of Shell Bay. The large blocks of concrete lie within a 6m diameter. The site offers a field of fire across the sand dunes to the beach.
The site was blown up by the army about 15 to 20 years ago to prevent its use by undesirable elements who frequent the dunes around the nudist beach. Pillbox, probably for machine gun fire, now completely destroyed. All that remains are piles of reinforced concrete chunks. The pillbox would have had a field of fire towards the sand dunes of Studland Beach. Studland Heath, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. <1>
Sources/Archives (3)
- <1> SWX5 Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 1995. Defence of Britain Project. S0007720.
- <2> SDO17227 Excavation archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2006. Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01. S0007720.
- <3> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1422101.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
Grid reference | SZ 03700 85620 (point) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SZ08NW |
Civil Parish | Studland; Dorset |
Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Defence of Britain database: S0007720
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 6 019 120
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SZ 08 NW 139
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1422101
Record last edited
Mar 21 2023 4:37PM