SDO12206 - WWII building, Hive Beach Car Park, Burton Bradstock, Dorset

An archaeological evaluation of some building remains in the southeast corner of Hive Beach car park, Burton Bradstock was carried out by Terrain Archaeology in March 2009, in advance of car park improvement works. The visible building remains comprised a rectangular base of concrete blocks with a small rectangular concrete base next to the southwest corner. Two 1m² trenches were excavated across the structure, which revealed the concrete blocks, were set on a poured concrete footing and the interior levelled up with rubble and gravel. A concrete base edged in red brick, now largely covered in grass was noted. Historic maps and photographs confirm that these remains date to WW2, and that the concrete block base formerly supported a wooden army hut with an adjacent toilet hut. It is probable that this hut was used by the searchlight detachment operating the searchlights on Bind Barrow and on the beach.