EDO8248 - Sandford Heath Light Anti-Aircraft Tower, Holton Heath, Sandford, Wareham St Martin; desk-based assessment 2022

OASIS: The work has involved the consultation of the available documentary evidence (historical sources), and historical maps (cartographic evidence), all of which has been supplemented with a site visit. In summary, the work has involved: Identifying the client’s objectives Site visit (building assessment and survey) Identifying the phasing and development of the building Identifying current limitations and future areas of work to be undertaken The work has the following main components:  To undertake a photographic and 3D photogrammetric record of the structure, including detailed and general shots of its fabric, where this can be safely done. To make a record of the existing structure in its present condition and its setting, by means of photography, scale drawings, or with the use of existing scale drawings to be supplied by the client To study documentary sources for the history of the structure on the site. To study the proposed architectural drawings for the building and comment on the impact (and potential harm) of the plans on the building. Whilst 1250 light anti-aircraft gunsites are recorded in the country, only 81 of these were concrete structures. Of these, only 50 such structures survive but in widely varying degrees of preservation, with only 40 in an ‘understandable form’. The light anit-aircraft tower at Sandford Heath, comprises a rare example of such structures surviving in the U.K. Comparatively with other such examples, this tower provides a very good example for recording and understanding such types of military architecture. Through a detailed archaeological recording of the structure by means of photographic record, drawn record, written record and 3D photogrammetric record, this assessment has identified how many of the original features of the tower are still present in its current state.