Monument record MDO27994 - Second World War military communications station, Compton Down, Compton Abbas

The site of a WW2 site with a communications tower and a group of three buildings and other smaller structures within a fenced enclosure. It is shown on a 1943 aerial photograph. The enclosure and structures had been removed by July 1946 and by October 1946 the area was under plough.

A miliary installation [is] located on the summit area of Compton Down to the west of Melbury Down. It is visible on the 1943 AP (HLA/651 543 2233/5/6 13-1-1943) centred at ST88221920. It appears to be either a circular gun position or more likely, a communications tower complete with three anchor points situated within a ?fenced enclosure. To the north lies a group of three large buildings; on is linked by a newly infilled trench (?for communications or electrical power) to the centra feature. There are also a number of smaller structures. The whole probably represents a military defence or communications station.

By July 1946 the enclosure and all the structures within had been removed (AP: 106G/UK 1654 11 July 1946 4328); by October 1946 the buildings had gone and the whole summit area was under plough. <1>

The site of a WWII military installation of uncertain function is visible on APs dated 1943 and 1946 centred at SX88221920. There are now no surviving traces of these structures formerly located on the summit area of Compton Down. The hilltop is regularly ploughed and the only remains are perhaps some broken fragments of masonry and bricks dumped in a disused chalk pit at ST88491916. The site appears to have comprised either a circular gun position or more likely a communications tower sited within a fenced enclosure. To the north were a group of three large buildings and a number of smaller structures. See report in the archive. <1>

<1> Fletcher, M, 2000, A Survey of the South Western part of Melbury Down, Melbury Abbas, Dorset, 3 (Unpublished document). SDO12416.

<2> Royal Air Force, 13-JAN-1943, RAF HLA/651543 2233/5/6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17884.

<3> Royal Air Force, 11-JUL-1946, RAF 106G/UK/1654 4328 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17885.

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1342633 (Index). SDO14738.

Melbury Down/Report

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF1319215 (Index). SDO14738.

EH: Melbury Down, Dorset: The south western part of Melbury Down, owned by the National Trust comprises the steep north east facing slopes of a broad combe. The National Trust commissioned English Heritage, Exeter Field Survey Office, to undertake a survey of the area, (includes many earthworks) in March 2000Contents : 1 report, 1 drawing

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1319180 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2023 2:44PM