Monument record MDO28870 - Second World War Chain Home radar station, Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth

A Second World Chain Home radar station, consisting of arrays of radar masts, lines of pylons and ancillary roads and buildings, is visible as structures on aerial photographs of the 1940s on Hengistbury Head. Evidence of defensive structures to protect the site are also seen, comprising: pill boxes, camouflaged bunkers or air raid shelters, road blocks and anti-aircraft gun posts. Evidence of other military activity comprising slit trenching and anti-glider defences is also located within this area (see child and related records for details of particular features).

A Second World Chain Home radar station, consisting of arrays of radar masts, lines of pylons and ancillary roads and buildings, is visible as structures on aerial photographs of the 1940s on Hengistbury Head. Evidence of defensive structures to protect the site are also seen, comprising: pill boxes, camouflaged bunkers or air raid shelters, road blocks and anti-aircraft gun posts. Evidence of other military activity comprising slit trenching and anti-glider defences is also located within this area (see child and related records for details of particular features). The site is visible over an area measuring approximately 1890 m by 590 m. Military roads extend across the southern area of the site and groups of ancillary buildings are distributed across the whole area. A line of pylons extends east to west across the centre of the site. Three shorter lines of pylons are found in the western area of the site. (1-9) This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

Terrain Archaeology carried out archaeological observations and recording during the groundworks for a new replica Iron Age round house at the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre (Bellamy 2023). No prehistoric finds or features were discovered. The most significant discovery was the remains of the foundations of a Nissen hut. Historic documentation held by the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre identifies this hut as one of three huts erected in this area in 1940-41 to house the crew manning an Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement. This hut was used as a dining room, kitchen, and ablutions room. It was demolished in 1947.

Bellamy, P, 2023, Hengistbury Head, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset: Archaeological Monitoring during Construction of a Replica Iron Age Round House, September-October 2023 (Unpublished document). SDO21168.

<1> Royal Air Force, 30-OCT-1945, RAF 106G/T16/PART II 7123-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12742.

<2> Royal Air Force, 30-OCT-1945, RAF 106G/T16/PART II 7125-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12740.

<3> Royal Air Force, 30-OCT-1945, RAF 106G/T16/PART II 7127-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12741.

<4> Royal Air Force, 30-OCT-1945, RAF 106G/T16/PART II 7129-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12743.

<5> Royal Air Force, 30-OCT-1945, RAF 106G/T16/PART II 7131-32 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12720.

<6> Royal Air Force, 20-OCT-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2370 PART 1 5026-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12729.

<7> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3017-18 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12738.

<8> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3019-20 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12715.

<9> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3020-21 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12713.

Record last edited

Dec 23 2024 3:40PM