Monument record MDO29266 - Second World War Chain Home radar station, Worth Matravers

A large complex of military features including buildings, radar masts, pillboxes and barbed wire fenced enclosures are visible as structures and earthworks on aerial photographs between Weston and Ramscombe Farms, Worth Matravers. They are associated with the site of a Second World War Chain Home Radar Station.

A Intermediate Chain Home radar station located at Worth Matravers (SY 962 772) established by 18-APR-1941. Chain Home stations comprised transmission and receiver blocks, four 240ft timber receiver aerial towers, four 350ft steel transmitter aerial towers that stood on concrete pads, and other buildings such as dispersed accommodation huts, guard huts and standby set houses. From 1940 defensive measures were installed at radar stations, including Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacements, pill boxes, road blocks and air raid shelters. <1>

An Intermediate Chain Home station at Worth Matravers. Aerial photography from 1982 shows that a building remains extant at SY 967 777. A Chain Home Low station and Ground Controlled Interception site were also located at Worth Matravers at SY 963 763. <2>

A large complex of military features including buildings, radar masts, pillboxes and barbed wire fenced enclosures are visible as structures and earthworks on aerial photographs between Weston and Ramscombe Farms, Worth Matravers. They are associated with the site of a Second World War Chain Home Radar Station. <3-4> The features were digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

The site of an Intermediate Chain Home radar station at Worth Matravers established by April 1941. The station provided early warning of approaching enemy aircraft for the South coast between Weymouth and Southampton during the Second World War. Chain Home stations comprised transmission and receiver blocks, four 240ft timber receiver aerial towers, four 350ft steel transmitter aerial towers that stood on concrete pads, and other buildings such as dispersed accommodation huts, guard huts and standby set houses. From 1940 defensive measures were installed at radar stations, including Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacements, pill boxes, road blocks and air raid shelters. Aerial photography from 1982 shows that a building remains extant at SY 967 777. <5>

<1> Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 7. Acoustics and Radar: England's early warning systems 1915-45, 160 (Monograph). SDO12579.

<2> Anderton, Michael J, 2000, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two radar stations (Unpublished document). SDO18992.

<3> Royal Air Force, 20-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA187 3010-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12894.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3244-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12895.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1476621 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2022 7:25PM