Monument record MDO30549 - Second World War anti-aircraft battery, Gore Heath, Slepe Farm, Lytchett Minster

A Second World War anti aircraft battery and associated structures and trackways are visible on aerial photographs taken in the late 1940s of fields to the north-west of Slepe Farm. The Heavy Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery on the northern part of Gore Heath was one of five batteries designed to protect the Royal Naval Cordite Factory at Holton Heath, situated to the south-east. It is known to have been operational from 1940-1944. It was initially installed with two 3-inch guns, but these were replaced by four 3.7-inch guns in June 1942, when it was equipped with GL Mark IA radar. The battery was manned by troops from the 328th Battalion of the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment. It was retained as an Off-Site Nucleus Force Battery in 1946. The site does not appear on air photos of 1947, although this may be due to effective camouflage, and it has since been afforested. No visible remains exist on the ground.

A Second World War heavy anti aircraft battery and associated structures and trackways are visible on aerial photographs of fields to the north-west of Slepe Farm, Lytchett Minster <3-4>. This site was digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project. It is not visible on the most recent comprehensive aerial images available to the project.

The National Monuments Record (1408732) for this site describes it as being one of five batteries designed to protect the Royal Naval Cordite factory at Holton Heath. It is known to have been operational between 1940-1944.

Additional military features located further to the south on Gore Heath (MDO30567) were probably associated with it. A circular feature to the south-east of the arc of gun emplacements is possibly the site of a gun-laying radar platform.

<1> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, MPPA, 11-Jan-2000 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<2> Dobinson, C S, 1996, Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 1. Anti-aircraft artillery: England's air defence gunsites, 1914-46, 375 (Monograph). SDO11874.

<3> Royal Air Force, 10-FEB-1945, RAF 106G/LA/128 7147-48 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13315.

<4> Royal Air Force, 09-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA/194 161-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13330.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1408732 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 16 2023 12:31PM