Monument record MDO37380 - First World War practice trench complex at Ashley Wood Road and Snow Down Road, Blandford Camp, Tarrant Monkton

A complex of front-line battlefield training and practice trenches located in the south west corner of Blandford Camp, visible on aerial photographs dated 1947. The trenches were infilled prior to 1947, most probably during the Second World War, and are now mainly overbuilt by the Officers' married quarters. The record for this monument has been created with support from Wessex Water. Features associated with the practice trench complex are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs dated 1948 and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM Project.

A First World War battlefield training complex encompassing an area measuring c 350 metres north-south by up to 250 metres east-west, seen as parchmarks in grass east of Snow Down Road on RAF vertical aerial photographs dated 1947. Aspects of the complex can also be discerned on aerial photographs from 2005. The complex comprises an irregularly linear 'front line' facing south east over the open ground of Luton Down, possibly with numerous islands along its length, backed to the north west by at least six short trenches linking with a secondary support trench. Three irregular supply- or communication trenches can be seen behind this rear line. It is not clear to what, if any, extent the complex may have extended west of Snow Down Road.

The complex was clearly infilled by 1947 and, given the extent and intensity of Second World War military activity at Blandford Camp, it might seem reasonable to suggest the site was levelled at this time. It has now largely been overbuilt by the Officers' married quarters off Ashley Wood Road.

Features associated with the practice trench complex are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs dated 1948 [3]. The features comprise a series of interlinked linear trenches, creating a faux 'front line' facing southeast, with auxiliary trenches to the northwest of this. Additionally, a number of small doughnut shaped earthworks are visible to the north and west of the group, possibly small weapons pits, which may be contemporary with the First World War activities here, although a Second World War date is also possible. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM Project.

<1> Trevarthen, M, 2004, RSS Blandford, Dorset: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment (Unpublished document). SDO14099.

<2> GetMapping, 2005, Digital vertical aerial photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDO12563.

<3> Royal Air Force, 01-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RS 4320 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18501.

Record last edited

Oct 2 2023 4:47PM