Monument record MDO39500 - Possible early 20th century military depot, East Parley Common, Hurn, Christchurch

A group of enclosures and trackways on East Parley Common are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The enclosures appear to be cleared areas of scrub, accessed by paths and trackways, which may be associated with an early 20th century military training area or military depot. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

A group of enclosures and trackways on East Parley Common are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The enclsoures and trackways may have a post medieval or early 20th century origin, possibly agricultural but considered more likely to be military in character.

The enclosures appear to be cleared areas of scrub, accessed by paths and trackways, which may be associated with an early 20th century military training area or military camp. The site comprises a concentration of irregular sub-rectangular features and trackways that may have linked cleared areas for temporary structures or containers. The cleared areas vary in size but are broadly around 20m by 25m with a central bank or area of uncleared scrub; some of these areas may also have narrow supporting banks. In the northern part of the area there are linked trackways within trees bordering the Moors River. This may infer further structures or features under the tree cover and not visible on aerial photographs. The total area of the site appears to extend to 295m by 445m.

The site may be associated with modern wartime military activity on the heathland north of Christchurch or as part of wartime Hurn airfield; possibly a military training area of some kind of storage depot. It is no longer in use by 1946. An aerial photograph of 1957 shows the site is scrubbing over, although many of the trackways and some remains of earthworks are still visible (2). Very little of the site is detectable on aerial photographs by 1981 (3).

The features are no longer visible on current Google Earth imagery.

The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4169-70 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15466.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 18-SEP-57, OS/57R1 V 159 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15459.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 14-JUN-81, OS/81016 V 260 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15467.

Record last edited

Jun 8 2018 3:20PM