Monument record MDO39677 - Early 20th century military base, military airfield, Sopley Common, Hurn

Groups of buildings and stuctures situated on both sides of Avon Causeway, Sopley Common, and along the east side of Christchurch Road are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The buildings are linked by a network of trackways and roads. The complex is probably part of a World War II military base or annexe to wartime Hurn airfield. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

Groups of buildings and stuctures situated on both sides of Avon Causeway, Sopley Common, and along the east side of Christchurch Road are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1 and 2). The buildings are linked by a network of trackways and roads. The complex is probably part of a World War II military base or annexe to wartime Hurn airfield.

The military buildings comprise narrow rectangular buildings, some with curved roofs, possibly Nissan huts or similar. Many of the buildings are set out in regular rows but others are less regularly arranged. There appears to be some curved structures with turfed rooves and single doorway openings. These may be bomb or blast shelters - similar structures are also visible within the wartime Hurn airfield (MDO39623). Also included are small banked structures with internal cells and an entrance ontwo sides. These may also be types of bomb or blast shelters. A further area of the military base on the west side of Mill Lane is recorded separately under MDO39679.

By 1954 the furthest southeasterly group of buildings had been largely cleared apart from a few extant but roofless structures (3).

By 1957 the buildings in the northeast of the site, within and to the east of barrow MDO8975 had been demolished (4).

By 1959 most of the site had been cleared apart from a few building foundations, with only the central area adjacent to the south side of Avon Causeway appearing to continue in some use (5 and 6).

By 1969 there had been further clearance of the southern areas of the site and significant replanting and heathland regeneration (7).

By 1981 the central area was finally cleared and a sportsfield was in place (8).

By 2002 the northwestern most edge of the site was replaced by housing development (9).

The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

The site is currently within open heath and plantation and not generally visible on current Google Earth imagery.

<1> Royal Air Force, 26-MAR-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5155-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15555.

<2> Royal Air Force, 28-MAY-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5156-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15553.

<3> Royal Air Force, 07-OCT-54, RAF/58/1593 F22 0013-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15543.

<4> Royal Air Force, 18-SEPT-57, RAF/ 57R4 V 139-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15560.

<5> Royal Air Force, 23-JAN-59, RAF/58/2679 F21 15-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15556.

<6> Royal Air Force, 24-JAN-59, RAF/58/2687 F22 71-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15557.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 30-JUL-69, OS/69378 V 24-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15558.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 07-JUL-81, OS/81030 V 39-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15559.

<9> Dorset County Council, 2002, Dorset County Council Vertical Photograph (Aerial Photograph). SDO13401.

Record last edited

Aug 29 2024 3:46PM