Monument record MDO41091 - Modern military fuel depot, Merley, Poole

Sub-circular and rectilinear structures linked by a number of ditched linear features at Merley are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are thought to be associated with a probable Second World War military fuel storage depot or ammunitions dump.The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Ditched linear and sub-circular features at Merley are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The features appear to comprise wide ditched linears that may be cleared access roads and pathways. These link between a number of sub-circular features, arranged in loose rows with a wide outer banked enclosure, around 3m deep, with a three-celled 'trefoil' structure within(1). There are additional single ditched enclosures in a group in the south of the site and a scatter of smaller sub-circular features in the north and west of the site (1).

There are also several rectilinear structures across the site that may be small buildings. An un-metalled access road is visible in 1941, leading to the site from Harrier Drive; sets of additional vehicle tracks are visible running along the east side of this in 1947 (1 and 2). The site may continue west into the grounds of South Oakley but features are not visible due to tree cover in 1941 (1).

The features are thought to be associated with a probable ammunitions dump or fuel storage depot The features were no longer visible on an aerial photograph dated 1947 (2).

The site is partially developed land and partially school playing field on current Google Earth imagery. The features are no longer visible. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 07-JUN-41, RAF/225D/UK850/3 V 5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16016.

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 RP 3189-90 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16006.

Record last edited

Aug 29 2024 4:03PM