Monument record MDO41239 - Wartime military training site, Canford Heath, Poole

A concentrated and regularly ordered grouping of small sub-circular earthworks on the south side of Canford Heath are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are considered likely to be small dug-outs or enclosures associated with an area of probable wartime military training activity. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

A concentrated and regularly ordered grouping of small sub-circular earthworks on the south side of Canford Heath are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The features comprise at least four distinct rows of sub-circular earthworks between 3m and 5m in diameter, with the probable partial remains of once similar earthworks in between these (1). The features extend across an area of 65m by 35m, with a further three outliers visible to the northwest of the main group. The features are clearly organised in a regular fashion that suggests a military origin. They may be dugouts or weapons pits associated with an area of probable wartime military training activity; or they may alternatively be part of a wartime military camp or storage area. The features overlie one of a series of trackways across this part of Canford Heath, of probable post medieval to early modern origin (MDO41226).

The site is still open heath on current Google Earth imagery but the features are no longer visible. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 08-MAR-45, RAF/106G/LA/163 RP 3021-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16052.

Record last edited

Sep 5 2023 10:35AM