Monument record MDO41841 - Second World War military hospital, Kingston Lacy, Pamphill

Structures associated with a documented Second World War military hospital and German Prisoner of War camp (NHRE Hob UID 1413313) at Kingston Lacy are visible on aerial photographs. The features occupy the southeast section of Kingston Lacy Park and incorporate buildings and covered walkways as well as a less-clearly defined partial banked compound containing a series of small regularly laid out huts or tents and pathways; this may be part of the Prisoner of War camp. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

MILITARY HOSPITAL. Description and site plan
Kingston Lacey House
United States Forces
28th / 106th United States Hospital
Prisoner of War Camp
Recorder- ?. <1-3>

Structures associated with a documented Second World War military hospital and German Prisoner of War camp (NHRE Hob UID 1413313) at Kingston Lacy are visible on aerial photographs <5>.

The features occupy the southeast section of Kingston Lacy Park. The principal structures are situated at the southwest end of the site and these comprise a series of rectangular buildings linked by long covered walkways. Additional individual rectangular buildings of varying size are situated to the east of these, linked by roads and pathways. A 1945 aerial photograph on Google Earth imagery shows a slightly irregular banked enclosure or compound towards the northeast side of the site, approximately 150m long and 150m wide at its northeast end, narrowing to just 36m wide at its southeast end. Small rectangular structures approximately 3.5m by 2.5m in size are positioned outside the compound at each corner ; this may be the Prisoner of War camp <6>.

The site is now parkland on current Google Earth imagery and the features are no longer visible, although one hut may still be extant and in use. Google Earth imagery includes aerial coverage dating to 1945 where the hospital site is clearly visible (3). Some elements are visible that are no longer present, or are poorly defined in aerial photographs of 1947 <4-5>. The features were digitally plotted from the 1947 aerial photographs by the Dorset Stour NMP project, with additional elements visible in 1945 drawn in by eye.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FS 2192-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16288.

<5> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FP 1112-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16296.

<6> Google Earth, xxx_xxx 1945, Google Earth Imagery (Aerial Photograph). SDO16297.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1413313 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 12:30PM