Monument record MDO45354 - First World War practice trench, Tarrant Monkton

A First World War practice trench is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 but has subsequently been filled in. The site comprises a single narrow ditch, flanked by a narrow bank to each side, which zigzag over a distance of nearly 200m along the southern side of the minor road between Blandford Camp and Tarrant Monkton. The trench was probably dug as a training exercise by the Royal Naval Division who were stationed at Blandford Camp from 1915 to 1918. The trench was subsequently filled in and is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs taken in 1995.

A First World War practice trench is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 but has subsequently been filled in. The site is centred at ST 9334 0865 and comprises a single narrow ditch, flanked by a narrow bank to each side, which zigzag over a distance of 76m, between ST 9332 0862 and ST 9336 0869. The trench was dug at the eastern edge of Blandford Camp and is one of two situated parallel with the edge of Blackland Plantation (see ST 90 NW 134 / UID: 1478879). It was probably dug as a training exercise by the Royal Naval Division who were stationed at Blandford Camp from 1915 to 1918. The trench was subsequently filled in and is visible as a faint cropmark on aerial photographs taken in 1968. <1-2>

<1> Harfield, A, 1984, Blandford and the Military: including a history of Blandford Camp (Monograph). SDO19289.

<2> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<2.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 4006-4007 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19286.

<2.2> 04-SEP-1995, NMR ST 9308/11 NMR 15397/13 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19292.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1478883 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 2:18PM