Monument record MDO45962 - Second World War 20 x anti-tank blocks, Studland

A World War II tank trap aligned northwest-southeast across the gully, southeast of Studland Bay House, blocking the route from the beach inland. The tank trap comprises twenty concrete blocks, five of the blocks lie to the north of the stream in the gully and fifteen to the south. Two blocks have slipped into the stream bed. Each block is 1.2m wide and projects on average 1.5m from the ground, with a low pointed pyramid top. The tank trap probably had been constructed by early August 1940 and are situated within the Studland Sub-Sector, defended by the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment from October 1940, replaced in April 1941 by the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. The Home Guard unit manning defences within this sector was No.2 (East Purbeck) Company, 7th (Wareham) Battalion. A field visit in 1995 found the blocks to be in a good condition. A similar line of nine square section blocks with pyramidal tops existed below the Middle Beach car park but they have been reused in the beach defences northwest of Redend Point - see MDO45963.

20 anti-tank blocks aligned NW-SE across the gully to the SE of Studland Bay House. They were positioned to block the route from the beach inland. Five of the blocks lie to the N of the stream in the gully and 15 to the S. 2 blocks have slipped into the stream bed. Each block is 1.2m wide and projects on average 1.5m from the ground, with a low pointed pyramid top.

A similar line of blocks existed below the Middle Beach car park at SZ 037828 but they have now been reused in the beach defences NW of Redend Point. 9 x square section blocks with pyramidal tops Dumped on beach to form sea wall. [Note: ie MDO45963]

Surrey Industrial Society record gives NGR - SZ 03748290]. 16 x anti-tank blocks (6ft square), two of which are double. Five are to the S of the stream and eleven to the N. Two have fallen into the gully and have broken. [Note: ie MDO45962]

[with plan drawn on form]. The gully SE Studland, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland 9 x square section blocks with pyramidal tops Dumped on beach to form sea wall. [Note: ie MDO45963]

LOCATION: The gully SE Studland, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. <1>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007719 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007719 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1422100 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 22 2023 12:58PM