Monument record MDO46046 - World War Two searchlight battery, Winterborne Whitechurch

The remains of a Second World War searchlight battery established from May 1942. The base for the searchlight itself survives as do four Turner's Curved Asbestos Huts which were used for accommodation and possibly to house the searchlight generator. This type of hut was manufactured by the Turner Asbestos Company, Trafford Park in Manchester and their use at this site dates the searchlight battery to being post May 1942, however it may have been in use before then.Searchlight sites typically comprised a small ring-ditch to provide the crew with shelter during an air raid, a predictor emplacement for calculating the height and range of targets, a light anti-aircraft machine gun pit, a generator and hutted accommodation for the crew.

The remains of a Second World War searchlight battery at Winterborne Kingston [sic] established from May 1942. The base for the searchlight itself survives as do four asbestos huts which were used for accommodation and possibly to house the searchlight generator can still be seen. The site can also be identified from a 1947 aerial photo. This source contains photos of the searchlight battery. <1>

The huts at the searchlight battery site are Turner's Curved Asbestos Huts. The presence of these huts date that particular phase of the site to being post May 1942, as this was the first month when this type of hut was manufactured by the Turner Asbestos Company, Trafford Park, Manchester. However, the site may have had an earlier phase as many were under canvas to begin with. <2>

Searchlight sites typically comprised a small ring-ditch to provide the crew with shelter during an air raid, a predictor emplacement for calculating the height and range of targets, a light anti-aircraft machine gun pit, a generator and hutted accommodation for the crew. During the Second World War searchlights were manned by the Royal Artillery and were under the control of the Army's Anti-Aircraft Command. <3>

<1> Atlantikwall. 2010. Winterborne Whitechurch Searchlight Site, <http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/aa%20sites/ww_searchlight01/html/page02.htm>, Accessed 20-Oct-2010 (Digital archive). SDO19694.

<2> Thomas, Roger J C, Oral: Roger J C Thomas, Military Support Officer, English Heritage (York Office) (Verbal communication). SDO19183.

<3> Brown I et al, 1995, 20th Century Defences in Britain: An introductory guide (Monograph). SDO12712.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1526314 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 27 2023 12:47PM