Monument record MDO47872 - Domestic site of Ringstead radar station, Upton, Osmington

The domestic site of Ringstead radar station. It was built in the early 1950s on the site of a Second World War camp as part of the Rotor programme and accommodated station personnel. Aerial photography from 1978 shows the bases of some Second World War hutting visible at the site. The area contains a mix of post-1950 buildings and prefabricated buildings that remain in good condition.

The Rotor programme was developed to upgrade the wartime radar technology to detect and locate fast-flying jets. It was approved by the Air Council in June 1950. There were three main components to the Rotor stations: the technical site, including the radars, operation blocks and other installations; the domestic site, where personnel were accommodated; and the stand-by set house, a reserve power supply. The domestic site for Ringstead radar station was located at SY 742 830. <1-2> <4>

Aerial photography from 1978 shows the bases of some Second World War hutting visible at the site. The area contains a mix of post-1950 buildings and prefabricated buildings that remain in good condition. <3>

<1> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England. Volume XI.1. The Cold War, 36-72 (Monograph). SDO18653.

<2> Dobinson, C S, 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England. Volume XI.2. The Cold War, 153 (Monograph). SDO18654.

<3> Anderton, Michael J, 2000, Twentieth Century Military Recording Project: Cold War Rotor Stations, 46 (Unpublished document). SDO18655.

<4> Cocroft, Wayne D, and Thomas, Roger J C, 2003, Cold War: Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946-1989, 86-110 (Monograph). SDO18652.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1487698 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 14 2024 1:26PM