Monument record MWX1308 - Second World War gun emplacement, Brownsea Island, Studland

A World War Two gun emplacement on Brownsea Island. The emplacement was for one of two six-inch naval guns which were used to guard the entrance to Poole Harbour, and were manned by 110 men from 347 Coast Battery of the Royal Artillery. The site was constructed in 1940-41 and survives as a concrete apron 5 metres long and 2.5 metres wide, aligned northeast-southwest with a concrete wall on the southeast side 0.7metres high and 0.3 metres wide. Remains of the circular holdfast for the gun are visible as a ring of bolt impressions in the concrete. A field visit in 1994 found the structure to be in a fair condition.

One of two six-inch naval guns which were used to guard the entrance to Poole Harbour. These guns were manned by 110 men from 347 Coast Battery of the Royal Artillery. The site is visible as a concrete apron 5m long and 2.5m wide aligned NE-SW with a concrete wall on the SE side 0.7m high and 0.3m wide. Remains of the circular holdfast for the gun are visible as a ring of bolt impressions in the concrete. Three other buildings are shown on the 1963 OS, 1:2500, map but they have since been demolished and only survive as building platforms. They are not shown on the 1933 OS map and were probably associated with the gun battery. The 1933 and 1901 OS maps show that a statue occupied this land until WWII. <2-4>

<1> Papworth, M, 1992, Brownsea Island, Dorset. Wessex region, 21 (Unpublished document). SWX1390.

One of two six-inch naval guns which were used from 1940 - 1945 to guard the entrance of Poole Harbour. These guns were manned by 110 men from 347 Coast Battery of the Royal Artillery (Legg 1986 p66). It now consists of a concrete base with the circular pattern of bolts, the remains of the gun mounting. 10m north of the gun site is a brick rectangular building approximately 6m long and 2.5m wide and 2.5m high with a concrete roof. Probably a military building associated with the gun battery. Another building once lay between the gun site and the rectangular building but this has been demolished. Visited 25/2/1992.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007712 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0007712 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<4> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007712 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1429136 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 15 2024 11:09AM