Monument record MWX1315 - Second World War anti-tank blocks on Chesil Beach, Abbotsbury

A World War II tank trap located on Chesil Beach at Reeds End. The tank trap comprises a double row of concrete anti-tank blocks which cross the beach. The features are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and Lidar imagery.

Anti-tank blocks in a line at right angles to the sea on Chesil Beach. Anti-tank blocks in two lines at the W end of the beach stretching from the sea to the lagoon. One of the blocks has a crude shield drawn in the concrete, possibly the device of the construction company [inscription]. W end of Chesil Beach, near Abbotsbury. <1-3>

Anti-tank blocks in two lines at the W end of the beach stretching from the sea to the lagoon. One of the blocks has a crude shield drawn in the concrete, possibly the device of the construction company [inscription].

A World War II tank trap located at the western end of Chesil Beach at Reeds End. The tank trap comprises a double row of concrete anti-tank blocks which cross the beach. Most of the seaward blocks have been destroyed, but the parallel lines of blocks on the landward side still survive. These defences were situated within the Abbotsbury Defence area and were constructed during July 1940. This area was defended by the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. A field visit in 2000 found the structures to be in a good condition. The features were digitally plotted from aerial photographs and Lidar imagery as part of the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project <4-7>.

National Record of the Historic Environment, 1426263 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0012099 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0012099 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0012099 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> 01-FEB-1968, MAL 6804 002-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12199.

<5> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 4286-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12201.

<6> Royal Air Force, 05-AUG-1940, RAF/225A/BR252 (VC) 6-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12202.

<7> 14-JUL-2003, D0028548 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12203.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:36PM