Monument record MWX1449 - Second World War Allan Williams Turret, Worth Matravers

A World War II semi-circular domed iron Allan Williams turret recorded on the Downs at Seacombe, overlooking footpath down to natural harbour inlet near Worth Matravers. The iron gun turret dome is 3.5 inches thick. The diameter of the top circular aperture is 1foot 11inches, the size of the lower aperture is 1foot 3.5inches wide and 1foot 6 inches deep. On the top is a possible Direction Finder. Under the east side there is a rectangular pit or ditch, lined with iron sections. The structure was constructed in 1940. A field visit in 1997 found it to be in a fair condition.

Semi-circular domed iron gun turret, 3.5 ins. thick. Diameter of top circular aperture: 1ft 11ins. Size of lower aperture: 1ft 3.5ins width, 1ft 6ins depth. 3 small (drainage?) holes at intervals round base 2ins x 1ins. There is an interior iron bar from north to south sides: 5ft 5ins x 2ins, connected to east side by 1ft 8.5ins x 2ins iron bar. There is a metal Direction Finder[?] device, 4.5ins x 3.5ins on top, with 1.5ins diameter hole in centre. There is also a triangular piece of metal just inside the top, measuring 1ft 11ins, held together with a 6ins bar. There is a rectangular pit or ditch, lined with iron sections: 3ft 3ins x 2ft, extending from under east side.

with DRAWING

On downs at Seacombe (Dorset coastal path) and overlooking footpath down to natural harbour inlet. Nearest village: Worth Matravers, near Swanage, Dorset.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

The two databases developed by the Project can be searched on-line through the Archaeology Data Service at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/dob/index.cfm

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0001597 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0001597 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1417690 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 14 2023 2:46PM