Monument record MWX1462 - Second World War emergency coast defence battery, Redend Point, Studland

A World War II gun emplacement built to cover the approach to Studland Bay. It is located behind Fort Henry observation bunker (see MDO29092) on Redend Point, Studland. The construction of the Fort Henry observation bunker in 1943 partially blocked the gun emplacement’s line of fire. The gun emplacement has passages to two underground rooms to the rear which probably served as accommodation and ammunition storage areas. The structure is built of concrete and brick. The interior retains original camouflage paint. Graffiti on the roof reads: "R. Daman 1940. AG 229 Batt. 58th Med. Reg." The structure was probably constructed in 1940 by early August 1940 and was situated within the Studland Sub-Sector, defended by the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment from October 1940, replaced in April 1941 by the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. The Home Guard unit manning defences within this sector was No.2 (East Purbeck) Company, 7th (Wareham) Battalion. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be in a good condition.

A gun emplacement built to cover the approach to Studland Bay. Its line of fire was partly blocked by the later construction of Fort Henry. It is made of reinforced concrete and measures 7.3m x 3.6m internally. The NE entrance is 6m wide with a 2.7m long concrete canopy built centrally above the entrance and extending 1m from the face of the structure. The gun holdfast circle survives in the centre of the main chamber. The SW wall is still painted with khaki and green camouflage patterns. The walls of the building are 0.3m thick. There are passages leading from the W and S corners. The S passage leads SW and is entered via 7 steps. It is 4m long and 0.6m wide and leads to a room 2.4m x 2.4m with two ventilation shafts. The W passage may also have had steps. It curves from SW to W and leads to a room measuring 3m x 2.4m with 2 ventilation shafts. Both passages are underground and of brick with concrete roofs. They are probably accommodation and ammunition storage areas.

This is a well preserved site used as a stable. The ventilation shafts to the underground chambers have been damaged. The building lies in the corner of a pasture field with scrub woodland beyond fences to the NE and NW. Concrete gun emplacement with passages to two underground magazines to the rear. Interior retains original camouflage paint. Graffiti on the roof reads, "R. Daman 1940. AG 229 Batt. 58th Med. Reg."

Gun emplacement looking over Studland Bay. Main emplacement is reinforced concrete with roof and open front. Two underground areas to the rear through side passages down steps were probably living and ammunition areas; these are of brick walls and reinforced concrete roof. The left hand rear area has two ventilation shafts open but destroyed above ground. The gun mounting base was traceable but covered in earth and manure - the area is used as a horse stable.

[with plan drawn on form showing measurements]. Behind Fort Henry, Redend Point, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland - on the tip of Redend Point between the Banks Arms Hotel and the sea. Concrete gun emplacement with passages to two underground magazines to the rear. Interior retains original camouflage paint. Graffiti on the roof reads, "R. Daman 1940. AG 229 Batt. 58th Med. Reg."
LOCATION: Behind Fort Henry, Redend Point, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland - on the tip of Redend Point between the Banks Arms Hotel and the sea. <2>

The Second World War gun emplacement located behind the later Fort Henry (see MDO29092) and described above in <3> is visible as a structure on aerial photographs of the 1940s. The building measures approximately 8 m by 4 m <1>. It is still visible on the most recent comprehensive aerial imagery available to the project <4>. The gun emplacement forms part of the anti-invasion defences around Studland Bay and was used during the D-Day preparations, when Studland Bay was used as an amphibious assault training area (see linked listing record). This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 3307-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12791.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007717 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007717 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> Google Earth, 01-JUN-2012, Google Earth 2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12633.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1422098 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:10PM