Monument record MWX1469 - Second World War pillbox, Studland

A World War II pillbox situated amongst the dunes on Studland Heath, with views across Poole Harbour and Old Harry Rocks. The pillbox was built of reinforced concrete and had been constructed by early August 1940. It 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. The structure was probably demolished by the army in the 20 years prior to a field visit in 1995 which found the site to be littered with concrete and twisted iron reinforcing bars fragments.

The remains of a reinforced structure which was sited amongst the dunes with views of across Poole Harbour and Old Harry Rocks. Probably one of a number of such structures demolished by the army over the last 20 years. The area is littered with chunks of concrete and twisted iron reinforcing bars over 30m. Much of the remains have been covered by drifting sand.

The area is covered in sand colonised in places by patches of rough grass. Demolished pillbox. Now only a mass of reinforcing rods and broken concrete, with a concrete base nearby.

[Surrey Industrial Society record gives NGR - SZ 03408368]. Studland Heath, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. <1>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007715 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007715 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1422096 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 15 2024 11:13AM