Monument record MWX1471 - Second World War pillbox, Studland Heath, Studland

Site of a Second World War pillbox located in dunes 400 metres southwest of Shell Bay, Studland Heath. 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 pillbox was blown up by the army about 15 to 20 years prior to 1995. A field visit in 1995 found the site marked by large concrete blocks within a 6 metre diameter.

Remains of a reinforced pillbox in dunes 400m SW of Shell Bay. The large blocks of concrete lie within a 6m diameter. The site offers a field of fire across the sand dunes to the beach.

The site was blown up by the army about 15 to 20 years ago to prevent its use by undesirable elements who frequent the dunes around the nudist beach. Pillbox, probably for machine gun fire, now completely destroyed. All that remains are piles of reinforced concrete chunks. The pillbox would have had a field of fire towards the sand dunes of Studland Beach. Studland Heath, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. <1>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007720 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007720 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1422101 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 15 2024 11:13AM