Monument record MWX1414 - Second World War pillbox, Church Ope Cove, Portland

A World War II pillbox in Church Ope Cove. It was located about three-quarters way down the steps leading to the beach and was the first of two pillboxes to be built in here during the war. It was constructed sometime between 1940-41and was built of concrete and brick. A field visit in 1997 located no traces of the structure.

This was the first of two pillboxes built in the Cove in WW2. Bricks were first carried down to the site 12 at a time. Later a visiting Welsh regiment formed a line down the steps and passed materials hand to hand. Cement was similarly transported to the site. [Informant: Mr. Noble, a local man]. At Church Ope Cove, about three-quarters way down steps leading to the beach (on footpath no.19). <1-3>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0005888 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0005888 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0005888 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1420402 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:37PM