Monument record MWX1459 - Second World War 16 x anti-tank blocks, Studland

A World War II tank trap aligned northwest-southeast across the gully, southeast of Studland Bay House, blocking the route from the beach inland. The tank trap comprises 16 anti-tank blocks (6ft square), two of which are double. Five are to the south of the stream and eleven to the north. Two have fallen into the gully and have broken. The tank trap probably had been constructed 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 blocks to be in a good condition. A similar line of 9 blocks existed below the Middle Beach car park but they have been reused in the beach defences northwest of Redend Point – see MDO45963. These comprised nine square section blocks with pyramidal tops.

Surrey Industrial Society record gives NGR - SZ 03748290]. 16 x anti-tank blocks (6ft square), two of which are double. Five are to the S of the stream and eleven to the N. Two have fallen into the gully and have broken.

LOCATION: The gully SE Studland, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. <1>

16 anti-tank blocks (6ft square), two of which are double. Five are to the south of the stream and eleven to the north. Two have fallen into the gully and have broken.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007719 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007719 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1422100 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 15 2024 11:10AM