Monument record MWX1475 - Second World War Pillbox, Knoll car park, Studland

A World War II purposed-designed pillbox of no specification located in Knoll car park, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. It is built of reinforced concrete, is square in plan, measuring 2.4 metres by 2.4 metres and 1.8 metres high. It has been built in the centre of a 0.4 metres thick concrete plinth which has sides 2.7 metres long. There are embrasures on the east, north, and south sides and the entrance is in the west side, since filled with concrete to prevent access. The pillbox 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. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be extant.

A concrete pillbox, no specification, measures 2.4m x 2.4m x 1.8m high. It has been built in the centre of a 0.4m thick concrete plinth which has sides 2.7m long. There are good views of Canford Cliffs, Bournemouth, Isle of Wight and Old Harry from this location above the W side of Knoll car park. The seaward E side of the machine gun post narrows from 2.4m to 1.5m and there are embrasures on the E, N, and S sides and the entrance in the W side.

The embrasures and entrance have been filled with concrete to prevent access. There has been some weathering of the concrete on the upper W side. The concrete plinth is beginning to be undermined on the E side as the slope down to the car park weathers back. Purpose-designed, basically square, pillbox. 4 x embrasures filled with concrete. Erosion on one corner under plinth. Cracks on W corner, with rust on reinforcing bars.

[With plan and elevations, showing measurements, drawn on form]. Knoll car park, Corfe Castle Estate, Studland. Purpose-designed, basically square, pillbox. 4 x embrasures filled with concrete. Erosion on one corner under plinth. Cracks on W corner, with rust on reinforcing bars. <1>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0007704 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0007704 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1422085 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 22 2023 3:51PM