Dorsetman

World War II Pillbox and Fortification, based at the north end of Middle Beach, Studland in Dorset Constructed in 1943 by Canadian engineers and named after their base back in Ontario. It was one of many pillboxes constructed as a line of defence against the impending invasion of the German army. This concrete bunker has walls a metre thick and would have offered a superb view of any naval vessels approaching, although not adequately equipped to repel the enemy. Google Maps location Please be aware that to access this Pillbox requires you to walk on uneven surfaces and avoid visiting when high tide is approaching! Further up on the clifftop is a fortification that housed a large gun and lookout post. A large calibre gun was mounted in this circle and the securing bolts can still be clearly seen in the photo. Ammunition for this gun and rifles were stored in the basement of a secure bunker set into the hillside. Rows of Dragon's Teeth can be found by one of the car parks at the end of the clifftop and the start of the peninsula. They were placed there to defend against any advance by tanks that could have landed in the bay. Most of these concrete structures are still standing and in good condition considering their age (80 years)

What is 30 shillings in today's money? Rather good deal I reckon 🙂

World War II Pillbox, based at the north end of Middle Beach, Studland in Dorset. Constructed in 1943 by Canadian engineers and named after their base back in Ontario. It was one of many pillboxes constructed as a line of defence against the impending invasion of the German army. This concrete bunker has walls a metre thick and would have offered a superb view of any naval vessels approaching, although not adequately equipped to repel the enemy. Google Maps location Please be aware that to access this Pillbox requires you to walk on uneven surfaces and avoid visiting when high tide is approaching!

Bovington Tank Museum, located at the Bovington Royal Armoured Core tank regiment base in Dorset. One of the finest collections of tanks in the United Kingdom and a 'must visit' location for anyone visiting the area or for the die-hard enthusiast of military hardware. The Tank Museum is the regimental museum of the Royal Tank Regiment and the corps museum of the Royal Armoured Corps. Their purpose is to tell the story of tanks and the crews who served in them. https://tankmuseum.org/

If the conifer trees were removed and the heath was as it was in Iron Age times the fort standing at 65m in height would have 360° views over the low lying land down to Poole Harbour and the Purbeck Hills in the south and up to the rolling hills of Dorset to the north. . Article Source: UK Hillforts · Nick Sharpe · ·

Welcome to the recent new members of the Local History Club Martin Firemanfrosty

Looks like the old Dorchester Hill coming out of Blandford on the old A354? It’s such a shame that although you can get through the hedge onto the new A354 there is no footpath or bridleway opposite so unless you fancy walking along an A road only option is turn back. Up on the old Dorchester Road, Go over the bridge to Blandford St Mary, keep going straight past Stour Inn until you come to a large gate, where you can walk through and up the hill. The old road into town before the bypass was built, connects onto the A354 to Dorchester, it went under a bridge pretty much where the round about/tesco petrol station is. Apparently it’s still there buried according to local folklore. Extract from Abanoned Roads group on Facebook

Hi Cornish.....welcome to the Club Beautiful part of this country and has to be one of my favourite places to visit, although I do admit to not visiting for at least twenty years now.....I must redress this in 2024 (I promise) Great to have you onboard and look forward to seeing some posts from Cornwall

East Cliff Cottage was built in 1895 and became the home of British actor Stewart Granger (6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993) with his mother, Mrs. Lablanche Stewart, owning this property until 1979. Stewart Granger was born James Lablanche Stewart but changed his name to avoid confusion with established American actor James Stewart when he entered the film industry. Stewart Granger is a mix of his surname and his Grandmother’s surname. He had originally planned to be a doctor but lacked the dedication (as he later admitted) to continue medical studies. A friend suggested that since he had a car and a good set of clothes he could find work as a film extra for a guinea a day. This led to a long-lasting career as an English film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles popular from the 1940s to the early 1960s. By 1935, Stewart Granger made his stage debut in "The Cardinal" at the Little Theatre Hull. He was with the Birmingham Repertory Company between 1936 and 1937 and, in 1938, he made his debut in the West End, London in "The Sun Never Sets". He joined the Old Vic company in 1939 appearing in 'Tony Draws a Horse' at the Criterion and 'A House in the Square' at the St Martins. After a short stint in the army, he quickly landed his first film opportunity in The Man in Grey (1943) for Gainsborough Pictures. This led to many more roles including Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), Adam and Evelyne (1949), the remake of The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), Scaramouche (1952) and Young Bess (1953). Original Article Source: https://www.eastcliffcottage.com/stewart-granger/

Great thanks for the information Steve...its now on my Christmas List 🙂

Yeah, not sure I would necessarily tell the wife if I did find a pot of gold 🙂

Has anyone tried Magnet Fishing yet? I'm looking to get a starter kit and see what I can find in the local streams and rivers. Not holding out much hope but you never know. Not sure of the procedure with finding anything of value....Treasure Trove comes to mind or even ownership within someone else's property?

It's still amazing to find anything old (even early 20th century) and particularly something as old as Roman civilisation.

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Steve you can see them from the road when you're approaching from the roundabout. I heard about the Gas Works but haven't ever seen any articles on the incident

World War II Dragons Teeth - Surrey Road, Branksome, Poole Original article sourced from Flikr