Block house at SY 69652 73530 (East Weare Batteries #1)
A demolished block house of c. 1905 date, located at East Weare (grid reference: SY 69652 73530). It was one of a number of block houses to be built around the perimeter of East Weare Batteries in c. 1905, when an unclimbable steel fence was added around A, B and C Batteries. This block house was found on the south-east outskirts of the Verne Citadel, and south-west of A Battery. Built of reinforced concrete, it had a six-sided plan and wide embrasures for rifle fire both front and flank. The block house was to be manned by infantry to defend against a landward attack. During World War II, the block house was utilised as a pillbox as part of British anti-invasion preparations, at a time when the German's invasion plan, Operation Sea Lion, was considered a major threat.
As part of the Defence of Britain Project, the structure was inspected in 1995 and was recorded as being in good condition. By this time, the entrance had been sealed with breeze blocks. By 2015, it remained in a good state, although it had become surrounded by undergrowth and had some ivy attached to its walls. Unlike the other block houses surrounding East Weare Batteries, this particular example was located outside of Portland Port Ltd's boundary fencing. It was accessible via a public footpath leading under the cliff-face, close to Nicodemus Knob.
In 2016, Portland Port Ltd demolished the block house during the erection of new boundary fencing.
References
1) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420382 - website page
As part of the Defence of Britain Project, the structure was inspected in 1995 and was recorded as being in good condition. By this time, the entrance had been sealed with breeze blocks. By 2015, it remained in a good state, although it had become surrounded by undergrowth and had some ivy attached to its walls. Unlike the other block houses surrounding East Weare Batteries, this particular example was located outside of Portland Port Ltd's boundary fencing. It was accessible via a public footpath leading under the cliff-face, close to Nicodemus Knob.
In 2016, Portland Port Ltd demolished the block house during the erection of new boundary fencing.
References
1) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420382 - website page
Gallery
These images can be enlarged by clicking on them. Some images have information attached to them, and to view this you can either enlarge the image or hover the mouse over each thumbnail.
