Munchh
03-11-2010, 07:50 PM
There's a fair bit to this so I've divided it up into smaller chunks.
Info from the PSG website: http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/maidennewtonstoplinepage.htm
“Down in the deepest, darkest depths of Dorset the remains of hundreds of Second
World War structures still lay littered around the countryside. The county of
Dorset, with its extensive coastline, natural harbours and relative proximity to
the shores of northern France made it a primary invasion target. To that end
many of the Defence structures were positioned, quite naturally, along the
coastline and many are still to be found in the well documented areas of Chesil
Beach, Portland and Studland Bay.
But what of the Inland Defence ? After extensive research of the local 1:2500
scale maps and numerous site visits to the Maiden Newton area I concluded that
there was infact a Stop-Line approximately 15km inland from Chesil Beach. The
following structures were found and reported to the Defence of Britain Project:
Maiden Newton itself is a small village situated at the confluence of two river
valleys, the Dorchester to Yeovil Railway Line and the A356 road from Dorchester
to Crewkerne. A pretty important position ! Not unusual in itself but the
extensive defensive structures found around its perimeter suggest that it was an
Anti-Tank Island. More than one hundred anti-tank blocks, a Nissen hut,
Ammunition stores and even a Spiggot Mortar base complete with stainless steel
mounting pin remain.
The Stop-line itself uses the man made railway line from Maiden Newton to the
village of Grimstone, 5km southeastwards towards Dorchester. The numerous
Pillboxes of Type22/23 design are positioned to use the embankment to the best
possible topographical advantage. Almost each has commanding views across the
river valley southwards and of course towards the Sea. Any advancing armour and
troops would have had the difficulty of fording the river before an attempt at
scaling the embankment could begin.”
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/CrockwaytoFromeVauchurch.jpg
Getting to PB’s is harder than some people realize. There are 6 on this stretch and although I’ve been planning this for a while I only managed to get a Type 22 and the removed AT obstacle at the bridge on the first visit. I spent more time reccying approaches than I intended to and had to cut short the trek after falling foul of the whiplash injury I got in a minor prang a week prior to this explore. I’m not normally faint-hearted when it comes to PB hunts but several of my access routes were impassable or downright dangerous (even fully fit) on your own.
S0000066 Type 22
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/S0000066.jpg
Shows serious deterioration outside but this is misleading as it’s only the entrance wall suffering badly
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1122.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1105.jpg
inside isn’t too bad but is flooded;
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1113.jpg
And it has the unfaced corner bricks I’ve seen before. I think this was done simply to save time building the PB.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1120.jpg
The site of the removed AT obstacles S0000049. I now think there were 2 hairpins here.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1124.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/S0000049/100_1165.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/S0000049/100_1159.jpg
Info from the PSG website: http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/maidennewtonstoplinepage.htm
“Down in the deepest, darkest depths of Dorset the remains of hundreds of Second
World War structures still lay littered around the countryside. The county of
Dorset, with its extensive coastline, natural harbours and relative proximity to
the shores of northern France made it a primary invasion target. To that end
many of the Defence structures were positioned, quite naturally, along the
coastline and many are still to be found in the well documented areas of Chesil
Beach, Portland and Studland Bay.
But what of the Inland Defence ? After extensive research of the local 1:2500
scale maps and numerous site visits to the Maiden Newton area I concluded that
there was infact a Stop-Line approximately 15km inland from Chesil Beach. The
following structures were found and reported to the Defence of Britain Project:
Maiden Newton itself is a small village situated at the confluence of two river
valleys, the Dorchester to Yeovil Railway Line and the A356 road from Dorchester
to Crewkerne. A pretty important position ! Not unusual in itself but the
extensive defensive structures found around its perimeter suggest that it was an
Anti-Tank Island. More than one hundred anti-tank blocks, a Nissen hut,
Ammunition stores and even a Spiggot Mortar base complete with stainless steel
mounting pin remain.
The Stop-line itself uses the man made railway line from Maiden Newton to the
village of Grimstone, 5km southeastwards towards Dorchester. The numerous
Pillboxes of Type22/23 design are positioned to use the embankment to the best
possible topographical advantage. Almost each has commanding views across the
river valley southwards and of course towards the Sea. Any advancing armour and
troops would have had the difficulty of fording the river before an attempt at
scaling the embankment could begin.”
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/CrockwaytoFromeVauchurch.jpg
Getting to PB’s is harder than some people realize. There are 6 on this stretch and although I’ve been planning this for a while I only managed to get a Type 22 and the removed AT obstacle at the bridge on the first visit. I spent more time reccying approaches than I intended to and had to cut short the trek after falling foul of the whiplash injury I got in a minor prang a week prior to this explore. I’m not normally faint-hearted when it comes to PB hunts but several of my access routes were impassable or downright dangerous (even fully fit) on your own.
S0000066 Type 22
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/S0000066.jpg
Shows serious deterioration outside but this is misleading as it’s only the entrance wall suffering badly
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1122.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1105.jpg
inside isn’t too bad but is flooded;
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1113.jpg
And it has the unfaced corner bricks I’ve seen before. I think this was done simply to save time building the PB.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1120.jpg
The site of the removed AT obstacles S0000049. I now think there were 2 hairpins here.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/100_1124.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/S0000049/100_1165.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Maiden%20Newton%20stopline/S0000049/100_1159.jpg