Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

New Breakwater C Pier Head
Hob Uid: 1425450
Location : Dorset Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : SY6947307747
Summary : A coastal battery located on the southern tip of Bincleaves Groyne at Portland Breakwater. The battery opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. By the First World War the 12-pounder guns had been removed and replaced with a 6-inch breech-loading (BL) Mk. VII gun. The 6-inch gun was removed in 1924 and in 1934 two 12-pounder guns were transferred across from the recently decommissioned B Pier Head (see HOB UID 1425451). In 1944 emplacements were constructed for two 6-pounder guns, but the guns were not mounted for a number of years. A field visit in 1983 found the structure to be extant.
More information : Coast artillery battery. 2 x 12pdr - 12cwt Mk 1 guns. The Northern Arm is an Admiralty extension to the earlier breakwater built by the Great Western Railway and known as the Bincleaves Groyne. The head is 100ft in diameter.CASLs can be seen. [information from 1963 aerial photographs]. 'C' Head, Northern Arm (Bincleaves Groyne), Portland Breakwater. (1) New Breakwater C Pier Head located at SY 695 774. The battery opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. By the First World War the 12-pounder guns had been removed and replaced with a 6-inch breech-loading (BL) Mk. VII gun. The 6-inch gun was removed in 1924 and in 1934 two 12-pounder guns were transferred from the newly decommissioned B Pier Head to be reinstated at C Pier Head. In 1944 emplacements were constructed for two 6-pounder guns, which were mounted years later. During the Second World War the battery was manned by 107 Battery of 522 Coast Regiment. (2-3)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : The two databases developed by the Project can be searched on-line through the Archaeology Data Service at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/dob/index.cfm
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 176-181
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Vol(s) : 6.1

Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 271
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Vol(s) : 6.2

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Early 20th Century
Display Date : Opened 1901
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1901
Monument Type : Coastal Battery
Evidence : Structure

Monument Period Name : First World War
Display Date : First World War
Monument End Date : 1918
Monument Start Date : 1914
Monument Type : Coastal Battery
Evidence : Structure

Monument Period Name : Second World War
Display Date : Second World War
Monument End Date : 1945
Monument Start Date : 1939
Monument Type : Coastal Battery
Evidence : Structure

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : DoB Anti Invasion Database UID
External Cross Reference Number : S0011261
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SY 67 NE 229
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-04-01
End Date : 2002-03-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31

Historic England Research Records

New Breakwater C Pier Head