Portland HAA Battery

This HAA Battery was sited to protect Weymouth harbour at the highest point of the Isle of Portland close to the citadel and right next to the high angle battery. There are six gun emplacements, four 1941 pattern and two mobile square types. Pictures are of three of the former and one of the latter. The command post appears to be standard but has had a lean-to structure built on to it. No magazines or evidence of the GL radar are present.

The site appears to be used to dump junk and keep a few chickens which could be heard in one of the emplacements but weren't approached, hence the lack of pictures of the fourth static emplacement. Each part of the site is wired off which suggested that whoever uses it wouldn't take kindly to wanderers but there weren't any of the expected Private Property Keep Out! or Trespassers will be shot! signs you might have expected, so I'm not sure the place is privately owned at all since it's in the middle of common land.

Access steps from the footpath to the high angle battery.


DSCF1431 by cptpies, on Flickr


DSCF1430 by cptpies, on Flickr

Emplacement 1 1941 pattern


DSCF1417 by cptpies, on Flickr


DSCF1418 by cptpies, on Flickr

Emplacement 2 mobile gun square type


DSCF1419 by cptpies, on Flickr


DSCF1420 by cptpies, on Flickr

Emplacement 3 1941 pattern


DSCF1421 by cptpies, on Flickr


DSCF1422 by cptpies, on Flickr

Emplacement 4 1941 pattern


DSCF1423 by cptpies, on Flickr


DSCF1424 by cptpies, on Flickr

Command Post


DSCF1425 by cptpies, on Flickr


DSCF1428 by cptpies, on Flickr

Ammo Locker


DSCF1427 by cptpies, on Flickr

It's interesting to note that this is breeze block construction for the walls possibly with the cavities filled with concrete by the looks of it.

Huge place, looks like some one must use it though. Great looking site.

very nice mate well done, looks interesting

Nice one mate Its been 19 years since I was last down there and I must admit I never thought to have a look for concrete goodies on Portland, beats the lighthouse hands down. Thanks for posting

Fencing possibly just to stop animals / folk from accidentally falling into the gun pits?

A lot of the old emplacements around here are on farmland, so they've mostly just been taken over by the farm animals seeking shelter.

Thanks for the report

Nice set of pics thanks

Nice pics mate.
Im sure they are privately owned as last time i was down there we got a stern telling off by who i assume was the owner.
There is loads to see on portland if you go there again.

That's a rather nice set of ww2 concrete there Pies.