Middle Beach, Dorset Explained

Middle Beach is a small beach on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. The beach is located north of Studland and is owned by the National Trust.[1]

Beach

The beach has views of Poole from across Studland Bay and Poole Harbour.[2]

Café

A café has stood in the same spot since 1904 and the current building opened in 1953.[3] In 2016, when the National Trust announced that they would be moving the café and public toilets to higher ground due to "coastal erosion and subsidence", 3,000 people signed a petition opposing the move.[4] Plans to demolish the café were later rejected by a vote of National Trust members at their annual general meeting.[5] In November 2022 the café was condemned to be demolished after the lease on the property ran out.[6] The café closed for the final time on 2 January 2023.[7] [8] After its demolition the National Trust was accused of turning the beach in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty into a "bomb site" and an "eyesore".[9] In 2024, the planned removal of the pumping station, retaining wall and sea defences will take place.[10]

Unexploded devices

On 31 December 2021, police closed the car park after a World War I grenade was uncovered.[11] On 4 August 2022, an unexploded World War II shell was found on Middle Beach and was detonated by Royal Navy's bomb disposal team.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision . 2022-11-18 . Dorset Echo . en.
  2. Web site: Middle Beach Studland . 2022-11-18 . Dorset Guide . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision . 2022-11-18 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  4. Web site: Middle Beach café to stay while National Trust explores ‘all options’ . 2022-11-18 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  5. News: 2016-10-25 . Middle Beach Cafe protesters lose National Trust vote . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-11-18.
  6. Web site: Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision . 2022-11-18 . uk.news.yahoo.com . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision . 2022-11-18 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  8. Web site: "An institution": Sadness as much-loved and historic café closes . 2023-01-03 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  9. Web site: 2023-08-21 . Demolished beach cafe site branded 'a horror show' . 2023-12-28 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  10. Web site: 2023-12-18 . Work to begin in new year at site of demolished popular cafe . 2023-12-28 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  11. Web site: Beach car park closed off and bomb disposal called after hand grenade found . 2022-11-18 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  12. News: 2022-08-04 . Unexploded WW2 shell found on Middle Beach in Studland detonated . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-11-18.

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