Middle Beach, Dorset

Entrance to Middle Beach.

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 steps to Middle 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]

References

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