Decades of dumped waste and rubble at Middle Beach in Studland, Dorset, is now being exposed after the coastal defences were removed and the sandy cliffs have started to erode.
The government policy of managed retreat means rural areas like Studland will no longer be protected from coastal erosion by man made sea defences and nature will be allowed to take its course, however at Middle Beach this has thrown up a number of unexpected surprises.
Locals have been shocked by the rubbish that has appeared on Middle Beach but it has revealed more about the beach’s history
Plastic, glass, rusty metal and low grade asbestos
It was known before the sea defences were removed in September 2025, that part of the National Trust-owned land was used in the past to dump rubbish, but only now is the full extent being revealed.
While plastic, glass, rusty metal and even low grade asbestos sheeting has had to be removed, there have also been some interesting historic finds which tell more about the beach’s defences in World War Two and as the rehearsal ground for the D-Day landings.
The beach is currently closed to the general public due to the sharp and dangerous nature of some of the rubbish and National Trust volunteers are removing the worst of the waste on a regular basis.
Swanage Museum
Pictured on the far right of this 1941 picture is a toilet block which it’s believed was later abandoned and filled with litter
Discovered in late 2025, it’s believed these are the remains of the Victorian toilet block
Bathroom tiles, fragments of sanitaryware and old red bricks
Interesting and historic finds
There is also a heritage and archaeology team of National Trust volunteers led by Pam White which is documenting the interesting discoveries.
Pam, who has a degree in heritage conservation, spent 26 years as a learning and engagement officer at Corfe Castle before retiring and has a lifelong passion for archaeology.
Pam White said:
“I work with the National Trust countryside manager and we have a small team who get involved with documenting things of historical significance as they occur.
“This is one of the most fascinating projects and has revealed not only the usual old rubbish like bottles and pottery fragments but the remains of a 1900s toilet block.
“We believe it was built around 1900 to cater for the increase in the number of tourists but was abandoned around the 1950s. We think beachgoers must have left their litter in the toilet block, as we have found things like old crisp packets.
“I think the 5p KP crisp bag is one of my favourite finds as it reminds me of my childhood and picnics on the beach.
“We’ve also discovered lots of building rubble including old Purbeck stone, which we believe came from some derelict cottages in Studland village and a barn called the Great Barn, which used to be part of what is now Manor Farm.
“Back in the 1960s they were all demolished and it looks as if the stone was used to shore up old buildings at Middle Beach, which have long disappeared including a beach shop.
“Elsewhere, we have found several pairs of women’s tights from around the 1970s – we can only imagine how they got there!”
Pam White and her team have removed items of historical interest from the beach
The KP crisps bag is one of her favourite finds
There’s no mistaking where this brick came from!
Old gabion sea defences removed
Buildings at Middle Beach including the much loved cafe had been at risk of subsidence for many years as the old gabions – metal baskets of stones – rusted away.
In preparation for the removal of these sea defences, the cafe was controversially demolished in April 2023 and replaced with a cafe, the Sandy Salt Pig, further back in the Middle Beach car park.
At the end of the summer in 2025, and once all reptiles had been relocated, the bulldozers moved in and removed not only the gabions but also the old concrete slipway and scaffolding poles used to stop people climbing on the sea defences.
These dragons teeth, now on their side, would have stopped any enemy tank invasion, along with others still in position on Studland’s coastline
The roof of the World War Two pillbox bunker has been rediscovered
Old bits of metal could be left over from the war, while the Bovril jar is probably a later find
Relics of World War Two
In the process, this has revealed relics of World War Two – concrete dragons teeth which it’s believed were originally further back but moved forward as a sea defence, and the remains of a concrete pillbox bunker.
The dragons teeth were positioned along the coastline during World War Two to prevent an enemy tank invasion.
They are now clearly visible on the beach and it’s expected they will be left there for their historical interest.
Swanage Museum
It’s believed when the Great Barn in Studland village was demolished, the stone was tipped on the beach probably around the 1960s, to shore up a beach shop building
Middle Beach before the gabions and slipway were removed in September 2025
Middle Beach in December 2025 after the gabions and slipway were removed, revealing building rubble
“Makes recent history really tangible”
National Trust general manager for Purbeck, Tracey Churcher said:
“We’ve been talking about the future of Middle Beach but we’ve actually been finding out more about its past. By revealing the dragons teeth, it makes recent history really tangible.
“The Bankes estate had most of the war defences including scaffolding poles removed from the beach but we are still finding some of the old debris.
“We had a specialist contractor remove some asbestos sheeting early on in the process, and are continuing to undertake daily cleaning of the beach to remove rubbish.
“The plan is to assess the situation after the end of the winter storms – let winter do its thing – and then see what more we need to remove of the rubble and what can safely stay.
“In the meantime, we’re keeping Middle Beach closed for safety. There are items being revealed by the erosion, which may be unexpected, like sharp glass and jagged bits of rusty metal. We don’t want anyone including children or dogs, to hurt themselves.
“The good news is that the sand on the beach has risen by about one metre by the Middle Beach beach huts since the gabions were removed. Due to longshore drift, that sand will make its way north and eventually replenish the sand dunes at Shell Beach.
“We’re also recording more birdlife at Middle Beach as a larger feeding area is being created, which is great for nature.”
The popular Middle Beach cafe was demolished in April 2023
September 2025, the diggers move in to remove the gabions and slipway
Further information