Middle Beach, Dorset
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]
![](../I/Studland_%252C_Middle_Beach_Car_Park_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1712570.jpg.webp)
Beach
![](../I/Studland_Beach_%252C_Steps_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1712576.jpg.webp)
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]
Unexploded devices
On 31 December 2021, police closed the car park after a World War I grenade was uncovered.[9] 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.[10]
References
- "Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Middle Beach Studland". Dorset Guide. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Middle Beach café to stay while National Trust explores 'all options'". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Middle Beach Cafe protesters lose National Trust vote". BBC News. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- ""An institution": Sadness as much-loved and historic café closes". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- "Beach car park closed off and bomb disposal called after hand grenade found". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- "Unexploded WW2 shell found on Middle Beach in Studland detonated". BBC News. 2022-08-04. Retrieved 2022-11-18.