Broad Bench

Broad Bench
Broadbench
Headland
Photograph
View from the South West Coast Path
Interactive map of Broad Bench
Coordinates: 50°36′31″N 2°08′47″W / 50.608515°N 2.146285°W / 50.608515; -2.146285
Grid positionSY 897 787
LocationKimmeridge, Dorset, England
Part ofJurassic Coast
Water bodiesKimmeridge Bay (west) and Hobarrow Bay (east)
GeologyKimmeridgian
Defining authority
Ministry of Defence
OperatorMinistry of Defence

Broad Bench (aka Broadbench) is a headland on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England. It is on the South West Coast Path and within the Lulworth Ranges, so access is restricted.

To the west is Hobarrow Bay and to the east is Kimmeridge Bay. The area is interesting geologically. The Lower Kimmeridge Clay layer is exposed from about the middle of Kimmeridge Bay to Broad Bench, and then beyond west.

The sea in the area has been favoured by surfers. There have been protests by surfers due to Ministry of Defence restrictions to access. The waves can be up to 15 feet in height.

There is a CCTV camera on top of Broad Bench. Access is not allowed when red flags are flying since the area has been used for army exercises since World War II.

The Flats

On the west side of the headland are The Flats, a solid rock ledge just above sea level. Broad Bench provides an excellent exposure of the yellow Dolomite Bed with expansion megapolygons. It has been described as "persistent tabular cementstone cut by polygonal network of low angle thrusts", at the top of the eudoxus zone. It is actually a ferroan dolomite. It includes a combination of ammonites from the Aulacostephanus eudoxus and autissiodorensis group.

Charnel

Charnel at the west end of Kimmeridge Bay with Broad Bench beyond

Charnel is halfway along the Broad Bench headland on the east (Kimmeridge Bay) side. It is at the border of the Lulworth Ranges. It is now not accessible to the public.

It was previously the location of the Kimmeridge Lifeboat Station from 1868 to 1896. A Type 25 pillbox from World War II is located here, built during 1940–1. It is circular and constructed of concrete, with corrugated iron shuttering. A flagpole was erected here on the top of the cliff in 1843.

There is a geological fault in the rocks near Charnel.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Broadbench". Discovering Britain. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Kimmeridge Bay (Gaulter Gap–Broad Bench), Dorset". Save the Waves Coalition. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 West, Ian (2014). "Kimmeridge, West, to Brandy Bay and Gaf Cliff". Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England. UK: University of Southampton. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Broadbench, United Kingdom". Save the Waves Coalition. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "Surfers protest over MoD wave ban". BBC News. UK: BBC. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "SY8978 : Charnel, at the western extreme of Kimmeridge Bay". Geograph. UK. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 West, Ian (2018). "Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset". Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England. UK: University of Southampton. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  8. ↑ Cox, B.M.; Gallois, R.W. (1981). The stratigraphy of the Kimmeridge Clay of the Dorset type area and its correlation with some other Kimmeridgian sequences (Report). UK: Institute of Geological Sciences.
  9. 1 2 "Charnel". Tyneham & Worbarrow ... where time stopped in 1943. UK. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "Dorset LV.12". Maps. UK: National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  11. ↑ "Monument record MWX1443 – Second World War Type 25 pillbox, Charnel, Kimmeridge Bay, Steeple with Tyneham". Dorset Heritage Explorer. UK. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Monument record MWX4423 – Charnel, Tyneham: Flagstaff". Dorset Heritage Explorer. UK. Retrieved 4 September 2026.