Bofors Gun at Hamble Point is accessible again
The World War Two anti-aircraft gun overlooking the beach at Hamble Point can once again be enjoyed as work on the new emplacement has been completed
The Bofors Gun has now been mounted on a new concrete base on part of the adjoining car park. The gun emplacement’s wartime role was to guard the approach to Southampton and protect nearby oil terminals. Damage caused by years of buffeting by tides and wind, and undercutting by the sea, means the original gun emplacement structure has been breaking up and there was a very real risk of collapse.
The gun has also been repainted by Hamble volunteers, who are in charge of maintaining it, and a new information board provides the background and history of the gun.
Cllr Tonia Craig, who chairs Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound Local Area Committee, said: “The Bofors Gun at Hamble Point is an important part of the area’s wartime heritage and a real point of interest for visitors. It's fantastic that we were able to the rescue it from damage by the tides and it is now accessible again and can be enjoyed by local people.”
Discussions with Heritage England are ongoing regarding the future of the original gun emplacement.