History

Ringstead Bay is steeped in history. From the remnants of a 14th Century Medieval Fishing Village, which was wiped out by the Black Death, and Ringstead’s role as a key smuggling spot in the 18th century, to the presence of a chain home radar station, RAF Ringstead, situated in the Bay, which played a pivotal part in air defences during World War II.

The Campsite is located in the American field, so named due to its links with the United States Air Force (USAF). In 1961, the USAF built a Tropospheric scatter station on the field with two large masts, which formed part of their world wide (remove space in world wide) early warning system. The station was decommissioned in 1973 when the technology was replaced by satellites. There was no access to the facility except by invitation to selected locals, who enjoyed the Americans’ generous hospitality.

The field was part of RAF Ringstead, which was a radar station commissioned in 1941 during World War II when radar played a very important role in the air defence of the UK. When war was declared, a string of radar stations by the code name of “Chain Home” were erected along the coast from Cornwall in the West to Suffolk in the East. The reception building for the Campsite is the former Armoury of RAF Ringstead.

Further back in time, the area was inhabited by “dinosaurs”. This was confirmed by the discovery of a Pliosaurus skull, which was found 2 miles to the west of the Campsite. The skull can be viewed at the Dorset Museum.