Shoreham’s WWII Gunnery Training Dome: A Hidden Historical Landmark

A green dome, situated on scrubland adjacent to Shoreham Airport, is obscured by trees and tall grass and marked with graffiti. This structure has become an enigmatic landmark in Sussex. Despite thousands of individuals driving past the deteriorating edifice next to the A27 daily, its historical significance remains largely unknown. The BBC was granted exclusive entry to the dome to investigate its crucial function in safeguarding Britain throughout World War Two. On a cold, yet not frosty, November morning, the ground was damp underfoot as the grass was traversed, leading to the sighting of Shoreham’s gunnery training dome emerging from behind overgrown hedges. Stuart Magowan, managing director of The Civil Engineering Practice, described it as “an amazing structure.” His company obtained the land where the dome is located during the construction of the adjacent New Monks Farm housing development. Magowan stated, “It was used to train anti-aircraft gunners to protect the coast of the UK.” In May 1943, a total of 43 such training domes were constructed across the nation; currently, only six are still standing. Stuart elaborated that “When it was first built, it would’ve been camouflaged against enemy attack.” He added that “[Inside] would have been a plastered wall all the way around the top, painted white, and a projector unit and a fake gun.” The objective of these domes was to provide RAF trainees with an immersive ‘virtual reality’ experience. A film depicting enemy aircraft was projected onto the 40ft (12.2m) ceiling of the dome, requiring trainees to ‘shoot’ at them using dummy guns. Trainees were instructed to aim for yellow dots positioned in front of the aircraft images. Subsequently, they would wear yellow glasses, which rendered the dots invisible, thereby aiding their training for operating anti-aircraft guns in actual combat. To replicate authentic battle conditions, the dome incorporated very loud sound effects. Stuart commented, “It would’ve been intense.” He further remarked, “It’s something [the soldiers] wouldn’t really have seen before. We’re quite used to video games, but it would’ve been quite phenomenal at the time.” Currently, however, the dome remains vacant, its floor consisting of mud and strewn with various pieces of debris. Stuart noted that “When it was part of the airport, it was very difficult to gain access.” He added, “Now it’s come outside the estate, it’s more accessible. We’re hoping we can get some fundraising and move on with some restoration.” He concluded, “I think [people] have no idea about the heritage of this place.” For many decades, this significant piece of Second World War history has been overlooked by passers-by. With the passage of time, Shoreham’s dome faces the danger of becoming one of the 37 similar structures that have not been preserved. For further updates, follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.