Corfe Mullen evacuations prompted by WW2 bomb find

Homes, businesses, and a school were evacuated, and roads closed after a WW2 bomb was discovered in a quarry in Dorset. The device, believed to date back to the war, was found by a worker at Henbury Quarry in Corfe Mullen on Tuesday morning.

The incident

A 1,000-meter (0.62-mile) exclusion zone was swiftly established around the quarry on Old Market Road to ensure public safety. An RAF bomb disposal team was called to the scene, and the device was safely destroyed in a controlled explosion shortly after 10:15 GMT.

To support those affected, a rest centre was set up at the Memorial Hall in Sturminster Marshall. Staff and pupils from Castle Court School, located within the exclusion zone, were relocated to another site as a precaution.

Disposing of the WW2 bomb

Brimstone spoke with the 5131 (BD) Squadron to better understand the disposal technique used for this historic item of ordnance. The RAF opted for a low-order detonation method to neutralise the device, which turned out to be a concrete-filled experimental creation by Barnes Wallis. Fortunately, this type of UXB posed a lower risk than others often discovered in the UK.

The legacy of WW2 UXO

Incidents like this highlight the enduring presence of WW2 bombs across the UK. Bombs and other munitions were often abandoned or lost during wartime, and their discovery can cause significant disruption. Such events underscore the importance of expert UXO risk management and disposal services.

Brimstone UXO disposal services

As one of the UK’s few UXO contractors holding a police “acquire and keep” license, Brimstone is uniquely equipped to handle unexploded ordnance safely and efficiently. This license enables us to purchase serviceable explosives, store them in our magazine, and conduct demolitions at short notice. Our capabilities include:

• Time-Expired Pyrotechnics Destruction: Safe disposal of aged and unstable pyrotechnic products.
• Explosives Demolition: Neutralising out-of-tolerance explosives quickly and effectively.
• Controlled Explosions: Ensuring public safety during UXO removal.

Learn more about our comprehensive UXO disposal services here.

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