Lepe, Hampshire

Lepe Country Park is based on the North Western Coast of the Solent Waterway and runs from Stanswood Bay to the mouth of the Beaulieu River.

Lepe was once one of the main ports in the Solent but was wiped out of existence by a great storm in the seventeenth century resulting in the untimely demise of the related fishing community.

The remnants of this village can still be seen via traversing one of the country parks walkways.

From the cliff tops above the beach, commanding views of the Western Solent can be achieved resulting in a lookout position for Solent Rescue Independent Lifeboat station being placed there.

To the west of Lepe, at gbmapping|SZ435985 lies Inchmery Quay.

Lepe and D-Day, 1944

Prior to the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, Lepe was used as a secret manufacturing site. Six massive concrete caissons (type B2 Phoenix breakwaters) were built here and later towed across the English Channel where they formed part of the artificial Mulberry harbours after D-Day. Lepe was also one of the many places on the south coast of England used for the embarkation of troops and equipment for the invasion. Concrete mats like big chocolate blocks were used to reinforce the shingle beach for heavy traffic. Some of these mats can still be seen today along with pier remnants, bollards and various concrete and brick structures. Lepe was also the point where PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) left the mainland. It carried fuel across the Isle of Wight and under the English Channel to the Allied forces in Normandy and beyond.

References

"D-Day at Lepe" - Pamphlet. Hampshire County Council.