Lepe Country Park is situated on the southern edge of The New Forest National Park overlooking the western Solent and the Isle of Wight.

These days it is an ideal place for birdwatching, waterwports, walking and exploring the seashore but it played a significant part in the run up to D-Day and the invasion of Normandy

In the 1800s after years of smuggling in the area, the Coast Guard Cottages and Watch House were built, housing the Preventative Officers and their boat.

All that remains at Lepe Country Park of ‘Dolphins’ which formed part of the pierhead used to load ships departing for Normandy

Slipways. Eight concrete slipways run from the rolling track walls to the sea. These were used to launch the caissons at high tide

Slipways. Eight concrete slipways run from the rolling track walls to the sea. These were used to launch the caissons at high tide

The Concrete Road was built to take troops , supplies and materials from Stanswood Lane to the construction and embarkation sites on the beach.

Bollards used to tie up the ships that were being loaded for the D-Day invasion of Normandy in France

In the 1800s after years of smuggling in the area, the Coast Guard Cottages and Watch House were built, housing the Preventative Officers and their boat.

Light house at Lepe Country Park

In the 1800s after years of smuggling in the area, the Coast Guard Cottages and Watch House were built, housing the Preventative Officers and their boat.

Lepe

was a vital embarkation point for troops, vehicles and supplies. Around 6,000 men left Lepe to take part in the Normandy invasion. This was a key turning point in  the war in North West Europe

The allies developed temporary harbours to offload cargo on the beaches to support the invasion on Normandy.

They were made up of different sections including floating piers, sunken ships and giant concrete ‘caissons’.  These were watertight structures which blocked the wind and waves.

Stansore Point was used for the construction of six ‘B2 Phoenix’ type caissons. These were then floated across the channel for use during the invasion.

Lepe was also a link in the pipeline under the ocean codenamed PLUTO.

A pump house situated here pumped oil to the Isle of Wight. From here it went to the French coast where it was needed to fuel the war effort.