The familiar sight of the towering grain silo at Worth Matravers in Dorset, has gone, after a structural engineer deemed it unsafe and said the roof panels were in danger of being blown away.
The disused silo which was an unmissable landmark in the Purbeck landscape since the 1960s, was part of Weston Farm, which was bought by the National Trust in 2022.
The Boythorpe Cropstore silo – agricultural architecture from the 1960s
The silo has started to be reduced in height…
…and now it’s gone!
Rusting grain silo
At a height of 15 metres (50 feet) and a diameter of eight metres (26 feet), the silo known as a Boythorpe Cropstore would have been used to store grain such as barley, wheat and oats, but hadn’t been used for many years prior to the sale of the 350 acre farm.
Since 2022, the National Trust has been returning the fields to nature on the 350 acre farm, allowing species-rich grasslands, wildflower meadows, scrub and woodland to emerge.
In the past, the farm could only grow crops on the limestone fields by using large quantities of phosphate fertilizers, some of which would inevitably end up in the sea and watercourses to the detriment of wildlife.
The farm buildings are not in use anymore and although there are plans to restore some of the original buildings, the rusting grain silo could not be saved and was carefully dismantled during the week ending Friday 11th April 2025.
Each section was removed by drilling through the rusty fixings
Just the base now remains
“Doing nothing isn’t an option”
A National Trust spokesperson said:
“Following a survey by a structural engineer, the National Trust has taken the decision to dismantle the grain silo at Weston Farm, Worth Matravers.
“The silo, which stands about 15m high, hasn’t been used for many years. It was built in the early 1960s and made of sections of enamelled steel.
“But, as with other silos of the period, the sheet fasteners were not galvanised, and they are now rusted to such a degree that their strength is compromised. In addition, drone footage shows that the plastic roof is cracking, and previous repairs are corroding.
“The engineer therefore concluded that the structure of the silo is unsafe and that doing nothing isn’t an option. He also reported that in the last 12 months, roof panels have blown off two similar silos during gales in Shropshire and Anglesey.”
Sunset over the silo
The towering inferno of Worth Matravers!
“Very sad to lose the silo”
While many in the village are sorry to see part of their agricultural heritage go, the National Trust says it did hold two public information sessions and outlined its plans in articles in the parish magazine The Dubber.
It also says it did consult with Dorset Council who raised no concerns about the dismantling of the grain silo.
National Trust general manager for Purbeck, Tracey Churcher said:
“Of course, it’s very sad to lose the silo which has been a familiar landmark for so long. However, its current condition means we don’t really have any other option but to dismantle it, we cannot risk public safety.
“We have no practical use for it and there is no simple repair option given that the failed sheet fasteners are throughout the entire structure.”
The milking parlour by Bonvils Road is to be converted
Potential to provide accessible holiday accommodation
Milking parlour to be converted
There’s better news for the old milking parlour which was granted planning permission on Monday 14th April 2025, to be changed into offices and a community room, alongside accessible showers and a laundry room for the Weston Farm campsite.
There’s also a long term plan to convert a bungalow on the farm into accessible holiday accommodation but the work to save the milking parlour buildings is first on the National Trust to-do list.
All that remains of the silo
The rusty panels have all been dismantled
Further information
- More about Weston Farm motorhome park and campsite
- Read the plans to convert the old milking parlour
