~ Before 1982 ~
The dunes and heathland at Studland Bay have been used by
nudists since early in the twentieth century. Some famous names are believed to have roamed au naturel through
the beautiful wilderness, including George Bernard Shaw, Lytton Strachey and
Enid Blyton (who based the PC Plod character in her Noddy stories on Studland's
village policeman of the day, as well as using local settings for her "Famous
Five" stories).
The long hot summer of 1976 provided the stimulus for
nudists to come out from the dunes onto the open beach and thus, what many
regard as the finest nudist area in Britain was established.
~ After 1982 ~
In 1982, on the death of Ralph Bankes, the land was bequeathed
to the National Trust who erected
signs on the beach and adopted a policy of restricting nudists.
In 1984 mounted police officers shipped down from Bristol at phenomenal expense to trample through the dunes
and harass single male nudists.
In 1988 the National Trust removed the advisory notices that existed
at the main entrances to the beach
warning casual walkers that they may encounter
naturists in the area.
In 1995 National Trust instituted more
draconian restrictions
and 'The Studland Rebellion' began!
Below, year by year, we set out links to the story so far...
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