I had the chance to visit Bentley Priory today, as part of a party from the Battle Of Britain Historical Society. Here are a few of the shots I took, mostly outside ones, as shooting inside proved difficult due to the size of the rooms etc.
I can well recommend a visit if you get the chance. The interior is amazing, both in terms of architecture, and the contents (pictures/silverware/relics).
Geoff.
By: Seafuryfan - 15th May 2006 at 22:53
Hi Geoff,
(Line 1) “I was wrong about the Poles…”
(Line 1) “Thats why I wrote it”
By: Colin Wingrave - 15th May 2006 at 21:04
From memory I think it was an extention to the existing bunker, I also remember seeing the steps leading to the old bunker but I never got a chance to take a look.
I did stand and look towards london over the ceders though 😀
By: PeterW - 14th May 2006 at 23:03
No, tell all! I’ve always wanted to find out. Doubt it matters now as the place is up for sale.
By: Colin Wingrave - 14th May 2006 at 13:28
I better keep quiet then !!!
By: PeterW - 14th May 2006 at 12:29
Hi Geoff, that brings back memorys for me, I worked at BP during 1985 or 86 on the new bunker, glad to see not much has changed apart from the plastic Spit and Hurri, are the pine trees still out the back? the ones you see in the BoB film with Dowding looking over London.
I remember when that bunker was being built the local paper ran a story asking what was being built. The MOD denied anything was being built so the following week the paper had loads of pics of lorries coming and going. It all went a bit quiet after that!
By: Colin Wingrave - 14th May 2006 at 09:14
Hi Geoff, that brings back memorys for me, I worked at BP during 1985 or 86 on the new bunker, glad to see not much has changed apart from the plastic Spit and Hurri, are the pine trees still out the back? the ones you see in the BoB film with Dowding looking over London.
By: Growler - 14th May 2006 at 05:16
Great pictures, Geoff, you are a privilaged guy!
There was a thread a little while ago about the Southern Railway’s distinctive Battle of Britain class steam locomotives, with “Tangmere” still operating on the main line. The last photo of the first post shows six of the nameplates from these:
34050 Royal Observer Corps
34052 Lord Dowding
34055 Fighter Pilot
34064 Fighter Command
34065 Hurricane
34066 Spitfire
Beneath the names each carried an oval plaque with an appropriate coat of arms. The names originally had an Air Force blue background, as can be seen on “Royal Observer Corps”.
The Great Western Railway also named a number of their Castle Class after RAF BoB aircraft.
By: FtrPlt - 13th May 2006 at 22:46
Great Pics
Geoff,
Thanks for posting the images! I’ve played around with Photoshop and (hopefully) put the aircraft into motion a bit. Bentley Priory should be complete with aircraft beating up the place (IMO, anyway)!
By: EN830 - 13th May 2006 at 21:46
Buy, sell, no buy, no sell, bye.
By: Geoff K - 13th May 2006 at 21:34
I didn’t hear anything myself Peter, let’s hope something can be arranged.
Geoff.
By: Geoff K - 13th May 2006 at 21:27
The entrance to the underground Operations Block, now disused, and three shots from inside Lord Dowdings office. In the view of the back of the house, this office is where the two windows with the closed white shutters can be seen. Captions are invited for the last image 😮
Geoff.
By: PeterW - 13th May 2006 at 21:25
Thanks for the pics.
Was lucky enough to go a few years ago, a really interesting place. Would make for a great forum day out.
Did they say much about plans for the future of the place?
Peter
By: EN830 - 13th May 2006 at 21:23
Nice shots Geoff, funny to see that the replica Spitfire is wearing 317 Sqn codes, as per BM597.
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May 13, 2006 at 9:13 pm