WWII Airfields to be Listed

Check out http://www.driffieldaerodrome.co.uk/heritage/english-heritage-pages/english-heritage01.htm (Part of my website), which details all those buildings which are now listed and also my concerns for the future of those that are not.

Yes, agree with Charlielima5 in that protection is not guaranteed. Only that due consideration is to be given for the history of a site before any re-development takes place.

But it’s a start – well done to all those involved in the process.

‘Protection’ for a listed building means that any proposed demolition or alteration of the building requires listed building consent. The protection applies to the building and, usually, also its immediate surroundings (to the extent that the ‘setting’ of the listed building is affected by the proposed development). The planners will take in to account the historic significance of the building and the site around it when they consider any application. As far as I can see the ‘listing’ applies only to the buildings under discussion and not to entire airfields although there could be discussion as to how far the curtelage or immediate surroundings of, say, a listed WWI hangar, actually extend.

Excitement

Yes, agree with Charlielima5 in that protection is not guaranteed. Only that due consideration is to be given for the history of a site before any re-development takes place.

But it’s a start – well done to all those involved in the process.

Agreed – but its a long story why it has taken this long. When I first started exploring this previously neglected aspect of historic aviation in the early 1980s, very few took the situation seriously and only a very small number of pre-WW2 buildings (eg at Croydon, Hendon and Duxford) were Listed.

Even though Listing does not guarantee the survival of any building, it is an important process and it is now very gratifying to see English Heritage, the DCMS and other official bodies (even the RAF and MoD) recognising the significance of aircraft hangars, control towers and other structures.

Its a shame this didnt happen earlier! RAF Syerston hadent be altered or built on since WW2, but in 1997 most of the site inc a few hangers were buldozed 😡 🙁 All thats left is blding 58 (Hblock) and 2 Jtype hangers
Shame

i reckon kirton in lindsey (former raiper barraks) should be one to be preserved too it as all main building’s ,tower ,hangers and even the grass runways and it too was used in the BoB
poss others to Consider J type at elsham wolds various building i.e 3 pill box’s battle HQ at goxhill.

also davidstow moor in cornwall it’s quite an amazing site and a unique feature regarding runways and all hardstandings from the air among the rough landscaping.

Can we get Middle Wallop on it – the least altered BoB airfield still in service use (still a big patch of grass with pop up pill boxes in situ).

I’m suprised Biggin Hill didn’t get a mention. Maybe it’s use as an airport already protects it to a certian extent.

don’t worry – it’s been included:

(From the list)
BIGGIN HILL
London Borough of Bromley
Britain’s most celebrated fighter station. It retains a particularly fine officers’ mess of 1934 and a good group of technical and domestic buildings (mostly 1930-34). The latter include the best-preserved married quarters group associated with a nationally-important site. The flying field, with later runways, retains defence posts and fighter pens from 1939.

Some further details are given here:- http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/press_notices/archive_2005/DCMS_171.htm

Not quite clear which specific buildings are affected at each airfield mentioned though……but even so, this is a very significant development in the preservation of England’s decreasing number of historic airfield buildings – never have so many been listed at one time before!

I’m suprised Biggin Hill didn’t get a mention. Maybe it’s use as an airport already protects it to a certian extent.

Would be nice to see North Weald added to the list

Quite agree.
I believe that only the bunker will be Grade I listed every thing else is Grade II.
RAF Bicester has been listed for a while.