Hendon control tower

A very quick Google and Hey Presto :rolleyes:

Brian

Does anyone have pictures of inside the control tower and remaining buildings?

Sadsack – “I commend the restoration of the GW hangar, but surely it would have been cheaper to buy the land between and have a much bigger site?”

Definately not the case, land values there are astronomic, that is why it was cost-effective for the developers to foot the bill for the hangar move.

I dont think they woulkd have ever considerd extending Hendon anyway, the control tower may become part of the museum but space is so limited at the site whilst Cosford has room to expand.

As for living in a control tower the old tower at Bradwell Bay in Essex was converted to a house sadly this is now empty and decaying, not much call for living a few houndred feet from a Necular Power station.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/

Can’t see how to apply for this year though there sia guide on there for doing a project off your own bat.

Would have made an ideal candidate for that restoration program that was on tv last year. Will there be another series? I vaguely recall that last year’s was the second series, perhaps this could be put forward for the third series – would get my vote.

Stuart

re:

This has been a sore point with me for many years

By selling off the site the RAF has finished any chance of future expansion.

I commend the restoration of the GW hangar, but surely it would have been cheaper to buy the land between and have a much bigger site?

I am apalled nothing has been done about the tower, its not just a tower it is also The RFC officers Mess and theatre, the sign is still on the door “Graham White players” (or it was last time I was there)

The interior oozes atmosphere.

Its scandolous a replica tower is indoors while this incredible building rots away. The theatre is timber so it would be easy to repair. The tower has a magnificent hotel type staircase which is intact.

There was a derelict Bedford there as well, about 2 years ago.

In the Tower the messages written by former airmen are really evocative – one says “thanks for the memories 1945”

Considering how long its been empty, the buiulding is in remarkable condition.

Here is an interesting link for all your control tower conversion fantasies.

http://worldwar2airfields.fotopic.net/

Oh well, thanks for that! I’m glad that it is possibly going to be preserved. It would be a shame to demolish it.

Paul

Doesn’t Nick Trudgian live in airfield buildings or a watch office somewhere?

Or, as usual, am I completely off track?

Regards,

kev35

Hi all,
On the subject of living in control towers, there is a bloke who lives in the old control tower at Honeybourne in Worcestershire. I also once read an article in the Times about a woman who had bought an entire airfield somewhere in the outer Hebrides and lived in the control tower.

Thanks
Stuart

I quite like the idea of a luxury apartment made out of a control tower. Sounds quite cool.

It is to be preserved. The plan is to move it closer to the museum complex when the necessary deal can be put in place.

If so, then it will be interesting to see how they get around the fact that this is a Grade 2 Listed building and is – I believe – Britain’s oldest surviving Watch Office (= Control Tower) which dates from around 1915…..