2014

TF8325 : Air Ministry pillbox

taken 9 years ago, 3 km from Pockthorpe, Norfolk, England

Air Ministry pillbox
Air Ministry pillbox
This hexagonal brick-built pillbox is unique to RAF Raynham with its gun mountings > Link still in place. It guarded RAF West Raynham during WW2. For an interior view see > Link.
RAF West Raynham

RAF West Raynham was opened in May 1939 and initially formed part of 2 Group RAF, Bomber Command. In December 1943 the station was taken over by 100 Group, Bomber Support, and in the 1950s it came under the Central Fighter Establishment. In the mid-1960s, Bloodhound missiles and associated radars were installed on the eastern side of the flying field.

The airfield was closed in June 1994, and in 2004 it was decided that the base would play no future role in the defence of the country. It was sold in 2006, and in 2008 planning permission was granted for the construction of 58 houses and for the hangars to be converted into 20 loft-style holiday apartments.

Sadly, a proposal for listing the C-type hangars as well as the Parachute store, Sick quarters, Water tower, Heating plant, Station headquarters and a number of other substantial buildings on the Technical site was withdrawn by English Heritage.

The site is currently managed by FW Properties of Norwich and a number of residential buildings have since been renovated for private use whilst most of the buildings on the Technical site are in industrial use. In 2014, planning permission was obtained by Good Energy for the installation of a 49.9MW solar farm on the flying field. See also: Link

This shared description about RAF West Raynham was compiled by Evelyn Simak.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Defence, Military
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Gun Mounting [3] · Interior [2] Other Photos: · Pillbox embrasure with gun mounting ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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Grid Square
TF8325, 18 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Evelyn Simak   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Sunday, 30 November, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 30 November, 2014
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TF 8359 2511 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:47.5391N 0:43.2810E
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TF 8357 2510
View Direction
East-northeast (about 67 degrees)
Clickable map
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NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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