History:
The Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force airfield at Kirton in Lindsey was used during the First World War from December 1916 to June 1919. Although referred to as Kirton Lindsey this airfield was actually outside the town, north along the B1398. The airfield was used by B Flight of 33 Squadron from nearby Gainsborough until June 1918; 33 Squadron was a home defence squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s.
In 1966, control of Kirton in Lindsey was transferred to the British Army. In 1972 the site was passed on to the Royal Artillery and the station was renamed 'Napier Barracks'. In 2004, 22 Regiment Royal Artillery left Kirton in Lindsey, to be absorbed into 39 Regiment at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland.
In 2004, the station was returned to RAF control and became the home of No. 1 Air Control Centre (No. 1 ACC), a deployable Air Surveillance and Control System, which relocated from RAF Boulmer. The unit refurbished the hangars and associated buildings on the technical site, as well as reopening the Junior Ranks accommodation and Mess. Across the road the historic Officers' Mess was reopened as a Combined Officers, Warrant Officers, and SNCOs' Mess. The associated Service Families Accommodation was also occupied as well as the Gymnasium. In 2005, the opening of the Control and Reporting Centre at nearby RAF Scampton increased personnel numbers significantly. Junior Ranks from both stations were accommodated on the RAF Kirton in Lindsey technical site, SNCOs re-occupied the former SNCOs Mess at RAF Scampton.
In 2012, the technical site was vacated when No. 1 ACC moved to RAF Scampton. During the same period the Junior Ranks Mess, accommodation blocks and dental centre were all closed. Junior Ranks were moved to accommodation at RAF Scampton, while the Officers' Mess again became a Combined Mess for Officers, Warrant Officers and SNCOs. The Gym and a number of Service Families Accommodation were retained until 2014 when the final occupants vacated and the houses were handed back to Annington Homes who put them on the open market. The technical site was also sold by the MOD in 2014 to Acorn Recyclers. It is believed that in 2014, Hurricane Industrial park was also formed which uses the old Hangers as warehouses for businesses such as Amazon, Evri and Sports Direct. The technical site, at this time was also being used for Airsoft games. Using Facebook for additional history, the group "Camp Sparta" occupied the site for Airsoft up until 2022. It is believed other airsoft teams have used the site from 2022 up until now however, during our visit, it seems the site is no longer used at all.
Explore:
In June 2024, @jaws and I popped to here to have a quick look about but with presence of cameras and loosing daylight (and it pissing it down.. in June) our explore was cut short. We managed to have a look in some of the barracks and the boiler house, but that was about it really. After seeing some recent reports we decided to pop bac, as it's only down the road, and our main goal was to crack the tower. On our last visit, the tower was locked with a large padlock. There were also cameras on the tower but we suspected this was to do with Airsoft?
Returning a few months later, we found that entry to the site was exactly the same however the cameras were gone and everything had been boarded up with metal sheeting. In that small space of time it seems to have been vandalised quite badly. Graffiti can be found and copper thieves have been in. Every building seemed to be accessible, whereas on our last visit most buildings were locked down.
First thing we did when we got on site was visit the boiler house, then straight to the tower. We didn't think we'd get in however the gate was open! This was very much a highlight for us as we spent a while trying to get into it on our first visit. We then popped over to the Officers Mess which was in a sorry state, we didn't spend a lot of time in here. The ceiling had come through and the floor boards were water damaged. After this we moved onto the "XL Leisure building" which comprised of a canteen, a pub and function room. Again, very nice to see this as we hadn't stumbled across it last time. Very little vandalism in here too which is a rare site these days. After this we moved onto the warehouses, interestingly these had been converted at some point into office spaces, above these offices you can find crane gantries.
Thanks for having a look,
SB
The Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force airfield at Kirton in Lindsey was used during the First World War from December 1916 to June 1919. Although referred to as Kirton Lindsey this airfield was actually outside the town, north along the B1398. The airfield was used by B Flight of 33 Squadron from nearby Gainsborough until June 1918; 33 Squadron was a home defence squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s.
In 1966, control of Kirton in Lindsey was transferred to the British Army. In 1972 the site was passed on to the Royal Artillery and the station was renamed 'Napier Barracks'. In 2004, 22 Regiment Royal Artillery left Kirton in Lindsey, to be absorbed into 39 Regiment at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland.
In 2004, the station was returned to RAF control and became the home of No. 1 Air Control Centre (No. 1 ACC), a deployable Air Surveillance and Control System, which relocated from RAF Boulmer. The unit refurbished the hangars and associated buildings on the technical site, as well as reopening the Junior Ranks accommodation and Mess. Across the road the historic Officers' Mess was reopened as a Combined Officers, Warrant Officers, and SNCOs' Mess. The associated Service Families Accommodation was also occupied as well as the Gymnasium. In 2005, the opening of the Control and Reporting Centre at nearby RAF Scampton increased personnel numbers significantly. Junior Ranks from both stations were accommodated on the RAF Kirton in Lindsey technical site, SNCOs re-occupied the former SNCOs Mess at RAF Scampton.
In 2012, the technical site was vacated when No. 1 ACC moved to RAF Scampton. During the same period the Junior Ranks Mess, accommodation blocks and dental centre were all closed. Junior Ranks were moved to accommodation at RAF Scampton, while the Officers' Mess again became a Combined Mess for Officers, Warrant Officers and SNCOs. The Gym and a number of Service Families Accommodation were retained until 2014 when the final occupants vacated and the houses were handed back to Annington Homes who put them on the open market. The technical site was also sold by the MOD in 2014 to Acorn Recyclers. It is believed that in 2014, Hurricane Industrial park was also formed which uses the old Hangers as warehouses for businesses such as Amazon, Evri and Sports Direct. The technical site, at this time was also being used for Airsoft games. Using Facebook for additional history, the group "Camp Sparta" occupied the site for Airsoft up until 2022. It is believed other airsoft teams have used the site from 2022 up until now however, during our visit, it seems the site is no longer used at all.
Explore:
In June 2024, @jaws and I popped to here to have a quick look about but with presence of cameras and loosing daylight (and it pissing it down.. in June) our explore was cut short. We managed to have a look in some of the barracks and the boiler house, but that was about it really. After seeing some recent reports we decided to pop bac, as it's only down the road, and our main goal was to crack the tower. On our last visit, the tower was locked with a large padlock. There were also cameras on the tower but we suspected this was to do with Airsoft?
Returning a few months later, we found that entry to the site was exactly the same however the cameras were gone and everything had been boarded up with metal sheeting. In that small space of time it seems to have been vandalised quite badly. Graffiti can be found and copper thieves have been in. Every building seemed to be accessible, whereas on our last visit most buildings were locked down.
First thing we did when we got on site was visit the boiler house, then straight to the tower. We didn't think we'd get in however the gate was open! This was very much a highlight for us as we spent a while trying to get into it on our first visit. We then popped over to the Officers Mess which was in a sorry state, we didn't spend a lot of time in here. The ceiling had come through and the floor boards were water damaged. After this we moved onto the "XL Leisure building" which comprised of a canteen, a pub and function room. Again, very nice to see this as we hadn't stumbled across it last time. Very little vandalism in here too which is a rare site these days. After this we moved onto the warehouses, interestingly these had been converted at some point into office spaces, above these offices you can find crane gantries.
SB
