I have made many visits to Raynham over the years. I have shown friends around, and made quite a few solo visits. I have tried to cover it as much as I can. There a few bits I ain't been too including the bomb dump as it's full off sheep and sealed. I have not seen the church either. I have missed some bits on this report like the dome as was just full of wood when I went. Also the small ATC tower as never really took any photos in it.
West Raynham was built in 1938/1939. It was an expansion airfield and was to be used by British bomber command. Two support airfields were built in 1940 two support Raynham. This was common with a lot of airfields. The two airfields were Great Massingham, which was to help with space for the Bristol Blenheim's. But it ended up having it's own squadron and was expanded to host these. The other satellite one was RAF Sculthorpe which would then go on to become an even bigger and busier station after the war. It was used by the Americans during the cold war. Raynham survived quite a while after the war and was expanded heavily during 1946 with many additional buildings added. The VHB watch office was added as well. Many squadrons were based at Raynham. The site was used as a bloodhound base as well. The base was closed in 1994 but was retained by the military for ten years as a strategic reserve. What I can gather was that it was just basically left without much work going on. The houses were left to deteriorate. A local MP kicked off about this, that the fact they had been left when there was a housing shortage. The MOD eventually sold the housing in 2004 and the rest of the site in 2005. The main base has quite a few industrial let's in it, Norfolk oak company owns two of the big hangars. In the last few years occupation on the site has grown considerably, a solar farm has been constructed in the old runways. The tower is now under ownership and slowly being converted to accomodation. The work they are doing is superb and such a lovely couple. I can't wait to go see what they have done with the tower. Excuse some of the earlier photos when I was into high contrast and saturation.
The Naffi is a place I ain't seen much of. I think a lot don't realise this is here. A place for the staff to relax and have a drink. Their is a bar area and a place for snacks and food with kitchen in the rear. Upstairs is a hall what had either a pool or snooker table in it. Their is also some accomodation rooms.
The airman's restaurant is prob the most visited part of Raynham along with the officers mess. The shot everyone wants is the foyer with its doors and staircases. This was the first and last time I used a fisheye. I was showing a friend around and he had a fisheye for his Fuji. So I borrowed it for the foyer shot as I always struggled to get it all in.
Continued...
West Raynham was built in 1938/1939. It was an expansion airfield and was to be used by British bomber command. Two support airfields were built in 1940 two support Raynham. This was common with a lot of airfields. The two airfields were Great Massingham, which was to help with space for the Bristol Blenheim's. But it ended up having it's own squadron and was expanded to host these. The other satellite one was RAF Sculthorpe which would then go on to become an even bigger and busier station after the war. It was used by the Americans during the cold war. Raynham survived quite a while after the war and was expanded heavily during 1946 with many additional buildings added. The VHB watch office was added as well. Many squadrons were based at Raynham. The site was used as a bloodhound base as well. The base was closed in 1994 but was retained by the military for ten years as a strategic reserve. What I can gather was that it was just basically left without much work going on. The houses were left to deteriorate. A local MP kicked off about this, that the fact they had been left when there was a housing shortage. The MOD eventually sold the housing in 2004 and the rest of the site in 2005. The main base has quite a few industrial let's in it, Norfolk oak company owns two of the big hangars. In the last few years occupation on the site has grown considerably, a solar farm has been constructed in the old runways. The tower is now under ownership and slowly being converted to accomodation. The work they are doing is superb and such a lovely couple. I can't wait to go see what they have done with the tower. Excuse some of the earlier photos when I was into high contrast and saturation.
The Naffi is a place I ain't seen much of. I think a lot don't realise this is here. A place for the staff to relax and have a drink. Their is a bar area and a place for snacks and food with kitchen in the rear. Upstairs is a hall what had either a pool or snooker table in it. Their is also some accomodation rooms.
The airman's restaurant is prob the most visited part of Raynham along with the officers mess. The shot everyone wants is the foyer with its doors and staircases. This was the first and last time I used a fisheye. I was showing a friend around and he had a fisheye for his Fuji. So I borrowed it for the foyer shot as I always struggled to get it all in.
Continued...
