HMS Royal Arthur was one of the Royal Navy’s shore establishments – similar to HMS Ganges but on a smaller scale. The site at Corsham opened in 1947 after moving from Skegness (the Butlins holiday camp was used during WW2). The Corsham site finally closed in 1993…
A few years ago there was “news” that the site would be converted into retirement homes – nothing seems to have happened with that plan though. Nowadays it sits empty, and seems to be a practice ground for Bristol/Bath’s graffiti artists.
I didn’t get many photos of the buildings, maybe I’ll revisit in the future…
Here’s an old guard-box at the front gate.
All of the buildings had strange triangular holes knocked through the walls – maybe for police dog training or something…
The old parade ground is now a dumping ground for burnt out cars.
The swimming pool was drained on closure. 15 years later and it is nearly full again…
Nearly all trace of the site’s military use has disappeared. There were very few original features left – a few signs were seen on some doors, but not many.
Love it or hate it, you can’t help but appreciate the amount of work that has gone into the graffiti.
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Joined pusser @ Royal Arthur for kitting out& basic training. June 2nd 1848.
Remembering George Merrin. Johnny Southgate. Don Newman.
Snowy Lewis. Henry Hall and others.
Returned to Corsham in late 1955 for P.Os course.
Not so fond memories though.
Anyone still kicking around.
Give me a call.
I ‘found’ HMS Royal Arthur when I was lunch time running from work. It’s really over-grown now, some of the older deliberate planting has reached full maturity – if only there was anyone to enjoy it.
The buildings are suffering, I didn’t see a pane of glass anywhere, and there are some asbestos issues too. Each block has its own header tank – there must have been water pressure issues as the camp is pretty high up (must have been windy in Winter). There is some evidence of wide-area central heating (lagged pipes in culverts by the roads) but I didn’t find a boiler house or a massive water tank. There is capacity for a couple of hundered people there but I could figure out where the drains run to.
The graffitti is really amazing. Some very beautiful and inspiring things (my favourite is a building covered in an intrucate repeat stencil – it looks like a house made out of lace).
I guessed the camp was abandoned in the ealry 80s. I had an amazing visit – like (I imagine) walking through a giant skeleton.
Hi All, I spent my last 12 months as ships company at Royal Arthur 1984-1985. I had a great time, Buffers Party, driving the tractor and trailor on the daily bin run. I was also captains chauffer and general driver for the camp. Taking the pi** out of those on the courses, was part of the daily routine. I do recall, all of the trees at the top end of the camp burning to stumps when something blew out of the incinerator and torched the lot. Would love to hear from any of the ships company at that time. Nick
Yes, as we marched in,as green as grass, 20 March 1949, yes–I remember the date–and number eventually CMX 873328– they shouted ” Wait till Phoebe gets you”.
i used to live in corsham from 2008 till 2011 and i used to visit this place regularly with my friends, taking photographs of the graffiti for my 6th form art, and the whole place is just covered in it. There are some very very good pieces of art in HMS Royal Arthur but some people just don’t really have respect and write appalling language on the walls and smash windows, but apart from that its beautiful
I worked in the kitchens at RA so sad to see it now.Remember being thrown in the pool on birthdays lol even through we werent really allowed, im sure many a sailor or even officer will remember me bellowing about which way to hand cultery in still happy days sadly missed