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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I did my P.O. Leadership course at Royal Arthur, many years ago and went on manouvers in The Black hills of Wales. Is the Chairmakers Arms still there, it was a cider house (Scrumpy) also Lt Mountbatten was there
This website says HMS Arthur opened in Corsham in 1947,but is this correct? I joined this shore establishment in early 1946 for initial training and was there for two weeks before going on to HMS Gosling in Lancashire.
P.Packer
I have a clock which was presented by the P.T. staff at Royal Arthur to Mr&Mrs W.Williams in 1940 so I assume this was when the base was at Skegness. Do you know anything about this couple.?
My late father served at HMS Royal Arthur, I am not sure what year but I have a photograph of a group of recruits with a lifebuoy in front of them and it
states on the lifebuoy HMS Royal Arthur, Class 224, I know Williams is such a common name but my fathers name was William Ivor Parry Williams and he is in the photo top row 4th from the left, he died in 1964.
I spent truly a memorable 6 weeks at Royal Arthur in 1952 in a class comprising PO Artificers & CPOs The Instructors were excellent with a love of the R.N. and created a bonding to our particular Class which had a mixture of Wartime & National Service men.Two of my colleagues and I were recommended for commissioned rank and I was finally posted as Electrical Officer on HMS Zephyr in 1953
I entered HMS Royal Arthur on 27th. May 1947 (110 Group) for two weeks kitting out etc. before proceeding to HMS Gosling. I recall talk of Lt. Mountbatten having served there, also that hitherto new recruits had commenced at a holiday camp in the north of England. Evidently callup had ben halted due to the severe winter of 1946/47 as I had been due to start my National Servive in the February of that year.. “Hostilities Only ” National Servive commenced in January 1947 with 101 group and intakes were at fortnightly intervals
I joined HMS “Royal Arthur” in November,1946 as a Probationer Writer did my basic training there My class being Effingham II The PO Instructor was PO Seaman Bagshaw and his aide one A/Ldg.Airman Harris.. I left in January 947 to do my Part II training at HMS Ceres in Wetherby Yorkshire when the 1947 fall of snow started I was discharged from the oyal Navy In February 1954
part of JSU which earlier was RAF Rudloe Manor, 10 Group for defence of west country. Home of Countess Raben compulsory purchased by Air Ministry 1940. Interest to know what it all is now as am writing history. plenty of material at national archive.
is there anyone out there that remembers joining 19th february1947 please contact
anyone know more about Countess Raben at Rudloe Manor. family returned to Denmak.
I joined HMS Royal Arthur as a Probationer Writer on 19 Feb 1948 – instructor Petty Officer Pollock. The hairdresser there was the dreaded Pheobi – who could forget her especially in February! Went on to HMS Ceres 21 Aprl 1948 for Part 2. Made the second visit to Royal Arthur for leadership course and the Black Mountains experience during Jun & Jul 1960. Left the RN on Pension 7 Mch 1970 – 22 years – enjoyed them all. Sad to see the old Royal Arthur site as it is now. Sorry Fred Strong we were a years out!
I was based at HMS Royal Arthur from 1987 -1989 and had my best years in the RN there I was employed first as a QM (Guard House Duty) then later as the Gunners Yeoman (Working on the Parade Ground and Armoury) its sad to see the old girl in such a sate.
Hi, my father is Keith Furniss, he was a WO1 (I think)…I was a kid but he was at Royal Arthur during the late 70′s and then mid/late 80′s. You might remember him. I remember joining in the 5 mile runs when the lads came past near our house at Curlcroft. Once I joined in and was near the back getting close to the gate on the return leg. My dad was up the front yelling and screaming at all the PO’s, when he looked in my direction (he needed glasses) and screamed “get a bloody move on you stupid shaggy c**t!” I was only 14 !! Great times, Cliff and Chasm, up to the Black Mountains all great memories
I was at Royal Arthur from March 1947 for two weeks kitting out then on to HMS Gosling, Warrington for three months engineering training then on to HMS Unicorn Devonport for further training until october then sent to HMS Anzio LST Rosneath then on to HMS Hartland Point, anybody remember me? they used to call me Greek or Nick, I was engineer officers writer .Prince Pnhillip was serving at Royal Arthur during my time there by the way.
r
I have a group picture of my father’s, for the course 30th RES 4 October 1954. I presume it is at HMS Royal Arthur as that is the title on the small board in the picture.
Would be happy to scan and send so that you can use it.
I did my 4 weeks Senior Rates Leadership Course there in 1988 as a new Petty Officer Artificer. We were accommodated in the long huts at the south end of the site, while the Leading Hands lived in equally basic accom along the eastern side for their 2 weeks. I remember the unseasonally warm November trekking over the Black Mountains and the Wiltshire countryside. Each Course had to choose the name of a famous leader for their Course name and presentation at the end of training: We chose Wg Cdr Guy Gibson and our skit followed the legend of the Dambusters. We borrowed RAF incl WRAF uniforms for our (all male) cast from our light blue colleagues of RAF Rudloe Manor, just down the road! We opened the ‘show’ with the ‘lasses’ down the aisle of the theatre doing a version of the aircraft flight safety brief, pointing out the exits as “here, here and here – so those of you sat there and there have no chance of escape at all!”
I have a few group photos from HMS Royal Arthur 1951 and 1952, they may be seen at :-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verfain/sets/72157622439744221/
I would welcome any comments, information or tales of that time.
There are a few 1951 and 1952 group photos in album “HMS Royal Arthur” which can be seen on my Flickr account. Google verfainverfain, it should be easy to find my Flickr page.
I would appreciate feedback about the photos