RAF Shepherds Grove
Photos - 69.
Where - Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Visited - May 2006.
Posted - 12 August 2006.
Categories -
urbex, control-tower, igloo, now-demolished, raf.
RAF Shepherds Grove is located on the outskirts of the sleepy Suffolk village of Stanton. It was built during WW2 as an airfield for bombers. During the Cold War in the 1950's the USAF took over and based jet fighters there. When the jet fighters left, part of the base was used as a launch site for Thor nuclear missles.
The site closed in 1966 and some of the base is now an industrial estate.
Control Tower
So, here's the control tower. It was in a bit of a state when I visited. It had a mini-refurbishment in the 1990's when Redland Tiles used it as an office - they covered it in tiles. Most of them have been smashed up since Redland's departure.
The control tower was demolished in June 2006 to make way for an Ikea distribution centre. Which is a great shame 
Fire Station
I think this was a fire station (or if not, some sort of vehicle servicing building). This has probably been demolished too.
Weapons Store
Across a field is an old weapons store used for the Thor missle site. There are three "igloo" buildings - two used for normal bombs and one for nuclear warheads. The latter has a huge concrete safe inside.
There are also two observation points - these are seriously cool and I want one!
A maintenance building is also there, but in a pretty bad state. It has a chimney.
Thor Launch Pads
There used to be three of these, but nothing now remains other than a few small piles of rubble and a concrete floor. The most interesting piece of rubble had some words printed on it in reverse - odd.
Industrial Units
There were a few of these located near the control tower. I imagine they've been demolished too.
Your Comments
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Posted 25 September 2006, 18:50 From Curt Marsh
Anyone know when these photos were taken? I live about a mile from here now and would like to explore the old facilities!
Posted 25 September 2006, 19:20 From DAB @ derelicte
I know - they were taken at the beginning of May, 2006. I haven't been back since, but I know the control tower has been demolished
Posted 30 September 2006, 20:50 From Curt Marsh
Took some recent photos...the old bomb storage site is now being used by a company and the runway is almost totally destroyed.
Posted 2 October 2006, 22:00 From smiffy
yer right....those towers are cool. One in my back garden could piss the neighbours off nicely.
Posted 3 October 2006, 12:40 From DAB @ derelicte
Thanks Curt - you have some interesting pics you have on your site (but no link back to me
!).
I know the control tower has gone - any sign of the fire station etc?
Posted 22 November 2006, 09:30 From Danny Downes
These are not original Air Force buildings. I think they were built by or for Redland Roof Tiles who used to occupy this site.
Posted 22 November 2006, 09:30 From Danny Downes
Notice the control tower was covered in tiles. Bloody Redlands - what were they doing?
Posted 22 November 2006, 09:40 From Danny Downes
Nice site with some great photos. I've got some pictures of Shepherds Grove while the Americans were there if you would like to see them. Also, 2 years ago I went to America to a reunion of USAF personnel who served there in the 1950s. They're a great bunch of blokes who will never forget their time spent in sleepy Suffolk. The reunion was arranged by the guy who runds this website:
http://shepherdsgrove.com/grover.html
Posted 22 November 2006, 10:50 From DAB @ derelicte
I think the one in the middle is the old fire station. It had a "number" on it like many of the other buildings.
The peak-roofed building on the left is definitely post-Air Force though..
Posted 26 January 2007, 22:10 From salem
it is a firestation, and i have been to couple of raves there.....
Posted 1 April 2007, 00:10 From Jack Nixon
It really makes me sad to see the state of my old base. Was stationed there from 1955 to 1958 with the 78th FBS. We have a reunion every year now and talk about all the good times we had at The Grove!
Posted 7 April 2007, 01:50 From Rob
Where are the observation towers and the iglos?
I took a trip there yesterday but didn't see these bits.
Thanks.
Posted 19 April 2007, 13:50 From C See
Does anyone know who currently owns the nuclear compound?. Or the name of the company using it?.
Posted 21 April 2007, 18:10 From DAB @ derelicte
Just a quick update to this - I visited today and it was rather depressing.
The control tower, fire station and industrial units have gone. By gone I mean totally flattened with virtually no trace of anything. Nature is coming back nicely.
The bomb storage and towers are still there.
Posted 28 May 2007, 19:30 From Stephen Bruce
Lived in Walsham as a kid and used to play in and around the igloos. Was run down then in late 70's early 80's. A nostalgic look back on my youth. Pity they are knocking the rest of it down. They should be kept as a reminder of what happened.
Posted 10 June 2007, 00:50 From D Reid
This was a fire station, my father was stationed there in the late 50,s and as a retained fireman I attended a fire there in 2003
Posted 12 June 2007, 21:40 From Neil
I don't think the bomb stores will be demolished anytime soon. A nice badge is still visible in the concrete near the squadron headquarters dating from 2 october 1951. It's the badge of the 92nd fighter interceptor squadron. There are names and dates in the concrete inside at least one of the buildings at the grove. Also seen 1943 written in the concrete outside the building near the badge. And remember the bomb stores are very much private property.
Posted 28 June 2007, 12:20 From Mike
In the 1960s this area was used as the day/recreation room. It had a snooker table and TV, chairs, an electric stove and a sink bench. Through the doorway at the back of the room was an ablution block and living quarters for about 20 personnel. The front part of the building housed the fire tender and equipment.
Posted 6 November 2007, 10:50 From Mike Brazier
I was at SG 1963-65 on Thor missiles. Those were busy days during the Cold War esp during Cuban missile crisis. Haven't been back since.
Posted 19 January 2008, 18:20 From Jim Thorndyke
I was at Feltwell from 1959 to 1964, Feltwell was main base for the SG Thor missiles and I was frequently at SG. Also Mepal, Tuddenham and North Pickenham. For the past thirty years I have lived in the not so sleepy village of Stanton.
IKEA who had intended to build a huge distribution depot (640x190 metre building) pulled out last August, currently that part of the airfield, some 95 acres, is for sale for development at about £10 mill. That part of the airfield has been cleared of all buildings, runway and dispersals.
Many original buildings still exist on what remains of the airfield including the old BX, I do not think the old weapons store (now demolished) was used for Thor warheads, I believe they were stored at a base near Thetford, I seem to remember the escorted convoys that got a lot of attention. Will try and get some new pics when/if the sun shines!
Posted 3 February 2008, 07:30 From john drury
i remember going to an air display in the 50s the year the lightning showed the amerisans up
Posted 9 February 2008, 20:40 From daryl
the nuclear compound is own now by a company called r d ground works i think now they is only two big bunkers now. the industrial units were for red land roof tiles my dad and grandad work there. the site was owned by racam. retec engening use to store all there skips on the site.
Posted 26 February 2008, 13:40 From Ed Burns
..Hello, my mom served there during WW II. I wonder if there is anyone around who may have any recollections or photos of those amazing times. I have a group shot of the women she worked with I could share. Best regards,...
Posted 14 March 2008, 04:20 From Matt Robinett
Brings back a lot of memories
Posted 20 March 2008, 17:10 From Dawn
I am very interested in getting / seeing any photos of the Old Bomb Stores from during the period of the cold war when the Thor missiles where there can anyone help ?
Posted 29 March 2008, 09:00 From ian nicoll
was great to see photos of the base where my father was stationed after his move from rivenhall with 295 squadorn
Posted 3 May 2008, 09:30 From Lee
I think the reverse writing is the result of a magazine or advert board being used in the shuttering when the concrete was poured. The ink transfers to the wet concrete, shuttering removed, hey presto! reverse writing. Terrific site, by the way!
Posted 5 June 2008, 21:00 From Rod Spiller
I was a young Guidance & Control (Thor) technician
in the early 1960's & remember well the Cuban Missile crisis & all our "Birds" (Thor) were ready to go. We wanted to see them "fly" !!!! I visited Shepherds Grove as we used to remove the bulky & heavy guidance system for periodic maintenance for servicing at main base Feltwell.
Thanks for the memories & photos
Posted 5 June 2008, 21:10 From Rod Spiller
I do not think Thor warheads were stored here.
The warheads were owned by the Americans & therefore probably stored at a USAF bases like Lakenheath /Mildenhall/Weatherfield.
The warhead was activated by the turning of the War/Peace key by a fully weaponed USAF officer.
The Brits did not have any control of that only the firing.
Posted 5 June 2008, 21:20 From Rod Spiller
I used to work inches away from the warhead. This was a "NO LONE ZONE" as this prevented tampering as you were never alone !
Posted 13 July 2008, 19:30 From Howard Wade
Great pics but how sad to see yet another piece of history gone forever.
Posted 19 August 2008, 12:00 From Peter Hawkes
Stationed at Shepherds Grove 1949 to 1950, I have some pics taken there back in 1988, will forward them
if you are interested.
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