RAF Upwood opened in 1917 as a satellite field for RAF Elmswell. Shortly after opening, a few hangars and buildings were built. It closed in 1919. During the RAF expansion period in the mid 1930s the airfield was expanded drastically. Five hangars were built, and around 100 other buildings of varying sizes. The base finally closed in 1995. Wikipedia has a lot more info about the base.
The last twelve years haven’t been kind to the base. It has suffered badly at the hands of vandals. The hangars are in use by a turbine company and are inaccessible. The rest of the buildings are totally gutted, and used occassionally by “airsofters” (people with guns and small balls).
Guard House
This is the first thing you see when entering RAF Upwood. The Guard House. Inside is a little cell to detain people, a small shower block and some other rooms.
Head Quarters
Opposite the Guard House is the main base HQ. Compared to the rest of the site, this is in quite good condition – there are even curtains in some rooms! In one of the back rooms was a huge black-board type thing for aircraft assignments.
Community Centre
Next stop was the community centre. This is where the people stationed on the base would’ve come to relax sometimes. There was a bar inside and a sports court.
Water Tower
The water tower looks the same as West Raynham’s. I would’ve climbed it but the ladders were covered in pigeon mess.
Gas Decontamination Buildings
This is one (two) of the most impressive things at Upwood – two “underground” (under-mound?) gas decontamination buildings. They were built as a precaution – the use of gas weapons had been outlawed in 1925.
Contaminated troops would’ve entered at one end, deposited their clothes in some chutes for washing/destroying; have a shower in the large line of cubicles; get new clothes from the store; and wait until the gas had gone outside. One of the bunkers was attatched to the hospital/sick quarters by a short passage.
Stores
Used for storing stuff.
Boiler House
Couldn’t climb this one – the door was blocked with bricks and debris.
Officers Mess
This is where the officers would have lived and relaxed. There is a huge ballroom and a small cinema room.
Sergeants Mess
The Sergeants Mess is joined to the Officers Mess via a corridor. It’s smaller and not as interesting. It is an E-shape.
Dining Room
No explanation is really needed for this – it’s where the airmen would have eaten. In the back was an impressively-huge oven. And a mortuary tray.
The chefs and staff would have accessed the upstairs level by this crazy little staircase. It was *really* narrow – I could barely fit up it! Upstairs was totally gutted (not a surprise) and the windows sort-of boarded up – again presumably for the gun people.
Out the back was this little room – the back of the ovens.
Entertainment building
This seemed to be some sort of entertainment area. I am not sure exactly what it was.
Random Barrack Blocks
They all look the same, and it got a bit boring looking through them all.
Tanks
There are two tanks at Upwood, used as elaborate props for the airsofters. They’re seriously cool…
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I was a Snowdrop (RAFP) at Upwood from Feb.53 to Aug.53. I had the job of guarding two large silver cups in the entrance to the Airmens Mess one day. They were presented to the station by the makers of the film Appointment in London and by Rolls Royce in recognition of the flight crews who flew 400 hrs in 40 days to test the Avon engines on the Canberra. I had my first flight from Upwood in a 7 Sqdn Lincoln-on one of the practice flights for the Coronation Flypast at Odiham-and I was sick as a dog for the first of four hours we were up there-but enjoyed afterwards. It makes me wonder what makes these people tick who wrecked the place after it was closed-if they had half a brain they would be half-wits!! I hope to go to Upwood again for the Ramsey do later in the year.
I have happy memories of RAF Upwood between 1967 and 1971 when I was between 10 and 13 years old. We lived at 36 Valiant Square. Back then it was all spick and span with carefully tended rose bushes, Ford Cortinas and Hillman motorcars. A Canberra jet bomber was on display at the main entrance to the base. For me the best thing was being able to ride my bike at full speed down each of the three runways and then explore all the perimeter tracks and aircraft pans. There was usually a Chipmunk from nearby Wyton flying overhead and occasionally the din from a pair of American Phantoms would break the sense of tranquility. Always one was aware of the enormity of events that had occured there only a quarter of a century earlier.
Stationed at Upwood in 1974. Was due to arrive on my 21st birthday but got a little delayed. Was stationed with the RAF School of Education. Great place pity it has got into such a state. Left it in 1974 along with the School of Education on the move to RAF Newton.
With one or two exceptions, eg the Officer’s Mess (which would make a fine arts centre and live events venue) they should demolish what’s left of the disused buildings, clear the site, and create a sort of park with playing fields. Maybe include an area that encourages some species of birds which are currently on the wane. Don’t build loads of houses on it. It’d be good for young people to have the space to run around in. In my view this, or something similar would make a fitting tribute to all those who served and worked there in one way or another. Both this website and the other magnificent one created by Sean Edwards ensure that history and the memories are preserved.
The main room in the Officer’s Mess has now been burnt out. Like someone eles said “there’s no more windows to smash so they start burning things” What a shame. The last thing we want is houses on the site, the roads cant cope with the amount of traffic now. Thanks for the kind works about my website Philip.
http://www.rafupwood.co.uk
Sean Edwards
Just spent the day at Upwood as one of those ‘airsofters with small balls!’ I was amazed that having spent 30 years in the RAF, I never new of it’s existance, so thought I’d do a little research and am amazed at it’s history. Although derelicte it is being well used and while the ‘airsofters’ are still there the buildings will remain, we are assured that it will be a couple of years before anything happens.
I lived at 7 Blenheim Road from 1979 until 1981. We had wonderful friends there, Ed and Dos Jarry, Jim and Brenad Cowen, and our english friends Nick and Wendi Oswald. Many great memories. I haven’t been back to England since 1981. It is a shame to see RAF Upwood in this condition in this pictures.
My and husband I were stationed at Upwood from 1985-1988. Some of our best memories are while living there.. Our first home together was at 6 Lancaster Rd. and our first son was born while there. It is very sad to see what has become of it.
BTW-If you happen to check this site John Staworski – HI!, hope all is well.
I stumbled on your website quite by accident, but found it a fascinating addition to urban exploration documentation efforts taking place worldwide. BTW, does the Jill Mason who posted above hail from Ottawa, by any chance? If so, and you happen to read this, Hi Jill. Drop me a line in Toronto.
John Reardon
It would be such a shame if loads of houses where built on the site, we had a look round at the 40′s weekend. Whats going to happen to all those houses boarded up in Valiant Square, such a waste, they look like they were lovely houses at one time.
after seeing your pictures i went and took a look i bet it would have been an amazing place at one time also i have taken pics at day and night two of the night ones show a figure at one of the windows with a bright light round it could this place be haunted ????
my dad bob hodgson served on 35 squadron at upwood from 1958 till dispandment approx 1961,we lived in quarters in farm close.
I lived at Upwood 1953 with parents Ron & Iris Kingswood, my brother Tony who was deaf. My sister Pauline was born at home on Liberator Rd. My father died in 2000. Does anyone remember us. It was very sad to se the state of the place, in the pictures. I found this site by accident. but I’m so glad that I did. Dad was in 7 squadron. We moved to Woodhall Spa when he started working for the AA.
I was stationed at RAF Alconbury from 05/1992 until being reassigned to RAF Mildenhall in 1995 when Alconbury was being drawn down. I lived at 32 Valiant Square (WWII officer housing) just outside RAF Upwood proper. My first tour to the UK was from 1979-1983. I guess we won the “cold” war, but it breaks my heart to see the state of the old bases. Thanks for positng the pictures.
I was stationed at RAF Upwood 1970-1972 as a Mess Steward working in the Officers Mess
We stayed at 1 Lancaster Road
Last year we went down to Upwood from Glenrothes Fife
It breaks my heart to see Upwood in the state its in
but the memories are still alive