RAF Watton revisited

Photos - 0.
Where - Watton, Norfolk.
Visited - 6 April 2007.
Posted - 7 April 2007.
Categories - *now-demolished, hangar, raf.

I was up in Norfolk recently so paid a quick re-visit to RAF Watton to try out my "new" camera. If anyone remembers my report from July, you will know that there were four hangars and a little building remaining. Well, that's changed slightly now...

[There are no thumbnails in this report, just medium-sized images]

Hangar 1

Since last time, this has been demolished. Just the roof remains...

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Hangar 2

This is still complete, and full of dirt.

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Looking towards hangar 1 (compare it to this)

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An interesting find was a pile of ripped up newspapers. From 1955. I think they had been used under carpets or something.

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Hangar 3

This has been totally gutted, and the doors taken off. The offices on the airfield side have been demolished. Half of the ones on the other side are gone too. There are lots of red crosses painted on the side - I can only assume for drilling and filling with explosives...

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Obligatory toilet shot

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My favourite UE chair has survived so far... :thumb

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Hangar 4

This is still full of diggers, and still totally locked up. The offices on the side are relatively un-interesting. But colourful.

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The little building

This has all but gone.

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Such a shame to see this place getting demolished, but I guess people need boring houses more than exciting hangars. The end (almost)...

Your Comments

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  1. Posted 15 April 2007, 10:00 From Ron Beck

    As a radar mechanic,I departed Watton in March 1953 having spent a year there with the Calibration Sqdn. I revisited in August 1986. Then the station was non-flying and mostly intact but rather run down. The control tower had been much modified but the original structure was evident.Hanger 4 was my workplace and have many happy memories of my fellow airmen. I really do appreciate your efforts in photographically recording the demise of this once proud station. However there is an excellent reproduction of Watton which I have downloaded into FS9 alongh with a couple of Lincolns. So all is not lost.

    Regards Ron B

  2. Posted 23 April 2007, 17:00 From Mick Watts

    I used to deliver, bloodhound rockets for storage. They were from West Raynham. That was in the early 70.s. Sad to see both stations going to seed.

    Nice site, with some great pictures. Keep up the good work.

  3. Posted 25 April 2007, 19:10 From Mark Dorman

    Great photos ! Iwas had a good look round a a couple of years ago and was meaning to return to take some photos myself but never got round to it.

  4. Posted 2 May 2007, 18:00 From John

    Hi, i live near this place and if u want i can update here with more pictures? it's up to you?

    also there are ways into some of the places you can't get e.g. the 4th hanger..

  5. Posted 4 May 2007, 14:10 From DAB @ derelicte

    Thanks everyone

    John - thanks for the offer. If you set up a photo gallery at www.fotopic.net, I will gladly link to it...

  6. Posted 27 October 2007, 17:00 From Jt

    Nothing left of the 1st hangar now, just a few stumps in the ground where the supporting pillars were, and i beleive "the little building" actually extends quite a way underground. nowerdays its busy being demolished and gliders occasionally use the runway, but essentially apart from the hangars the whole place has been levelled.

  7. Posted 8 January 2008, 03:50 From Sean Cochrane

    I was af Watton from May 88 - Nov 89. Us airmen lived in the Watton Lodge. There were only about 30 of us who lived in but we all had a good crack. It was like going back in time on that camp to the days when the RAF was still good fun. Such a shame that it is now all gone and just a fading memory.

  8. Posted 31 January 2008, 00:10 From John fowler

    Last two hangers being demolished now.

  9. Posted 2 March 2008, 10:20 From Lee Storer (Anglian Demolition)

    we have completed the demolition of hanger 2 - not supprisingly they are a tough structure and very challenging. we start the demolition of hanger 4 early march - anyone wishing to take a last look please contacy us.

  10. Posted 16 March 2008, 08:40 From eddy

    i cud get some fotos i live next to it

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