Monument record 7050/1 - Desborough Airfield
Please read our guidance about the use of Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
The site of a former military airfield, opened in 1943 and closed in 1946. It was a Royal Air Force Bomber Command base during World War Two, and was used by 84 Operational Training Unit until 1945. The airfield had three tarmac runways, 29 hard standings, four type T2 aircraft hangers and one type B1 aircraft hangar. Accomodation for personnel was temporary, with dispersed camps to the south of the flying field. After the base closed in 1946 the airfield was used for agriculture. Solar farm to be built on the site (2015).
Map
Type and Period (7)
- MILITARY AIRFIELD (World War II from 1943, Second World War - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
- BLAST SHELTER (Second World War - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- AIRCRAFT HANGAR (TYPE B1) (World War II from 1943, Second World War - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
- AIRCRAFT HANGAR (TYPE T2) (World War II from 1943, Second World War - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
- HARD STANDING (World War II from 1943, Second World War - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
- MILITARY CAMP (World War II from 1943, Second World War - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
- MILITARY AIRFIELD (Closed 1946, Mid 20th Century - 1946 AD to 1946 AD)
Full Description
{1} Plan of airfield plus details of flying units and commanding officers.
{2} Site of removed Stanton shelters associated with the airfield have been recorded on the 1970s Ordnance Survey map at SP82328685, SP81138575, SP81158574, SP81008581, SP81038582, SP81118589, SP80588513, SP80468506, SP80428507.
{3} Site of a removed pillbox associated with the airifield has been recorded on the 1970s Ordnance Survey map at SP79888482.
{4} Desborough Airfield, Northamptonshire, SP 817 865, opened in 1943 and closed in 1946. It was a Royal Air Force Bomber Command base during World War Two, and was used by an Operational Training Unit until 1945. The airfield had three tarmac runways, 29 hard standings, four type T2 aircraft hangers and one type B1 aircraft hangar. Accomodation for personnel was temporary. On 01-DEC-1944 there were 1557 men and 320 women stationed at the airfield. Use of the site in 1985 stated to be agriculture.
{5} Airfield (disused) SP 817 865 (NAT). OS sheet SP 88 NW depicts the airfield with dispersed camps to the south of the flying field.
{6} A housing development of 1000 homes and light industry on the disused Desborough Airfield site has been planned, on behalf of the Rockingham Castle estate.
{7} Solar farm plans approved for Desborough airfield
<1> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.
<2> Pillbox Study Group, Unknown, Pillbox Study Group, e39661, e39651-2, e39656, e39657-8, e39665-7 (Website). SNN111964.
<3> Pillbox Study Group, Unknown, Pillbox Study Group, e11555 (Website). SNN111964.
<4> Willis, S. and Holliss, B., 1987, Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945, p. 65 (Book). SNN111556.
<5> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 1:10000, 1972 (Map). SNN112944.
<6> Elizabeth Banks Associates Limited, No date, Elizabeth Banks Associates Client List, [accessed 26-FEB-2004] (Website). SNN115405.
<7> Northamptonshire Telegraph, 2015, Plans for solar farm on former Desborough Airfield, [accessed 15-SEP-2015] (Website). SNN115404.
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SNN100276 Book: Gibson M.L.. 1982. Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History. N.C.C.(Libraries Service). (unchecked).
- <2> SNN111964 Website: Pillbox Study Group. Unknown. Pillbox Study Group. http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/. e39661, e39651-2, e39656, e39657-8, e39665-7.
- <3> SNN111964 Website: Pillbox Study Group. Unknown. Pillbox Study Group. http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/. e11555.
- <4> SNN111556 Book: Willis, S. and Holliss, B.. 1987. Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945. p. 65.
- <5> SNN112944 Map: Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date). 1:10000, 1972.
- <6> SNN115405 Website: Elizabeth Banks Associates Limited. No date. Elizabeth Banks Associates Client List. http://www.eba.co.uk/. [accessed 26-FEB-2004].
- <7> SNN115404 Website: Northamptonshire Telegraph. 2015. Plans for solar farm on former Desborough Airfield. http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/top-stories/plans-for-solar-farm-on-former-desborough-airfield-approved-1-6924819. [accessed 15-SEP-2015].
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (19)
- Parent of: Hangar or storage building (Monument) (7050/1/4)
- Parent of: Possible air raid shelter (Monument) (7050/1/2)
- Parent of: Possible demolished airfield building (Monument) (7050/1/9)
- Parent of: Possible demolished airfield building (Monument) (7050/1/10)
- Parent of: Possible WWII remains (Monument) (7050/1/3)
- Parent of: Pre-fabricated building (Monument) (7050/1/7)
- Parent of: Probable WWII Workshop (Building) (7050/1/6)
- Parent of: Site of Battle Headquarters, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/11)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/12)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/13)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/14)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/15)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/16)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/17)
- Parent of: Site of Stanton Shelter, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/18)
- Parent of: Small Arms Range, Desborough Airfield (Monument) (7050/1/19)
- Parent of: Three Probable WWII Huts (Building) (7050/1/5)
- Parent of: Undated Mound, Possibly Re-Used as Gun Emplacement (Monument) (7050/1/8)
- Parent of: WWII Airfield Features (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation) (Monument) (7050/1/1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
Grid reference | Centred SP 4817e 2863e (1893m by 1393m) Approximate |
---|---|
Civil Parish | STOKE ALBANY, North Northamptonshire (formerly Kettering District) |
Civil Parish | WILBARSTON, North Northamptonshire (formerly Kettering District) |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- NRHE HOB UID: 1393638
Record last edited
Aug 31 2023 4:29PM