Monument record 1294/1/20 - E-type fighter pen, Kings Cliffe Airfield

A World War Two blast pen for fighter aircraft at the former Kingscliffe/ King's Cliffe Airfield. It is situated in the northwest portion of the former military airfield area.The E-shaped pen was built in 1940-41, built of concrete and brick and protected by earthworks. It includes a built-in Stanton type air raid shelter for crew, also there is a pillbox in the wall facing the airfield, and a gun emplacement on the nort-east wall. The rear sides have loopholes for firing weapons outward towards the road. There would have been space for two fighter aircraft. When visited in 1997 the structure was said to be in fair condition.

{1} E-shaped fighter pen with defence positions. Has internal Stanton shelter for shelter of ground crew etc. Rear sides have loopholed walls running along them facing outwards towards the road. Internal centre wall facing airfield, has brick pillbox with 5 loopholes facing outwards. Whole structure grassed over. Space for 2 aircraft. Condition: fair.
Marked as No.113 on airfield record site plan IWA/793/51 building drawing no. 7151/41.

{2} Similar structure shown.

{4} An "aircraft dispersal pen" at the former "RAF King's Cliffe Airfield", noted on the Defence of Britain Database as record S0005862 at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, TL 0210 9800. It is situated in the north-west portion of the former military airfield area. The E-shaped pen was built of concrete and brick and protected by earthworks. It includes a built-in Stanton type air raid shelter for ground crew, also there is a pillbox in the wall facing the airfield. The rear sides have loopholes for firing weapons outward towards the road. There would have been space for two fighter aircraft. When visited in 1997 the structure was said to be in fair condition. Noted as a separate monument (record S0005868) on the Defence of Britain Database is a Gun emplacement set on the north-east wall of the pen, comprising two semi-sunken concrete concrete pipes (described as "sewer" pipes). One had a gun mount in situ.

<1> Ruddy A.J., 1997, Defence of Britain Project Site Report Form, (checked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN108884.

<2> Francis, P., 1996, Military Airfield Architecture, p.26 (unchecked) (Book). SNN108898.

<3> Smith D.J., 1989, British Military Airfields 1939-45, p.107 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39512.

<4> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<5> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 7:17PM