Monument record 7127/1 - Kelmarsh Aviation Fuel Depot

The fuel depot was built during WW2 to supply the nearby airfields with fuel.

{1} D. Smith describes the later (the smaller depot located at Peterborough??) as still extant and in use.

{2} Depot located alongside the former Kelmarsh railway station on the north side of the Kelmarsh to Arthingworth road (in Arthingworth parish). Remains of railway sidings are present and of the former entrance to the depot from the railway. The depot is well maintained; sign on the date refers to 'Serco Gulf Engineering Ltd'. The nature of depot, which blends well into its surrounds and is surrounded with security fencing, suggests that this is the wartime fuel depot.
The depot includes a small group of buildings (SP74588053) close to main southern access. These comprise a boarded-up single storey brick 'bungalow' (presumed to be former site office?) with three small adjacent brick buildings and a small windowless brick structure with blast wall at its single entrance. Remainder of depot appears to comprise a series of underground structures/storage tanks set into the hillside. The visible access to structures appear to all be in concrete.

{3} By 1942 the expanding RAF needed tremendous backup with stores,spares and equipment of all kinds. Maintenance Units were established as more airfields opened, and these supplied almost everything to the RAF. Supply of aviation fuel and oil was undertaken by the Petroleum Board (a consortium of the major oil companies) and one of the key depots in the North Midlands Region was at Kelmarsh. This had a capacity of 15,000 tons of fuel, supplied entirely by rail. Distribution was by road tanker and 142,201 tons of aviation fuel passed through the depot during 1944. A smaller depot was located at Peterborough.

{4} Built in 1943 by the USAF to store petrol for use at the nearby air bases at Harrington, Sulby and Market Harborough. Consists of standard Second World War buildings and perimeter fence and large buried fuel tanks. It formerly had its own railway sidings.

{5} A relic of the aviation fuel distribution during WW2 undertaken by the Petroleum Board (a consortium of major oil companies). This was a key depot with rail access to the adjacent LNWR's Northampton to Market Harborough line.

{6} A relic of World War II, aviation fuel distribution was undertaken by the Petroleum Board (a consortium of major oil companies). This was a key depot with rail access from the Northampton to Market Harborough line of the then LMS. Apparently still in use for domestic supplies.

<1> SMITH D, 1997, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50495.

<2> CADMAN G.E., 1999, Kelmarsh Aviation Fueld Depot, 1999 (SMR Report Form). SNN49648.

<3> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<4> Taylor C.C., 2000, Kelmarsh Estate Report, p.20 (unchecked) (Report). SNN101314.

<5> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), p.10 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.

<6> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, p.39-40 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

Record last edited

Mar 25 2025 11:05AM