Ashbourne

[Ossington_2008]

From Apr 90.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/Ossington_2008/Ashbourne3Apr90.jpg

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/Ossington_2008/Ashbourne4Apr90.jpg

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/Ossington_2008/Ashbourne5Apr90.jpg

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/Ossington_2008/Ashbourne1Apr90.jpg

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/Ossington_2008/Ashbourne2Apr90.jpg

Anyone seen Chris Percy & Noel Ryan's book of this place yet?

[NJR]

Anyone seen Chris Piercey's book of this place yet?



You mean this one?

http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/product.php?productid=59291&cat=0&page=1

An excellent book, I'd recommend everyone to buy a copy, very well researched and well written !!

NJR

[REF]

You would say that Noel!!! Mind you I have a copy and would also recommend getting a copy - a great little book!

[Blackadder]

2009 view

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss276/anon240577/Ashbourne.jpg

[CDP]

Pretty good going Blackadder - you've got five of Ashbourne's sites in one shot there!

Airfield & Technical Site (clearly)
Communal Site
Instructional Site
SSQ
W/T Site

Chris

[Sparky67]

Sep 2011 view...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6172/6172728323_8a16b44067_b.jpg

[canberra]

Wasnt it at this airfield that a member of 22 SAS won a George Medal in the late sixties?

[HF Dave]

Does anyone know what this structure is please?
It is located at SK189440, near Osmaston Fields in Derbyshire.
There is a large brick-built circle with a central concrete post.
Beside this are some rectangular concrete foundations.

The site is beside a stream and it vaguely has the form of a water treatment works, however it seems to be of WWII date (or at least mid 20th century). It is not labelled on any map I can find.

I am wondering if it has some military connection because i) it is roughly mid-way between Ashbourne and Darley Moor airfields and ii) there is a blast shelter in the adjacent field. So someone must have been working there during the war.

61936194

[REF]

Not having the RSP infront of my, I would say this was the Sewage Works that was associated with RAF Ashbourne

[norwichpaul]

Your picture shows sedimentation tanks.

[PETERTHEEATER]

It's marked on an OS 10,000 map dated 1965 as Sewage Works.

[CDP]

Definitely Ashbourne's sewage works. One of the few I don't seem to have been drawn to, according to some on here!

Chris

[norwichpaul]

Between you and I CDP (not for public knowledge) is that the sewage works is often the site of the NAAFI dump! One has to follow the rabbits!

[HF Dave]

Thanks all.
I must check the maps more carefully next time!

[PETERTHEEATER]

Don't rely too much on the OS legends. They frequently describe military structures with earth traverses as 'Tumuli':)

[mark beavan]

Wasnt it at this airfield that a member of 22 SAS won a George Medal in the late sixties?

I think that it was at Halfpenny Green in 1966.

[HF Dave]

For completeness, here is the shelter in the field just to the west of the sewage works (which I asked about earlier in this thread):

7469

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks Dave; it's actually to the NW.

[HF Dave]

Further to my previous posts, during a couple of evening walks in March 2012, I stumbled across various remains which even I recognised must be dispersed sites relating to Ashbourne airfield.
The first, and largest, is located in woodland to the west of Glebe House in Osmaston (approx. SK197442). There are perhaps five blast shelters, various hut bases and what appeared to be a large brick / concrete pit. Here is a view from the adjacent public footpath (sorry, the sun was in an awkward location) and close-up of the top of one of the shelters:

8749

8750

The next site, to the NW of the first, is at SK193445. It is again in woodland. There are (probably) two shelters and numerous raised brick and concrete hut bases. Here are some photos of one of the shelters and then some hut bases:

8751

8752

8753

Further NW there is an area of hard standing at SK191448. This could be related to the airfield. Nearby, and on higher ground there is a substantial brick and concrete building (SK 187449). It is now in the middle of a caravan and camping site:

8754

Finally there is another group of shelters (3) and hut bases in a narrow strip of woodland at SK186446. It is interesting to note that the hut bases are not raised, as in the other sites, perhaps indicating a different type of hut design? Photo of one of the shelters (note that a public footpath runs right through the middle of the wood):

8755

Imagine my surprise when talking to my wife's grandfather the next day (he was a bomber navigator in WWII) I discovered that he had been billeted at one of the above sites in November 1942. He had come up from Andover, but after only a short spell at Ashbourne, was posted overseas.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks Dave, it is surprising what can be found seventy years later. Many walkers must have wondered what the ruins were; fortunately for us you have an interest.

Can anyone ID the building in the (now) caravan site?

[P Bellamy]

It appears to be the Stand-by Set House.
Also on the site is/was the Gym with chancel and projection room extensions and what looks to be a Sgts' Mess.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thanks Paul. It looked like a power genny building to me but I wasn't sure. A survivor.

[HF Dave]

Thanks for the identification of the building. The gym building is still there (I presume this is the one visible from the A52, approximate location SK194452). A little further SE, but still to the north of the main road there was a very ruinous building (around SK198448) which had largely fallen down. It was still there last year, but I didn't spot it in March so it may have been demolished now. This (and the gym and the building immediately adjacent to it) are visible using Google Street View.

[NJR]

The caravan site is the former communal site and that is the standby set house. Did you notice the tyre depot nearby? That is the free gunnery trainer building.

The first lot of shelters are in the former WAAF site, not sure where you mean the second lot where, can you flashearth link it? There's a very good book on Ashbourne (and Darley Moor) called "A Tale of Two Airfields" available from ARG.

[HF Dave]

The caravan site is the former communal site and that is the standby set house. Did you notice the tyre depot nearby? That is the free gunnery trainer building.

The first lot of shelters are in the former WAAF site, not sure where you mean the second lot where, can you flashearth link it? There's a very good book on Ashbourne (and Darley Moor) called "A Tale of Two Airfields" available from ARG.


No, didn't spot the tyre depot. Next time I am in the area I will be exploring again. Flash Earth links to the sites I saw:

First group of huts:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.994361&lon=-1.707878&z=17.1&r=0&src=msl

Second:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.997732&lon=-1.712963&z=17.1&r=0&src=msl

Standby set building:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=53.001635&lon=-1.721728&z=17.8&r=0&src=msa

Third cluster of huts:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.998813&lon=-1.723479&z=17.8&r=0&src=msa

Sewage works:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.993171&lon=-1.719832&z=18.3&r=0&src=msa

[HF Dave]

And this is the very derelict building which I fear may have recently been removed:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=53.00052&lon=-1.705642&z=18.5&r=0&src=msa

[CDP]

No, didn't spot the tyre depot. Next time I am in the area I will be exploring again. Flash Earth links to the sites I saw:

First group of huts:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.994361&lon=-1.707878&z=17.1&r=0&src=msl

Second:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.997732&lon=-1.712963&z=17.1&r=0&src=msl

Standby set building:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=53.001635&lon=-1.721728&z=17.8&r=0&src=msa

Third cluster of huts:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.998813&lon=-1.723479&z=17.8&r=0&src=msa

Sewage works:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.993171&lon=-1.719832&z=18.3&r=0&src=msa

Dave, your Flash Earth links are:
First group - WAAF communal site
Second - RAF site no. 6
Third - RAF site no. 10

Standby set house is on main communal site. The officer's mess is now the 'Outside Inn' restraunt/function room belonging to the Peak Gateway Caravan & Camping site which occupies the location. This contains (or used to contain) a stained glass window memorial (http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?152-RAF-Ashbourne-Memorial&highlight=Ashbourne). The last anyone had heard, this was being cleaning or restored ready for redisplay but that was a while ago.

The 'very derelict building' is the 'A' Flight crew room and workshop. This was partly demolished when a 42 OTU Albermarle crashed on landing, killing a number of WAAFs.

Chris

[HF Dave]

Thanks for the information.

[pumpkinv12]

I visited Ashbourne last week whilst on holiday and I was driving around the industial estate and came across Hanger 4, I stopped to take a pic from the road and the owner who had just locked up for the night wanted to know what i was doing so I told him of my inerest and then he kindly opened up the hanger for me to look around then he gave me a copy of the airfield plans etc on 4 sheets of A2 paper which was really nice.
The hanger is in great shape and has its original steel framework etc and also an original loud speaker.
Steve :)
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/pumpkinv12/dderebyshiree006.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/pumpkinv12/dderebyshiree008.jpg

[Bomber]

Good photes Steve you were lucky to have had the chance to look roun inside the hanger .Did you go up to the runwys on the eastern & North side while you were there ?
Regards ,
Bomber . ;)

[pumpkinv12]

Yes mate I had a good nosey round but did not post the pics as the runways have been covered on here before.
Steve :)

[pumpkinv12]

The guy was selling "Hanger 4" t-shirts too which were rather nice !
Steve :)

[Bomber]

Steve it does not matter that the runways have been posted before it is always nice to see someone elses pictures as they may have a differant angle to them . So i would love to see the rest of you photes including any thing else related to the airfield as i am sure so would other people on AIX . After all that is what this is all about .
Regards ,

Bomber .:-P

[REF]

I have been told that plans are a foot to build houses on what remains of Ashbourne Airfield, can anyone shed any more light on this rumour?

[Bomber]

Have just been on Google to see if there is any truth on the rumour .It apears that some houses have already been built on part of the airfield & are now being ocupied . More could be built in the coming year or so .One report mentiond a posible total of 400 houses but that figure is not set in stone .
Regards ,
Bomber .

[PETERTHEEATER]

Nothing shown on the Planning Applications site that I just looked at. Plenty of minor apps.

[stevie]

More info about the future plans here -

http://www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk/News/Planners-listened-and-voted-for-the-airfield-site-04122012.htm

[IanDDavidson]

I have tried to get a plan of the RAF Ashbourne dispersed sites from RAF museum. I ordered them in December and they are very slow. The guys from after the battle were very speedy, but no longer have access to the originals. If anyone can help please would you contact me offline on ianddavidson@hotmail.co.uk.

I have seen reference to a book, which I would be interested to know more about.

Thanks and regards

Ian

Ian

[Scout Man]

I think the book you are looking for is:
Royal Air Force Ashbourne by Malcolm L. Giddings ISBN 0 95093710 X

First published 1984 by Colerne Debden Publishing, Tel: 01335 343391

Not sure if still available

Cheers

Scout Man

[REF]

There is a book by Noel Ryan and Chris Percy about Ashbourne and Darley Moor:
http://www.airfieldgallery.co.uk/

It has also been serialised in recent issues of Airfield Review Magazine