RAF Patrington / Holmpton

[PNK]

Holmpton also had an air to ground range on the coast and an air to air range just off the coast.

[David Thompson]

Heritage Open day at Holmpton , 10 September 2010 ;

RAFHPS at RAF HOLMPTON wrote:
This year in conjunction with English Heritage
(HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2010) RAF Holmpton will be
holding a special FREE visit on the morning of
Friday 10th September - Gates 10.30am
Visit 11am ending about 1pm.

Our very special guest this year is Professor Nigel
Butterworth, who was the Government's Chief Advisor
(Emergency Planning) during the 1980's.
Professor Butterworth was the
person directly responsible for a huge number of
Bunker Rebuilds and Refurbishments. Including the
improvement of most of the ROC Group Controls, the
building of some new RGHQ's at Chilmark, Cultybraggan
and Crowborough, and the refurbishment of Hack Green,
Skendleby and other sites.

He was also responsible for the major builds and rebuilds
at Naphill, Daws Hill, RAF Holmpton etc.

The professor will be giving an illustrated talk (film & slides)
and there will also be a walk through parts of RAF Holmpton
which have never been open/seen before by visitors.

Places are very limited and to obtain tickets go to www.rafholmpton.com
then click on the Special Events Page and use the email link there.

Steve Lewis
RAF Holmpton

[REF]

This email arrived yesterday via Nick Catford / Subbrit

Due to a major failure of the ventilation system at Holmpton, the bunker will be closed for the rest of 2012 while repairs and/or replacement are made. The main intake motor has blown (this is original). It weighs 2½ tons and is probably beyond economic repair.

James Fox would like to apologise for any disappointment.

[netcompsys]

I used to visit RAF Patrington while I was based at North Luffenham during the period, roughly, 1972 to 1974.

It was not a place we looked forward to visiting.

I used to service the Ottringham TACAN beacon which used to be just off the main road from Keyingham to Ottringham. Both it and the ROC post on the other side of the road have now disappeared without trace.

On occasion we used to have to visit the RAF Patrington domestic/technical site in the village of Patrington (now a caravan/leisure site) either to refuel or to kip in the transit accommodation (transit accommodation was generally poor, Patrington's was particularly bad). Both of these required a visit to the Guardroom to book in and out and invariably the Station Warrant Officer would catch us for some dress or hair infraction.

I never visited the hole which is now RAF Holmpton back then, but did visit last year.

Here are some photos

the "bungalow" entrance to the bunker
Oct11 272a.jpg

A view over the top of the bunker from the car park
Oct11 323a.jpg

Looking down the long corridor from the bungalow
Oct11 274a.jpg

The main plotting table
Oct11 321a.jpg

The medical centre
Oct11 313a.jpg

The "Laptops"
Oct11 308a.jpg

RAF Patrington station crest
Oct11 322a.jpg

click on the tthimnails for larger versions
I have more photos if anyone is interested

Well worth a visit when it is open (unless you are claustrophobic)

kevin

[REF]

Great to see these Kevin, not seen the inside of this place before but it looks like an amazing place to visit. It is on my to do list. Maybe next year!

[G4HFG]

A few from my old collection taken just before its closure. Notice the drum of cable awaiting to be installed.
patrton.jpg

A rare snapshot of the modulator building
patringtonmodulatorbldg.jpg

And another.
patringtonthrugateleft.jpg

More when I find them!