Little Walden

[Martin Bull]

Interest on another Forum about the sale of this building prompted me to dig out these photos which I took on November 10th, 1979. It was the very first old control tower which I ever explored and the atmosphere on that cold day was very powerful to me. ( Needless to say, I rather preferred the building in its 'unrestored' state.....) -









Happy days !

[PETERTHEEATER]

Very nice Martin, thanks. The state of the Crittall windows must have brought the UPVC salesmen around in their droves!

[David Thompson]

No need to have done PETERTHEEATER as Crittall are still very much in business , see here ; http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/timeline/
I'm pretty sure the tower to house conversion at Tholthorpe used Crittall window frames and the tower restoration at Melbourne did too ?

[698]

Fascinating.

Our paths must have nearly crossed.
I too visited Little Walden in November 1979 !!
I don't have any photos but do remember when it was because, that morning, before I left, we got a phone call telling us our niece had been born.

My jolly took me to Boreham, Rivenhall, Gt Dunmow, RAF Wethersfield, Debden and Little Walden.
We did try for Andrewsfield but I couldn't find it !
Now I live around here I realise all I had to do was follow the light aircraft !

I remember being amazed that there were still lights out in the fields at Wethersfield (and they still are, just) and that apart from the memorial at Gt Dunmow there appeared little to see there.
Also that Boreham had a similar memorial to that one at Gt Dunmow.

[PNK]

Very similar trip in August 1975

[Paul Hassell]

Hi Guys,

I live only a few miles from Little Walden airfield and a mate has a few of the old buildings as his workshops for his commercial vehicle restoration business, I am up there a couple of times a week so if I can be of any assistance please feel free to give me a shout.

I also have very close links to Gt Dunmow airfield but have posted on there seperatly.

[ksclark3522]

Excellent thread this, thanks. I used to work in the T2 behind the control tower, and having always been interested in old planes it was a great place to work, as so much of it is still there. I do miss not having to drive down a peri-track to get to work!

I remember going down to the ops block when it was Tiny Costin's garage, he used to service all our lorries. I believe he's closed down now, a mate who still works in the T2 said the boards etc are in a museum somewhere now, not sure where.

A very poignant place today, it reeks of history. Great to see some of the old photos, thanks. Like everyone else I'd love to live in that tower.

I understand the main runway was ripped up to provide hardcore for the M11, the B1052 now follows one of the other runways.

I gather the airfield was used after the war to store military vehicles, does anyone have any photos of this time?

[Essexboy]

The building down Bowser Ln, not sure if it was the old opps/admin, or sick bay block is currently being extended, there is a specialist furniture manufacturer based there at the moment.
I have been working for the firm "Constructive Approach" that is carrying out the work, but not at this location.

I also worked on the last conversion of the control tower into the residence it is today, doing the underfloor heating and other plumbing, it was a very interesting job...I'd have had to pay to have that transformer and pole moved though if it was mine !

And yes, new double glazed Crittle windows were used in the control tower refurb...it is after all, a listed building, and I think it was a condition of the planning permision.

All old artifacts and historic documents found during the conversion are available to view in a small room on the ground floor by prior arangment, I believe this was also a condition of the planning permision.