Wormingford

[Southend Spitfire]

Great photos STAN11 thanks for sharing.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Amost your namesake! Photos 1, 3 & 4 are Stanton Air-raid Shelters. Photo 2 is a Blast Shelter.

[cwbalmer]

Good stuff. Any clues as to where these are? (if possible?)

[STAN11]

These blast shelters are off limits as the area is farmland and that also includes shooting activities taking place - I have permission to be there for that reason. So I wouldn't advise anyone to start wandering all over the place as it can be dangerous. Even I have to be cautious as it is not only shotguns but also rimfires in use over there.

But basically these are the same as what can be seen at Earls Colne or more precisely Marks Hall estate.

[cwbalmer]

oh I appreciate that, and wasn't thinking of just wandering up there! I was interested to see if they were visible on flashearth or google maps...

cheers

[STAN11]

oh I appreciate that, and wasn't thinking of just wandering up there! I was interested to see if they were visible on flashearth or google maps...

cheers

PM in your box.

ATB

Stan.

[gee48]

I'm new to this site and interested in the airfield at Wormingford. The comunial hut (last pic of Jasons) was one of many on this site, I'm not sure how many are left. I lived in one of these many years ago, infact I believe I was born here. My fathers brother and sister and there famiies also lived here. I think when my parents first lived here they were squatters, but later the council took over the site. My aunt recently passed away and my cousin came across rent books from the camp dating from 1948 to 1951.
Does anyone have anymore information about this part of the airfield.
Graham

[pauline]

I am interested in Wormingford for two reasons, first my 'ancestral home' Balls Farm was demolished during the construction of the airfield and second, my uncle Walter Frederick Balls (always known as Fred), was one of those employed by the subcontractors, Macer's of Gt Horkesley, who helped Richard Costain to construct the airfield (1942-43).
The brickwork that he was responsible for would have been of a very high standard I suspect as he was an expert bricklayer, and my cousin, his son, tells me that much of this still survives. With my booksellers hat on I know that there is a lot of background information on Wormingford in 'Essex Airfields in the Second World War' by Graham Smith.

[STAN11]

cwbalmer - pm in your mail box,

Regards,

Stan11.

[Carnaby]

I note that in 1956 the station buildings were 90% used as a grain and buffer store by the Ministry of Food. The Nissens were deteriorating rapidly but the four Romneys and all TB buildings were in good order. The MoF had one T2 for grain, the farmer used the other for grass storage, The PB Ops Block was described as intact but all internal fittings removed.

Five dispersed sites had been demolished, three were used by the Ministry of Works, and the SSQ had become an MoW piggery.

It was still AM property at this time, and the report stated that the control tower had been converted into three flats. No time wasted there.