Welford

[tigger]

Just came across these when trying (and failing) to find a modern plan with building numbers:
http://sites.google.com/site/stratoj...elfordinphotos
http://greenham.greatnow.com/welford_2_000001.htm
http://greenham.greatnow.com/new_site_000004.htm

some pictures of the original buildings amongst them

[rotarypete]

Yup......largest US dump of big bangs in Western Europe apparently......and also home to the "secret" road off the M4 between J14 and J13 eastbound.

[PETERTHEEATER]

That is RAF Welford.

Er....if it's from the Getmapping imagery it is Snelsmore Common CAD (Central Ammunition Depot)

[superplum]

Er....if it's from the Getmapping imagery it is Snelsmore Common CAD (Central Ammunition Depot)

Definitely Welford at c4 miles to the East but under-utilised nowadays

.

[rotarypete]

Without wanting to divert the thread too much and to clarify.

Modern satellite imagery showing an airfield to the east of the Great Shefford ELG is RAF Welford which is currently in the hands of the USAF as a major munitions depot carrying the largest non-nuclear ordnance in western Europe. For various actions involving the US and arising out of the UK (principally Fairford) this depot has supplied armaments; equally there are unconfirmed (as far as I am aware) reports of support to the Cruise Missiles when based at Greenham.

Snelsmore CAD was a little further east, to the north west of Newbury and has been highlighted on another thread on the forum. It was one of a number of depots during WW2 that were setup both to support the multitude of air ops in the area as well as munitions for the D-Day push. Today Snelsmore is a country park of woodland and heathland with little remnants of its former use although I have read reports of people clearing the undergrowth occasionally finding the odd empty ammo box.

[superplum]

Without wanting to divert the thread too much and to clarify.

Modern satellite imagery showing an airfield to the east of the Great Shefford ELG is RAF Welford which is currently in the hands of the USAF as a major munitions depot carrying the largest non-nuclear ordnance in western Europe. For various actions involving the US and arising out of the UK (principally Fairford) this depot has supplied armaments; equally there are unconfirmed (as far as I am aware) reports of support to the Cruise Missiles when based at Greenham. Note 1

Snelsmore CAD was a little further east, to the north west of Newbury and has been highlighted on another thread on the forum. It was one of a number of depots during WW2 that were setup both to support the multitude of air ops in the area as well as munitions for the D-Day push. Today Snelsmore is a country park of woodland and heathland with little remnants of its former use although I have read reports of people clearing the undergrowth occasionally finding the odd empty ammo box. Note 2

Note 1. Used by USAF but always overseen by the RAF. GLCM support for Greenham was negligible.
Note 2. Easily found on GE.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Definitely Welford at c4 miles to the East but under-utilised nowadays

.

The Getmapping imagery 1940-1947 imagery doesn't show Welford but does show Snelsmore.

[superplum]

The Getmapping imagery 1940-1947 imagery doesn't show Welford but does show Snelsmore.

Interesting! It appears to be a "censored" image insofar that Poughley Farm is also missing. The house dates from the 1700s and is still maintained as a listed bldg.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Yes, we keep coming across historic B & W aerial imagery which has been doctored but then so was much of the post-war OS mapping.

When looking for the WW2 bomb store at Pershore the imagery showed no airfield at the location but the censor had failed to chop out a couple of 1940 bomb stores which led my eye to the area!

[NJD]

A couple of photos not many civilians have seen. The ancient Priory at Welford, until recently always the commanding officers residence.

The Priory, Welford0001.jpgRear of The Priory, Welford0001.jpg