Tholthorpe

[airfields man]

Tholthorpe Tower 1992.




Most of the graffiti on the wall is from visits by ex crew members, The top left one is by Joe Hickson. AG 420 Sqdn. J Lauder, F/E 420 Sqdn. centre.

[Richard Drew]

I have just placed Tholthorpe on my website and here are a few photos from it.


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Blister Hangar Free Gunnery Trainer


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Inside the original watch office.


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Watch Office Site


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Defence Post [Seagull type trench]


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B1 Hangar

[airfields man]

This was 1992 at Tholthorpe, I'm sure? Either way while at Tholthorpe photographing the main tower I kept hearing a woman laughing in the distance. I looked in every direction as I walked around, not a soul in sight !! This went on the whole time I was there, about fifteen minutes in total. It wasn't due to me answering any call of nature either.!!!

[REF]

I am sure I remember someone asking about the old tower at Tholthorpe, I have found referance to it in the book 'Post-War Yorkshire Airfields' by Barry Abraham. He states it as drg no 13079/41. The bit on the top of the tower, shown in my photos below is described as "Large 'runway in use' marker boards". Photos taken on 28 May 2008

[Richard Drew]

The next question is the large room on the ground floor was used for?

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[norwichpaul]

Me me me, me, I know this - its the.....................Ops room!

[Richard Drew]

Dear Paul

Thanks again and now I have you on the subject of Tholthorpe, the triangular structure for the boards informing which runway was in operation. The brick work is stretcher Bond not the bond on the watch office? Any ideas why??? Was the structure built post war???

[PNK]

Wild guess. Could be that the walls are only single brick in depth and stretcher bond is really the only choice. Also the triangular shape would be easier in stretcher.

[Richard Drew]

Its just that Paul has made me look harder at the remains of airfields, the type of construction & he asks which brick bond etc. that when I got to the top of the tower the stretcher bond stuck out like a sore thumb. Metaphorically speaking. Also over the Maycrete saga I have been a bit more vigilant.

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[norwichpaul]

Richard I assume that the opening has an internal pier as I note from your photo that its 9in brick. However the internal walls are indeed stretcher bond with internal piers for extra stength and cement rendering on the external face to keep the weather out. I would say its WW2. Nice to see that you are taking the time to see and understrand the construction details - this can be so much fun and for me is part of the interest of these buildings.