Thornaby

[David Thompson]

Thornaby aerodrome now has a self guided aviation walk which was launched by Stockton Borough Council last September . The circular walk of no more than 2 miles starts and finishes at the full size replica Spitfire which was dedicated in April 2007 and carries the codes of the Thornaby based 608 (North Riding) Squadron RAuxAF . The leaflet is available from local libraries or Thornaby Town Council and can be down loaded from ; http://www.stockton.gov.uk via the Leisure & Visiting section or enter 'aerodrome' in the site search box . Most of the former aerodrome is now housing with the small industrial estate centered around the old pre-war technical site gradually giving way to more housing particularly flats . The original 1930 hangar was demolished in January and I am sure the remaining buildings will go before too long .

[Stevo]

Hi,

I think its quite sad that the buildings are eventually being demolished a Thornaby, I believe the old MT garages have been demolished also. I can count about 10 buildings left.

I cant understand how in one had the council will spend money on a REPLICA Spitfire but in the other sell off the remaing ORIGINAL aerodrome buildings for housing. Then give away a self walk leaflet to go and have a walk around them as they are slowely being demolished, I dunno.

Losing the last remaing C-type was just criminal. The original WW1 aeroplane hanger and workshops are still there but how long will they last.

I imagine in 10-20 years time there'll be nothing left except an old dirty REPLICA Spitfire and a load of old (falling to bits) toy town housing. but I'm sure the self walk leaflet will still be available. (sign post 1 shows the position of the old station HQ, demolished in 2012 for a Mcdonalds. )

But as they say money talks!!!

pictures of the airfield can be found here http://hammer.prohosting.com/~thornaby/index.html

Stevo

[norwichpaul]

Stockton Borough Council is one of many local authorities who have no interest in their local history, the list is many, but there are exceptions such as Cherwell, East Devon, Taunton deane and West Norfolk for example. So its not all bad.

[David Thompson]

It was the WW1 hangar that was demolished in January ! The C-Type came down at 12:45 on Thursday 24 November 2005 ,the MT sheds in September 2006 and the MT offices in March 2007 .Ii was there for all of them ! I'm not sure about the provinence of the 'WW1' hangar but it was erected around 1929-30 and was always known as the 'tin shed' and was 608's hangar. I'd always thought it was a second hand ex-RNAS hangar but am not sure but perhaps norwichpaul knows more ? I did try to get the SBC listed buildings officer interested but she didnt deem them important enough although Tees Archaeology who provided services for the local authorities have done a full and thorough survey . Unfortunately there is a lot of political anamosity between Stockton Borough Council and Thornaby Town Council which often , actually frequently , gets in the way . Thornaby TC have been very supportive of the aerodrome history and do what they can to preserve its memory . I was involved in the aerodrome memorial project back in 1997 and the Spitfire and walk leaflet and think that the town council has done as much as it can to perpetuate the memory of the airfield and has achieved much more than many councils do in that respect .

[norwichpaul]

Try Seaplane Shed Type G - surely Tees Archaeology have this info?

[David Thompson]

No ! I suspect that like most local archaeology services they tend to specialise in ancient or certainly pre 1900 history ? The other problem of course is getting the funding to do a full survey which needs to be requested by a local authority to make it eligible . More bureaucracy and paperwork sadly although they have surveyed all surviving home defence structures in the area and several airfied defence pillboxes are listed .

[Stevo]

Hi

Was it this one that was demolished?

http://hammer.prohosting.com/~thornaby/no2hanger.html

I was referring to the other remaining hanger next to the main stores. Has this also been demolished?

http://hammer.prohosting.com/~thornaby/no1hanger.html

[Stevo]

Just thought I'd post this aerial overlay I did to show the basic layout of RAF Thornaby

Aerial background from Google Earth

[David Thompson]

Number 1 hangar is the one that was demolished in January and was the first , apart from canvas hangars , to be built at Thornaby . It is shown on the 1930 airfield plan as an 'aeroplane shed' but I'm not sure if it was a Type G as it was end opening and not side and looks smaller ? The Teesside Bridge & Engineering Company where only a few miles away in Middlesbrough and I wonder if it was made locally by them ? Number 2 hangar was demolished in the mid 90's perhaps earlier and is now housing . I had always thought it was a Bellman but the 1945 airfield plan has it listed as an aeroplane shed , Dwg no 1520 - 30/32 ?
We are a bit out of the way up here but if anyone is coming up this way or passing through then PM me and if I can I would be happy to show you around . The local library has some memorabilia and St Paul's Church has a stained glass Thornaby aerodrome window which was dedicated in 1976 . Its all in the walk leaflet !

[Stevo]

HI

In the book 'Thornaby Aerodrome and Wartime Memories' by David Brown, I think if memory serves, it said a lot of Bellman hangers where moved from Greatham airfield to Thornaby, can't remember any dates but it was around ww2 time.

That might be why you thought it was a bellman. There where some there but they arent on the plans, I have the plans of Thornaby from the RAF museum and I dont think they are on any of them. I have a photo of the aerodrome from the air with about 4-5 bellman hangers in view.

Stevo