Manby

**jason** · 18-07-2008, 22:40

Visited the site on Tuesday, this was the first time i'd been here, what a superb site. We had a good look around, can anyone help ID this it had large wooden double doors at both ends, Gym ?

Opposite the Instructional building are some trees, i noticed a blocked off roadway so climbed over the earth bank and came across these.

Officers mess

One of the side annexes

Main door to the Annexe

Dotted around the area are the original lamp posts

This area even has the Squash Court

**PETERTHEEATER** · 18-08-2008, 08:15

Norwich Paul may be able to throw some light on this query.

This building is identified in British Airfield Buildings (Vol 2) Page 34 as a Magazine to AM Drawing 4279/37.

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=53.36391 ... =0&src=msa

1. This location is unusually close to a hangar for an explosive store. Less than 150 yards! What was it's intended function?

2. Manby opened in 1938 and was a 'expansion' station and would have had a bomb store to AM Drawing 3054/36. What was the location?

Peter H

**norwichpaul** · 18-08-2008, 08:48

Surely its the Group XII Store House - a SAA Store

**PETERTHEEATER** · 18-08-2008, 08:59

Ah! You're up early Paul.

Yes, that would get my vote and it falls in nicely with the armament training role of Manby.

A.M. Drawing Number?

Peter H

**Ossington_2008** · 24-10-2008, 17:22

Summer 89, before the council took over. Getting tatty but being used for plant storage

Dunno who he is...

**REF** · 11-11-2009, 11:16

Manby 'Hipped' (Drg No 4292/35 ?) - May 2008

**woodster** · 07-12-2009, 21:23

lincoln outside manby hanger in 1947,same view taken in 2006.

**woodster** · 07-12-2009, 21:31

Manby under construction in the 1930s, below is same hanger in 2006

**Blackadder** · 14-05-2010, 19:04

Manby - May 2010

**jpg1982** · 15-05-2010, 22:37

Excellent thread! I stumbled across this site while researching Manby airfield. I have recently started working for Manby motorplex and it is the first time i had been on an airfield. I love the history of buildings and the site is fascinating to me. The 5 hangars have just been sold by the MOD as of May 6th 2010, to Winchester Marine, the same company that owns the hangars at Binbrook.
I have been unable to have a good look around as yet, but i did get the chance to see inside the hangars last thursday. They are in fantastic conditon, having been unused for around 6 years and previously to that being used as a grain store.
The control tower is in a very sad state. It has been severly vandalised and has been open to the elements for some time. There are plans in the future to tidy it up, but im unsure as to what extent the work will be, i doubt it will be made usable, just safe.
There are plans for improvements on the old watch building which is now the Manby Motorplex operations centre, mainly modernising the interior sympathetically and giving it a fresh coat of paint.
I would be very intersted in any photos of the airfield, especially ones before the main runway was removed and also any of the watch building and control tower.
I will try and post some photos in the future of anything that i find that may be of interest.

Jason