Highland Archaeology Services Ltd - Highland Historic Environment

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Highland Archaeology Services Ltd
Bringing the Past and Future Together
Fearn Airfield Control Tower
Desk-Based Assessment and Building
Recording
In association with Archaeology North
7 Duke Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YH
Tel / Fax: 01381 600491 Mobile: 07834 693378 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hi-arch.co.uk
Registered in Scotland no. 262144 Registered Office: 10 Knockbreck Street, Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1BJ VAT No. GB 838 7358 80
Independently Accredited for Health and Safety,
Environment and Quality Control by Achilles
October 2012
Desk-Based Assessment and Building
Recording
Report No.
HAS121005
Site Code
HAS-HMO12 (AN31)
Client
Charlotte Seddon
Planning Ref
11/00910/FUL
OS Grid Ref
NH 8479 7615
Date/ revision
19/12/2012
Author
Pete Higgins
[ed. J Wood]
Summary
A desk-based assessment and building recording were carried out to meet a planning condition on
development at the control tower, Fearn Airfield (former HMS Owl).
The control tower was identified as a standard RNAS four storey structure of brick and reinforced
concrete; it is believed to be one of only two surviving in Britain, and the only one in Scotland. The
materials for construction came from as far afield as Edinburgh.
Two other standing buildings were also recorded; a brick built generator house and a Nissen type hut
of brick and asbestos concrete. Hollows and mounds in the grass-grown area around the tower may
indicate the remains of other buildings.
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Contents
Aims and objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Location .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Desk-based assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 6
The airfield ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
The Control Tower ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Building Recording ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Control Tower .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Nissen Hut ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
‘Store’ ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................................ 13
Sources ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
Illustrations ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Selected Photographs .......................................................................................................................................... 26
Tables ................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Illustrations
Figure 1 Site location ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Figure 2 Conversion of HMS Godwit FAA control tower (Shropshire) ................................................................ 8
Figure 3 General layout ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 4 NE elevation of Nissen hut .................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 5 NW elevation of Nissen hut ................................................................................................................ 15
Figure 6 SE elevation, Generator hut ................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 7 Plan of Nissen hut ............................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 8 NE elevation, Control tower ................................................................................................................ 18
Figure 9 NW elevation, Control tower .............................................................................................................. 19
Figure 10 SW elevation, control tower .............................................................................................................. 20
Figure 11 SE elevation, control tower ............................................................................................................... 21
Figure 12 Plan of level 0, control tower ............................................................................................................. 22
Figure 16 (Photograph 1) Control tower, Nissen hut and 'store' (behind mound) ............................................. 26
Figure 17 (Photograph 18) Graffiti, W corner, room 02 ................................................................................... 26
Figure 18 (Photograph 20) Graffiti, SE wall, room 02 ....................................................................................... 27
Figure 19 (Photograph 19) Graffiti, SW wall, room 02 ..................................................................................... 27
Figure 20 (Photograph 46) Structure of partition wall between rooms 14 and 15 ............................................. 28
Figure 21 (Photograph 44) Electrical conduit and wooden board, corridor, level 1 ........................................... 28
Figure 22 (Photograph 57) Detail of bench, room 22 ........................................................................................ 29
Figure 23 (Photograph 54) Benches in room 22 ............................................................................................... 29
Figure 24 (Photograph 66) Chimney and later brick structure, level 3 .............................................................. 30
Figure 25 (Photograph 64) Level 3, with bench ............................................................................................. 30
Figure 26 (Photograph 88) Nissen hut, SW elevation ........................................................................................ 31
Figure 27 (Photograph 77) Windsock mounting ................................................................................................ 31
Figure 28 (Photograph 98) Conductor head, N corner, NW elevation, Control Tower ..................................... 32
Figure 29 (Photograph 92) NE elevation, generator hut ................................................................................... 32
Figure 30 Photograph 100 Louvre marks in mortar, Nissen hut, SE elevation .................................................. 33
Cover photograph shows the control tower from the north (photograph 13)
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Acknowledgements
Fieldwork was undertaken by Pete Higgins. Anne Johnston assisted with the desk-based assessment.
Project management was by John Wood, who also edited this report. Background mapping has been
reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217.
Copyright
The report’s author(s) and Highland Archaeology Services Ltd jointly retain copyright in all reports
produced but will allow the client and other recipients to make the report available for reference and
research (but not commercial) purposes, either on paper, or electronically, without charge, provided
this copyright is acknowledged.
Aims and objectives
•
To minimise any possible delay or cost to the development by anticipating archaeological
requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with
the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently.
•
To determine as far as possible the character, extent, condition, date and significance of any
archaeologically significant remains; and to record these where necessary in line with national
and local policies and standards.
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Location
The development site is at Fearn Airfield, Loans of Rarichie, Easter Ross, centred approximately at
OS grid reference NH 8479 7615 at about 9m above sea level.
Figure 1 Site location
Not reproduced to original scale
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Introduction
A Level 1 building recording and desk-based assessment were carried out of the control tower and
surrounding area within Fearn Airfield, Easter Ross, formerly known as HMS Owl.
The project was conducted in accordance with the Codes of Conduct and Approved Practice and
Standards of the Institute for Archaeologists, and the Highland Council’s Standards for
Archaeological Work.
Desk-based assessment
The airfield
Fearn Airfield was constructed initially during the Second World War as a satellite airfield for nearby
RAF Tain. The airfield, known also as Cleys of Allen, Loans of Rarichie or Balintore, and lying on
the flat coastal plain to the east of the village of Balintore, opened in late 1941 on land requisitioned
under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act of 1939. Before the outbreak of war, Tain had been
earmarked as a site for a vital sector station to bridge the gap between Scapa Flow to the north and
Turnhouse to the south. The size of its operations block suggests that the airfield and surrounding
area was intended for large scale operations. However, in fact Tain only accommodated various
squadrons and aircraft on a temporary basis, and it appears never to have fulfilled its potential as a
crucial component in the RAF's contribution to air defence and attack. As the war progressed Tain
increasingly took on training roles with Coastal Command Development Unit arriving in 1942 and the
Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy using the airfield for night flying and servicing later the same
year. As Fearn was similarly underutilised, the decision was made to transfer the latter permanently
to the Navy who commissioned it as HMS Owl on 7 July 1942. From early 1943 its primary role
became that of a Torpedo Training Unit for the new Fairey Barracuda aircraft.
The Fleet Air Arm was formed in 1924 as an organisational unit of the RAF. In 1934 the
government, seeking to increase the strength of the RAF, created eight new FAA squadrons which
were transferred to Royal Navy control in1937. Throughout the war, the FAA operated aircraft on
ships and flew land-based aircraft that defended the navy's shore facilities and patrolled the coastal
waters of the UK. Operations were often run in conjunction with, and supported by, RAF Coastal
Commands units and HMS Owl appears to have worked closely with RAF Tain at times.
The name HMS Owl derives from the naval tradition of naming shore stations as if they were ships;
many stations were indeed berthed vessels. As all naval personnel were technically allocated to a
ship, even airfields were therefore given an HMS prefix, as well as an airfield name and the site
appears variously in documentation as both Fearn Airfield and HMS Owl. The great majority of the
FAA's air stations were named after particular birds, but the choice of the generic 'Owl' is not
immediately obvious. The airfield which HMS Owl inherited had been built to a standard RAF
design and comprised the characteristic dispersed layout with three hard-surfaced runways providing
scope for take-off and landing in all wind directions, enclosed by a perimeter track. Such construction
work tended to be contracted out by the Air Ministry to civilian public contractors. The layout of the
airfield prior to the arrival of the FFA is depicted on a Luftwaffe air photograph of 1941.
Following the transfer of the site to the FAA, modifications and rebuilding took place to naval
specifications. Although most of the FAA's airfields, of which there were 56 by the end of the war,
operated with a four-runway layout, HMS Owl continued to use the RAF configuration but added five
hard standings and a group of Bellman hangars around the perimeter. Two larger 'S' hangars were
also constructed together with torpedo sheds. Domestic accommodation was located in four scattered
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sites to the NE of the airfield and latterly included living quarters for a detachment of WRENS.
Crucial to the operation of the airfield was the building of a new control tower. The small tower,
which had been designed to meet the needs of a satellite airfield, was not sufficient for the demands of
HMS Owl: the building was left intact whilst this new, four-storey tower was constructed.
The primary role of the new naval control tower was to control the immediate airfield environment
through visual observation and to allow hand-signalled communication with pilots on the runway
prior to the advent of radio communication. Before 1937, RAF control towers comprised merely a
small watch hut, and at the start of the war they tended to be staffed by civil contractors who were coopted to the post. As the war gained momentum, it was recognised that air traffic control represented
a specialised job and a Regional Flying Control School came into being. Take-off and landing
became more technical as airfields were equipped with a system of boundary lights, an illuminated
landing area and standard beam approach blind landing systems, while the advent of radio
communication allowed direct communication between the tower's control officers and pilots.
The first naval aircraft to arrive at Fearn in September 1942 were the Fairey Swordfish of 825
Squadron which used it as a training base. At this time the base is believed to have accommodated
approximately 300 personnel. After 825 Squadron's departure, HMS Owl assumed its more
specialised intended role as a torpedo training unit for the new Fairey Barracudas. The first squadron,
747, was formed at Fearn on 22 March 1943 and after training moved to Inskip in June. During the
next three years, thirteen other FAA Barracuda squadrons were trained at Fearn before departing to
aircraft carriers or shore bases. The exact sequence of squadrons using HMS Owl has not been
determined; the lists given in sources 3 and 8 differ in many respects, and the correct sequence may
only be determined by further research using the Fleet Air Arm Museum Archives at Yeovilton.
Towards the end of the war HMS Owl played host to Canadian squadron 825 and Dutch squadron
860.
Torpedo training took place on the Tain range and in the surrounding waters with flying generally
done in flights of three aircraft, changing to four aircraft in two sections in 1945. Each course
averaged around 30 flying hours per month with most squadrons appearing to have stayed in
residence for around twelve weeks. At the end of the war, the Barracuda squadrons were disbanded,
with the last leaving Fearn in May 1946. In addition to torpedo training the airfield was also
intermittently used by other aircraft types involved in training exercises for formation flying, air-tosea canon firing and low-level bombing. At its peak HMS Owl is said to have employed roughly
3,000 individuals. Meanwhile the naval section at Evanton airfield was expanded in 1943 to form a
repair yard. It was then designated a satellite of Fearn, and named HMS Owl 2.
The end of the war saw a reduction in the size of the Fleet Air Arm and the closure of many shore
stations, including HMS Owl, which was reduced to Care and Maintenance on 2 July 1946. In the
early 1950s it was designated as a Secondary Landing Ground for Dalcross airfield (Inverness), but it
was rarely used and soon reverted to agricultural use although the main airstrip remained - as it does
today - available to light aircraft on a 'touch and go' basis. The Cromarty Firth Development
Corporation purchased Fearn Airfield in 1974 with plans to provide an airport to support the industrial
development at Nigg, but this was found to be economically unviable. In the late 1990s a report was
commissioned by the Highland Council to examine the possibility of developing the airfield’s
potential as a tourist attraction, although this, too, has not come to fruition.
Fearn is one the few surviving examples of a Second World War naval airfield. In addition to the
tower, the overall layout of the airfield as well as the operations room, engine test house, torpedo
sheds, bomb stores, test hangars and fire engine house remain in recognisable condition.
Any future research would do well to concentrate on material held in the Fleet Air Arm Museum
Archives. Unlike RAF airfield staff, those of the FAA were not obliged to keep a daily operational
logbook and this lack has perhaps led to less emphasis being placed on the role of FAA airfields in
general aviation histories. It would also be of interest to collate the increasing volume of material
coming to the fore through internet forums. Tain and Cromarty Museum hold some photographic
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material, some of which is online and apparently attracting attention from local people who have been
adding their reminiscences to the military history of the airfield.
The Control Tower
As noted above, the control tower forming the subject of this study was built as part of the alterations
to the airfield after its transfer to Admiralty control. It is variously classed as a three- and four-storey
structure (here referred to as four storey), and was probably built by the Royal Marine Engineers, as
was usual FAA practice. It conforms to a standard design based on a common ground floor plan
measuring 38' 3” x 30'3” (11.66m x 9.22m) which could then be used to provide a blueprint for a two,
three or four-storey structure. The four-storey tower formed the most common variant, with many
such towers being found throughout Britain. Fearn now represents the sole surviving example in
Scotland, with only one more still in existence in England, at Inskip. An example at Burscough Farm
which existed at the time of the ASH report (source 1 below) was demolished in 2004. Another has
been converted to a residential dwelling house at HMS Godwit in Shropshire (see figure 2).
Previous records
Figure 2 Conversion of HMS Godwit FAA control tower (Shropshire)
The Fearn control tower has been recorded by the RCAHMS in 1997 (NMRS Ref NH87 NW 21.01),
and by ASH Consulting Group for the Highland Council in 1999. Architect’s drawings as existing
have also been made for the current project.
The NMRS description reads as follows:
Fearn Airfield control tower is situated in a cultivated field within the perimeter track on the NE segment of
the airfield. The four storey tower has been deliberately damaged internally, with holes punched in partition
walls to discourage its use as living space. The top storey is inaccessible due to the removal of the ladder or
stairs. Little survives internally apart from some benches and the remains of the room partitions. The stumps
of the balcony rail are still in place and on the roof, the remains of a wind sock is still in situ, though
whether this is an original is not known.
Immediately to the rear are the remains of a Nissen hut and small generator house along with the
foundations of one or two other brick built buildings, one of which may be the ablutions block.
The tower is a four storey naval type, others being known to survive in Shropshire and Hampshire. The
construction of the tower must have occurred sometime in 1942 when control of the airfield was transferred
from the RAF to the Royal Navy.
The majority of this type of control tower were built by the Royal Marine Engineers to standard designs and
the construction of the walls was in a mixture of solid brick, and reinforced concrete, with air watch office
being built of reinforced concrete or wood (Francis 1996)
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1
Visited by RCAHMS (DE, PM) January and May 1997 .
The above description also appears in the Highland Council’s Historic Environment Record (HHER)
(No. MHG25866).
The control tower is a category C Listed Building (no.47432), and the official description reads
Circa 1940 (opened 1941). 3-storey with roof-top air watch office ('glasshouse'); square-plan, partbalconied, disused Second World War control tower of standard Royal Naval Air Station design, flat-roofed
with ventilation tower at rear. Brick and reinforced concrete. Air watch office with window openings to
angles and all elevations, including small annex addition to rear. Wind sock post.
W (FRONT) ELEVATION: 3 principal storeys divided by balconies at 1st and 2nd floors,
returned and terminated to N and S elevations. 6 window openings at ground; 2nd and 3rd floors with
central window opening flanked by door openings, flanked in turn by window openings to outer left and
right.
N ELEVATION: projecting single storey entrance block centred at ground; pair of window openings to
right at ground; pairs of window openings flanking centre at 1st and 2nd floors.
S ELEVATION: projecting single storey entrance block centred at ground, with small window openings
above, and flanking; 3 irregularly-arranged window openings at 1st and 2nd floors.
E ELEVATION: pair of vent openings centred at ground, flanked by pairs of irregularly-arranged window
openings; 4 irregularly-arranged window openings at 1st floor; 3 irregularly-arranged window openings at
2nd floor.
2
INTERIOR: not seen, 2000.
These descriptions are generally still accurate, but they have been supplemented by a Level 1 building
recording exercise, see below. No new drawings were made of the ‘store’ mentioned by the
RCAHMS, which remains as described by them.
Neither the Nissen hut nor the ‘store’ appear as separate features on Highland Council’s HER.
Building Recording
A site visit by Pete Higgins on 28 September 2012 recorded the control tower, Nissen hut and ‘store’.
Access was obtained to all floors of the control tower (although the 4th floor roof could not be
inspected), and to the interior of the Nissen hut, but the store was only recorded from the outside.
Conditions were moderately good for recording, although gusty winds prevented the use of a scale on
the top floor of the control tower. Notes were made of construction methods and materials, current
condition, and features of interest. The photographs are indexed below (Table 1) and the drawings are
reproduced as annotations to the architect’s drawings (Figures 3 to 15): these also show camera
positions. The written record is summarised below for each building.
Control Tower
In the control tower the levels were numbered as follows:
0 – ground floor
1 – first floor
2 – second floor
1
2
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/114466/details/fearn+airfield+control+tower/
http://her.highland.gov.uk/hbsmrgatewayhighland/DataFiles/LibraryLinkFiles/39401.pdf
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3 – third floor.
Rooms have been numbered with prefixes for each floor, i.e. Room 01 is room No.1 on the ground
floor.
The control tower is a four storey building of rectangular plan, approximately 11.66m x 9.22m. The
lower two storeys have central corridors, with rooms opening to both sides.
The construction of the lower walls is of c.350mm brickwork supporting concrete floor slabs
apparently cast in situ. From the second floor upwards a reinforced concrete frame replaces the
brickwork, with block work or brick infill panels. The concrete floor slabs of the first and second
storeys are cantilevered out to form balconies to the SW elevation, extending for short distances along
the NW and SE elevations.
The bricks of the load-bearing brickwork are half-frogged commons, stamped ‘NIDDRIE’. These
were produced in a large works near Edinburgh, which was active until 19913; similar bricks from this
source have been found on at least one other Naval air base. They are laid in English Garden Wall
bond, which the author can only recall seeing on other military structures in the area; what few local
buildings are of brick do not use that bond. Single string courses of bricks laid as rowlocks exist on
the SW and NE elevations, and above some window openings on the same elevations. Bricks from the
infill panels are generally identical, but several are half-frogged facers and commons stamped 'A R'.
These are from Tannochside Brickworks, Uddingston, Lanarkshire, in operation from 1919 to 19394.
The window frames were metal, and two sets of small frames survive in the SE and NE elevations,
see figures 9 and 10. Parts of door frames survive in a few places; all are of wood. Many sills are
missing, but one was found concealed in the surrounding grass.
Pipes and pipe voids were probably for heating and water. Several pairs of bricks set on the floors
were recorded, and may be supports for supplementary heaters. Two toilets were located by the
southern entrance.
Traces of render are visible on most internal walls, but are absent from the ground floor passage. The
rendering has fallen off most of the walls near outside doors and windows, but much survives in more
sheltered areas; where plastered corners survive, they are rounded. The plaster itself shows signs of
variation, especially that on the upper floor.
Most internal block work partitions have been deliberately damaged since the building went out of
use, exposing their construction, see figure 21, photograph 46.
Graffiti adorns many of the internal walls, most of it modern spray paint. However, in room 02
pencilled marks showing where a light switch was intended to be placed presumably date from the
construction of the building. In the same room are a crayon profile of a man’s head, with later
comments around it, a crude drawing of an aircraft, and the name ‘James Kilpatrick Ltd’. See figures
17-19, photographs 18 to 20. No other graffiti of interest was seen.
A metal windsock pole was noted attached to a brick structure on the roof of level 3 by metal fixings,
see figure 26, photograph 77. From ground level the pole appeared to be of aluminium tubing, and it
is probably not an original feature. There are remnants of a brick wall abutting the chimney on the
roof of level 2, see figure 25, photograph 66. A metal deadeye was noted on the roof of level 2,
possibly for anchoring a stay wire to an antenna on either that roof or the roof of level 3. No other
fittings were noted on the roof. A larger anchor point was noted set into the ground in the cleared
area, approximately in the location of camera position 1: this was probably for a larger mast or
antenna.
3
http://www.penmorfa.com/bricks/scotlandc.html
The bricks may be re-used; or from a stockpile which survived at least until the mid 40s; or possibly the
recorded closure date is wrong - the brickyard could have been re-opened to cope with wartime demand.
4
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Drainage from the roof was by external downpipes, part of which survived on the NW elevation.
Other traces of downpipes included gaps in the level 2 parapet, wooden plugs in some elevations, and
stains running down the walls. A steel conductor head survives below the balcony on the NW
elevation, see figure 29, photograph 98, but most of the surviving pipe work, both on the building and
scattered around it, are of asbestos cement.
In room 22 two ranges of concrete benches survive, somewhat damaged, see figures 22 & 23,
photographs 54 & 57. The supports are of rendered brick, separated from the reinforced concrete
horizontals by concrete asbestos sheeting. Wooden battens are let into the surfaces. A similar bench
is in level 3.
In several places traces of electric cables or their fixings were noted, see figure 20, photograph 44. It
appears that cables were fixed to wooden battens and boards by insulated clips. The boards
themselves were fixed to the walls by wooden plugs.
The tower shows no sign of subsidence, but throughout the structure there are large, deliberately made
holes and gaps in the walls, and even in the roof of level 3. These were probably made to deter
squatting.
The reinforced concrete is, in places, deteriorating rapidly. There is spalling in exposed areas, and
even in some ceilings in relatively protected areas.
The building is currently being cleared of plaster debris and other rubble; the material is being thrown
out of the galleried windows and forming a spoil heap in front of the building.
Nissen Hut
The Nissen hut, see figure 27, photograph 88, is built with low stub walls of brick forming the base
from which the corrugated asbestos sheet roof sprang. The end walls and partitions are of brick, the
latter rendered. Low brick structures were noted in the SE end, surviving well on the more easterly
wall, less so on the opposite side. The metal windows survive in all windows, and the air bricks at
each end are surprisingly modern-looking.
The brickwork is of the NIDDRIE bricks also found in the control tower, laid in stretcher bond in
cement mortar which appears rather sandy in places. Indeed, the stub walls are showing signs of
bowing on the NE side. The roof is almost completely missing, only fragments of asbestos sheeting
being found in the mortar on top of the stub walls, but the shape of the corrugations is preserved in the
mortar on the cross walls.
Gaps in the end walls once held louvred vents, see figure 30, photograph 100.
‘Store’
This small generator hut (see figure 28, photograph 92), is built of brick with a reinforced concrete
slab roof. The bricks are similar to those of the control tower, and laid in English Garden Wall bond;
an offset c.1m above ground level reduces the thickness of the brickwork. A blast wall of the same
construction protects a double door on the SE elevation; a window has been boarded up on the NW
elevation. Air bricks are sited in the top corners of the other two walls.
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Discussion
The control tower is a good example of a type of structure commonly found in military
establishments, built to a pre-conceived, standardised plan with standardised materials and
construction techniques. They ignore traditional local styles and materials, but the resources needed
to build such structures were well-defined and predictable, leading to efficient use of manpower.
Most Admiralty contracts were (and still are) overseen by civilian overseers working to known
standards and sourcing materials from approved suppliers. Both these factors may be seen at work
here – the pre-planned, standardised structure, and the sourcing of materials from known and trusted
sources rather than local suppliers.
More difficult to analyse is the use to which each room in the building was put. The observation
galleries on levels 1 and 2, and the air watch office on level 3 are all obvious, but many others give no
clue to their purpose or use, which may only be established by reference to the Fleet Air Arm archives
and other sources outwith the scope of this study.
Functions which would have been incorporated in the tower included an air traffic control office,
probably a reception area, boiler room, duty office and switchgear room, among others.
Telephones, radio and other signalling equipment would all be used in the tower, but in which areas
has not been determined. It is likely that reference to records of similar towers could throw some light
on room allocation.
There are also some puzzling absences, for example of obvious mountings or fixings for signalling
equipment or anti-aircraft ordnance on the roofs.
This type of control tower was once the most common type, with many such towers being found
throughout Britain. Fearn now represents the sole surviving example in Scotland with only one more
in existence in England, at Inskip.
The Nissen hut is of a fairly advanced type. Basic Nissen huts were developed during the First World
War, and gave rise to a variety of descendant structures, all designed to be erected rapidly and
economically. The basic type, consisting of a ground frame, formers, roof and end walls could be
erected very rapidly indeed, but this type, with stub walls and relatively sturdy partition walls/formers
is a later development, and was probably intended as a semi-permanent structure.
The presence of the box-like brick structures in the SE end suggests this building was not used as
accommodation. No trace was found of any heating arrangements.
It is probable that the generator hut supplied power to the control tower, Nissen hut, and possibly
other buildings in the area.
Traces of several other very grass-grown structures were noted in the area of the control tower,
especially to the NE, where several depressions and holes made progress hazardous. Vegetation
clearance would be needed before these could be positively identified, but they are likely to include
structures associated with the control tower, such as more stores and possibly an ablutions block.
Although several post improvement farmsteads are known in the vicinity (MHG20891, Broomtown;
MHG20894 Loans of Rarichie; and MHG 48835, Tullich farm), there is no evidence to suggest any
remains relating to agricultural or other activities of this period survive within the study area. A
similar comment may be made regarding the ring ditch (MHG8440) to the north of the airfield
perimeter.
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Conclusions
Of the three buildings examined, only the control tower is of more than local interest. The generator
hut is of simple construction, and many similar examples are known from other military sites. The
Nissen hut might be of more interest because it appears to be of a developed type.
The control tower itself is now the only Scottish survivor of a once numerous class; only one other is
known in the rest of Britain, and it is thus of significance through scarcity. Its condition is
deteriorating, but is not significantly worse than when recorded in the ASH survey of 1999.
There are few remaining fixtures, and it is doubtful if much more information could be expected from
a watching brief on construction works.
There is evidence of buried structures nearby, especially to the NE of the tower, and perhaps more
information about these could be gleaned from a watching brief on soil removal and below ground
works.
It is thus recommended that no further recording is required on the known structures, but a watching
brief be carried out on any groundworks in the vicinity might reveal further evidence.
Sources
1
ASH Consulting Group, 1999, Second World War Airfields at Tain and Fearn, Easter Ross.
A report to Highland Council Planning and Development Section.
2
Francis P., British Military Airfield Architecture, from Airships to the Jet Age.
3
Hughes J., 1999 (second edition), A Steep Turn to the Stars. A history of aviation in the
Moray Firth
4
Fleet Air Arm Archive website accessed at www.fleetaiarmarchive.net
5
Fleet Air Arm Museum website accessed at www.fleetairarmmsueum.com
6
Cromarty Courthouse Museum website accessed at www.cromarty-courthouse.org.uk
7
Tain and District Museum website accessed at www.tainmuseum.org.uk/hms-owl
8
Control Towers website accessed at www.controltowers.co.uk
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Illustrations
Figure 3 General layout, with photo locations
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Figure 5 NW elevation of Nissen hut
Figure 4 SE elevation of Nissen hut
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Figure 6 SE elevation, Generator hut
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Figure 7 Plan of Nissen hut
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Figure 8 NE elevation, Control tower
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Figure 9 NW elevation, Control tower
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Figure 10 SW elevation, control tower
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Figure 11 SE elevation, control tower
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Figure 12 Plan of level 0, control tower
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October 2012
Selected Photographs
Figure 16 (Photograph 1) Control tower, Nissen hut and 'store' (behind mound)
Figure 17 (Photograph 18) Graffiti, W corner, room 02
26
October 2012
Figure 19 (Photograph 19) Graffiti, SW wall, room 02
Figure 18 (Photograph 20) Graffiti, SE wall, room 02
27
October 2012
Figure 21 (Photograph 44) Electrical conduit and wooden board,
corridor, level 1
Figure 20 (Photograph 46) Structure of partition wall between rooms 14
and 15
28
October 2012
Figure 23 (Photograph 54) Benches in room 22
Figure 22 (Photograph 57) Detail of bench, room 22
29
Figure 25
October 2012
(Photograph 64) Level 3, with bench
Figure 24 (Photograph 66) Chimney and later brick structure, level 3
30
October 2012
Figure 27 (Photograph 77) Windsock mounting
Figure 26 (Photograph 88) Nissen hut, SW elevation
31
October 2012
Figure 29 (Photograph 92) NE elevation, generator hut
Figure 28 (Photograph 98) Conductor head, N corner, NW elevation, Control Tower
32
October 2012
Figure 30 Photograph 100 Louvre marks in mortar, Nissen hut, SE elevation
33
October 2012
Tables
Table 1 List of photographs
Photo
number
Direction faced
Scale
1
Description
Control Tower, Nissen hut, and 'store'
NW
1 X 2m
2
Control Tower, entrance, SE elevation
NW
1 X 2m
3
Corridor to toilets, level 0
SW
1 X 1m
4
Toilets, level 0
SW
1 X 1m
5
Base of stairs, level 0
SE
1 X 1m
6
Room 01
E
1 X 1m
7
Room 01
NE
1 X 1m
8
Room 01
SW
1 X 1m
9
Corridor, level 0
NW
1 X 1m
10
Corridor, level 0
SE
1 X 1m
11
Control Tower, NE elevation, lower 3 levels
NW
1 X 2m
12
Control Tower, NE elevation, upper 3 levels
NW
-
13
Control Tower, NW elevation
SE
1 X 2m
14
Control Tower, SW elevation
NE
1 X 2m
15
Room 1, level 0
E
1 X 1m
16
Room 1, level 0
W
1 X 1m
17
Grill, E corner, room 1, level 0
NE
1 X 1m
18
Graffiti, W corner, room 02
W
1 X 1m
19
Graffiti, SW wall, room 02
SW
1 X 1m
20
Graffiti, SE wall, room 02
SE
1 X 1m
21
Room 04
NE
1 X 1m
22
Room 04
SW
1 X 1m
23
Room 05
NE
1 X 1m
24
Room 05
SW
1 X 1m
25
Room 06
W
1 X 1m
26
Room 06
SE
1 X 1m
27
Room 06
NW
1 X 1m
28
Room 03
SE
1 X 1m
29
Room 03
W
1 X 1m
30
Landing, level 1
NE
1 X 1m
31
Stairs down from level 1
SW
1 X 1m
32
Corridor, level 1
NW
1 X 1m
33
Corridor, level 1
SE
1 X 1m
34
Room 11
E
1 X 1m
35
Room 11
SW
1 X 1m
36
Room 12
N
1 X 1m
37
Room 12
S
1 X 1m
38
Room 13
N
1 X 1m
39
Room 13
S
1 X 1m
34
Photo
number
October 2012
Description
Direction faced
Scale
40
Brick at floor level, room 13
NE
1 X 1m
41
Room 14
W
1 X 1m
42
Room 14
SE
1 X 1m
43
Brick at floor level, room 14
NW
1 X 1m
44
Electrical conduit and wooden board, corridor, level 1
-
1 X 1m
45
Room 15
W
1 X 1m
46
Structure of partition wall between rooms 14 and 15
E
1 X 1m
47
Room 15
E
1 X 1m
48
Room 16
S
1 X 1m
49
Room 16
N
1 X 1m
50
Base of stairs, level 1
E
1 X 1m
51
Landing, level 2
SE
1 X 1m
52
Room 21
E
1 X 1m
53
Room 21
W
1 X 1m
54
Room 22
NW
1 X 1m
55
Room 22
S
1 X 1m
56
Room 22
N
1 X 1m
57
Detail of bench, room 22
NE
1 X 1m
58
NW end of room 23
NW
1 X 1m
59
Centre of room 23
S
1 X 1m
60
SE end of room 23
SE
1 X 1m
61
Centre of room 23
N
1 X 1m
62
S corner of level 3
S
1 X 1m
63
W corner of level 3
W
1 X 1m
64
N corner of level 3
N
1 X 1m
65
E corner of level 3
E
1 X 1m
66
Chimney and later brick structure, level 3
NE
1 X 1m
67
Panorama from level 3
SE
-
68
S
-
69
SW
-
70
W
-
71
NW
-
72
N
-
73
NE
-
74
E
-
75
Bench on level 3
NE
1 x 1m
76
Control Tower, SE elevation
NW
1 x 2m
77
Windsock mounting
NW
-
78
Nissen hut, SE elevation
NW
1 x 2m
79
Batten from spoil heap, showing method of fixing
-
-
80
Nissen hut, internal SE elevation
SE
1 x 1m
81
Nissen hut, window in SE elevation
SE
1 x 1m
82
Internal structures, SE end of Nissen hut
NE
1 x 1m
83
SE face of internal dividing wall, Nissen hut
NW
1 x 1m
35
Photo
number
October 2012
Description
Direction faced
Scale
84
NW face of internal dividing wall, Nissen hut
SE
1 x 1m
85
Nissen hut, internal NW elevation
NW
1 x 1m
86
Nissen hut, NW extension
NW
1 x 1m
87
Nissen hut, NW elevation
SE
1 x 1m
88
Nissen hut, SW elevation
N
1 x 1m
89
Nissen hut, NE elevation
S
1 x 1m
90
Store', SW elevation
NE
1 x 1m
91
Store', SE elevation
W
1 x 1m
92
Store', NE elevation
SW
1 x 1m
93
Store', NW elevation
SE
1 x 1m
94
The site and buildings, general view
NW
-
95
SW
-
96
NE
-
97
Control Tower
SE
-
98
Conductor head, N corner, NW elevation, Control Tower
SE
-
99
Blocked wall piercing, SE end, NE elevation, Control Tower
SW
-
Louvre marks in mortar, Nissen hut, SE elevation
NE
-
100
36
October 2012
Table 2 Gazetteer of known sites, extracted from Highland Council HER and NMRS (original spellings retained)
HER
NAME
Type
DESCRIPTION
number
MHG8440
Loans of Rarichie Ring ditch
Air photography has revealed two sub-circular ditches, one c3-4m
in diameter and other c6-8m in diameter. They lie in the field
immediately N of the abandoned airfield at Loans of Rariche.
MHG19584
Fearn Airfield
Military airfield site Fearn's mixed RAF/RN ancestry is betrayed by three runways, a
three-storey tower and one surviving 'S' shed, there were also
Bellmans as well, since demolished.
MHG20891
Broomton
Farmstead
MHG20894
Loans of Rarichie
Farmstead
MHG25259
Fearn Airfield
Military airfield site
MHG25428
Operations Block,
Fearn Airfield
Building
MHG25866
Control Tower,
Royal Naval Air
Building
After the war it is said to have been used as a satellite by a flight
from Dalcross (NH75SE 31), and Loganair planned to link Fearn
with several other Scottish airports.
A farmstead comprising one roofed and one unroofed building is
depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire and
Cromartyshire 1880, sheet liv). The roofed building is shown on
the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1981).
A farmstead comprising one unroofed, four roofed buildings and
an enclosure is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map
(Ross-shire and Cromartyshire 1880, sheet liv), but it is not
shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1989). This
site lies within the grounds of a disused airfield (NH87NW 21).
As MHG19584
Some 50m to the NW of the junction of the entrance to the
airfield with the public B 9166 road to Balintore is the operations
block. Built of brick and concrete, it is set into the ground with
two external corriders , one to the rear and the other at the front,
created in the space between a revetted bank and the sunken
building. Internally there is a central corridor with a series of
offices and rooms set off at right angles. Toilets were noted at
each end of the corridor.
The operations block at Fearn is similar to one found at Arbroath
Airfield (NO64SW 29).
Fearn Airfield control tower is situated in a cultivated field within
the perimeter track on the NE segment of the airfield. The four
37
NUMLINK
NGR
73862
NH 84500 76700
NH 84438 75855
104017
NH 85060 75240
104020
NH 84400 75400
91604
NH 84500 76000
114475
NH 85237 76303
114466
NH 84795 76157
HER
number
NAME
Type
Station
October 2012
DESCRIPTION
NUMLINK
storey tower has been deliberately damaged internally, with holes
punched in partition walls to discourage its use as living space.
The top storey is inaccessible due to the removal of the ladder or
stairs. Little survives internally apart from some benches and the
remains of the room partitions. The stumps of the balcony rail are
still in place and on the roof, the remains of a wind sock is still in
situ, though whether this is an original is not known.
HB number
47342
NGR
Immediately to the rear are the remains of a nissen hut and small
generator house along with the foundations of one or two other
brick built buildings, one of which may be the ablutions block.
The tower is a four storey naval type, others being known to
survive in Shropshire and Hampshire. The construction of the
tower must have occurred sometime in 1942 when control of the
airfield was transferred from the RAF to the Royal Navy.
The majority of this type of control tower were built by the Royal
Marine Engineers to standard designs and the construction of the
walls was in a mixture of solid brick, and reinforced concrete,
with air watch office being built of reinforced concrete or wood
(Francis 1996)
MHG25867
Generator House,
Fearn Airfield
Building
Situated on the SE perimter of the airfield is a further part of the
technical area. In this area are two dispersal pens or 'blast pens'
which have been half demolished. The most prominent building
in this sector of the airfield is a possible large engine test house
(NH87NW 21.09) and to the SE (NH 8500 7558) another large
concrete and brick building which probably housed a large
generator. At NH 8495 7548 and NH 8487 7544 are what appears
to be two Nissen-type dining rooms in advanced states of
collapse. Scattered around the area are several air-raid shelters,
both underground and emergency types, concrete hangar bases for
both Mainhill and Blister type hangars, ablutions blocks and a
series of blast walls that originally stood to the rear of the
38
114468
NH 84960 75490
HER
number
NAME
Type
October 2012
DESCRIPTION
NUMLINK
NGR
114469
NH 84650 76570
Mainhill type hangars. The area is visible on a vertical air
photograph (RAF CPE/Scot/UK/223, flown 1947, 4152).
MHG25868
Monument
Fearn Airfield
On the N side of the airfield outside the perimeter track and
beyond a modern fence line is a secondary techinical area along
with several temporary domestic accommodation buildings. This
area reflects the expansion of the airfield after the RN takeover.
One Mainhill type 'S' survives being recently repainted and now
in use for agricultural purposes. Other buildings of note are a
large reinforced concrete and brick 'Stop Butt' (NH 8426 7644)
for range testing aircraft cannon and machine guns, the aircraft
having their tails raised to fire into the recess and a group of
nissen huts with connecting passages (NH 8412 7643) which have
been for administration purposes. Many hangar and hut bases a
can be discerned in the grass and gorse with several more
upstanding brick built buildings (NH 8443 7641) which have
been the ablutions and shower blocks.
In addition there is a further two blast pens with air-raid shelters
built into them, within the airfield perimeter, both of which have
been half-demolished.
MHG25869
Monument
Bomb Store, Fearn
Airfield
In an area on the NW corner of the airfield, outside the perimeter
track is the bomb store. Constructed post 1942 for the Fleet Air
Arm, it consisted of two large bays of square blast banks
surrounding the store and hoist, plus three smaller ones, all of
which are depicted on the OS 1:2500 map (1973). Only one of the
large bays survives intact, though one bank has been eroded at its
S end. All other bays have been either half demolished or totally
removed, the blast banks having been removed or completely
removed with the bomb store hut left standing.
Three huts survive, one of which was the tractor shed, the other
two buildings were for accommodation both retaining their iron
39
114470
NH 83620 76460
HER
number
NAME
Type
October 2012
DESCRIPTION
NUMLINK
NGR
114471
NH 84890 76140
window frames.
The bomb store would operate by the bombs being hoisted out of
the brick store-huts onto tractor trailers for transfer to the aircraft
in their dispersal areas.
MHG25870
Control Tower,
Fearn Airfield
Building
Mr Mansell, owner, says that he plans to retain this building. This
is the only rendered building on airfield. Window frames brass &
steel are in need of replacement as is the door. Part of wooden
pole within steel rings may be pole for early wind sock. Kept
goats in it after the war. - HAW 12/2002
The RAF watch or control tower survives some 100m SE of the
later RN control tower. A single storey building with iron-framed
windows and entrance in the E. Built of brick with harling, it has
one small internal subdivision and a bench in the main room.
MHG25871
Fearn Airfield
Monument
Situated on the W side of the airfield, this dispersal area once
incorporated some seven, possibly eight hangars. Only one hangar
survives, a Mainhill type 'S' which is now in an advanced state of
dilapidation, with most of the corrugated roof missing. Much of
the framing is intact and allows for the construction technique to
be viewed. The interior is filled with farm debris and rubbish, but
the hangar sits on a concrete base and within a surrounding blast
bank.
All other hangars in this area have been removed and only one
other building is upstanding, that at NH 8351 7553 which has the
appearance of a motor transport building, possibly for an aircraft
tractor. The footings of a further building survive at NH 8348
7555.
This area is a result of the expansion of the airfield after the Fleet
40
114472
NH 83600 75570
HER
number
NAME
Type
October 2012
DESCRIPTION
NUMLINK
NGR
Air Arm took over in 1942.
MHG25872
Fearn Airfield
Monument
MHG25873
Fearn Airfield
Monument
MHG28006
Technical area,
Fearn Airfield
Monument
A small dispersal area is situated on the SW corner, beyond a
large ditch which surrounds the whole airfield. Four hangars were
located in this area, only one of which survives in use as a barn.
The bases and surrounding blast banks of the other three have
been partly removed. A small building which was located at NH
8407 7516 has also been removed, though the base and some
bricks could be seen in rank grass next to the dispersal track. The
hangar is a Mainhill type 'S' which were employed widely by the
Navy.
Situated within the technical area (NH87NW 21.03) is what may
be an Engine Test House. The building has a large entrance in the
SW elevation and a viewing balcony on the upper floor at the NW
end. There are several internal divisions and offices within the
NW part of the building.
This type of building was used to overhaul and ground-run aero
engines.
Photos of 2 buildings planned for demolition to allow building of
refrigerator store. One simple flat roofed brick building. Tar
covered for roof blew off some years ago allowing the water it.
The metal support girders are badly rusted & concrete roof in
danger of collapse. Building with larger doors, suggested by
owner Mr Mansell as previously for fire engines or similar as
road leads from front to main runway. - HAW 12/2002
See assoc. docs. File
-----Please see assoc. docs. File for report on the Fearn and Tain
Airfield Stations, including recordings of buildings and structures
and sites that still exist. This report was compiled by the Fearn
41
114473
NH 84050 75180
114474
NH 84950 75600
114467
NH 84990 76100
HER
number
NAME
Type
October 2012
DESCRIPTION
NUMLINK
NGR
114468
NH 84960 75490
and Tain Airfileds and W.W.11 conservation group. The aim of
this report is to correct mistakes by earlier surveys so that even if
the
buildings collapse or are taken down the true information will
remain on record.
J Aitken : 03/01/01.
NH87NW 21.02 Centred 8499 7610
The technical area for Fearn Airfield is situated immediately to
the E of the control tower (NH87NW 21.01) and it extends to the
public road (B9166) which falls on sheet NH87NE. Within this
area are 3 Nissen huts joined together to form the torpedo store,
several buildings and sheds now being used as modern industrial
units, one of which is a Mainhill 'S' type hangar and the remains
of many air-raid shelters, ablutions blocks and other buildings.
MHG45679
Fearn Airfield
Monument
The technical area reflects the mixed ancestry of this airfield, with
buildings from 2 periods, that of RAF and later RN post 1942
history. During Fearn Airfields naval period it was the torpedo
school, with the nearby Tain bombing range (NH88SW 14.01)
being used for practice.
Situated on the SE perimter of the airfield is a further part of the
technical area. In this area are two dispersal pens or 'blast pens'
which have been half demolished. The most prominent building
in this sector of the airfield is a possible large engine test house
(NH87NW 21.09) and to the SE (NH 8500 7558) another large
concrete and brick building which probably housed a large
generator. At NH 8495 7548 and NH 8487 7544 are what appears
to be two Nissen-type dining rooms in advanced states of
collapse. Scattered around the area are several air-raid shelters,
both underground and emergency types, concrete hangar bases for
both Mainhill and Blister type hangars, ablutions blocks and a
42
HER
number
NAME
Type
October 2012
DESCRIPTION
NUMLINK
series of blast walls that originally stood to the rear of the
Mainhill type hangars. The area is visible on a vertical air
photograph (RAF CPE/Scot/UK/223, flown 1947, 4152).
A rectangular building is marked on the OS 1st edition map of
1874 (sheet 55), but is not marked on the 2nd editionof 1907 or
the latest map. A walkover reveals the area of the building to be
heavily overgrown with gorse with no visible remains.
-
MHG48835
Tullich Farm
Monument
MHG52795
Pole Factory,
Fearn Airfield
Building
MHG52796
East-West
Runway, Fearn
Airfield
Dispersal pens,
Fearn Airfield
Monument
-
NH 84816 75881
Monument
-
NH 84853 75762
MHG52798
Military building
Building
-
NH 84889 76133
MHG52799
Military building
Building
-
NH 84933 76133
MHG52800
Building Fearn
Building
-
NH 84981 76138
MHG52801
Emergency Air
Raid Shelter,
Fearn
Water Container,
Fearn
Building
-
NH 84984 76164
Monument
-
NH 85006 76123
Second World
War Airfield at
Fearn, Easter
Ross
Nigg Area Water
Mains Renewal
Projects
Field Survey/
Walkover Survey
Survey of airfield and existing buildings
NH 84869 76286
Field Survey/
Walkover Survey
Survey of area centred east of airfield, overlapping to within
200m of control tower
NH 80890 74991
MHG52797
MHG52802
EHG713
EHG1142
43
275644
NGR
NH 8512 7647
NH 84194 75472
2no. dormers (west elevation only - facing
control tower)
Rev Description
Date
Rev
00/00/00
Description
Structural Insulated Panel strips spanning
longitudinally between end and inner walls
Corrugated & curved galvanised steel outer
fi xed to underlying structure with min. 25mm
ventilation gap
(5500mm side to side with 2400 rise at
centre, outside dims approx.)
Curved plasterboard internal fi nish
2,400
Dormers with corrugated roofs, Haffi ts of
100mm insulated timber stud with timber
board fi nish or similar
Existing window sizes reduced to facilitate
roof insulation and structure
580
Existing brick stub walls remain with new low
inner insulated timber frame wall
5,500
Elevation
Section
Scale 1:50
Scale 1:50
Corrugated & curved galvanised steel outer
fi xed to underlying structure with min. 25mm
ventilated air gap
(Proprietary profi le fi llers at bottom edges to
provide ventilation as per BS5250
8.4.4.2 (option b))
Roof breather membrane
Structural Insulated Panel strips spanning
longitudinally between end and inner walls
225
Vapour barrier then curved plasterboard
internal fi nish
Typical Roof Detail
Scale 1:25
Studio
Dormer Window
Dormer Window
1,400mm
1,600mm
1,400mm
1,600mm
5,760
Studio
3,500mm
5,310
2,000mm
225
4,960mm
3,500mm
250275
9,450
275250
Proposed Nissen Hut Plan
10,000
Scale 1:50
Client
Justin & Charlotte Hooper
Plan
Project
Scale 1:50
Proposed Alterations to
Fearn Control Tower
Nissen Hut (existing)
Drawn by; A. C. Hooper
Innis Beag, 6 Main St, Balintore,
Ross-shire IV20 1UE
email; [email protected]
mob; 07884 048791
tel;
01862 832041
September 2012
Drg. no.
H04/xx

Highland Archaeology Services Ltd - Highland Historic Environment

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