Over all the World War Two sites I have visited I have not seen a complete sewage works. Knowing that RAF Eye had one I was keen to see it. I had it pinned down to a few possibilities but not totally sure. I gave in and asked a friend who does historical research on World War Two airfields. He confirmed it was one of the three spots I had narrowed down. A small trek to it and I was at the old road to the site. It was quite an impressive set up, it consists of a pump house which just a big tank, a tool shed, filtrations beds, sludge drying beds and a destructor shed. The system of sewage disposal is not a lot different today, in fact some of the old sewage works have been taken on by the water board. looking around the site I tried to get a picture of how it works. I think the system works by the sewage being taken to the sludge beds by pipes from the domestic sites and other sites. This is poured into the filtration beds. This would filter the raw sewage which would be fed in the sludge drying beds. When this is dry it would be taken to the destructor sheds and burnt with other combustible materials.
RAF Eye was a former RAF base designated number 134 and was given to the US airforce for use with heavy bombers. It was even constructed by US army’s own engineers. It was one of the last to be built within that area and was completed in December 1943 And became operational in May 1944. At the end of the war the US handed the airfield back to the Air Ministry. It was then used as an active station till it was finally sold in the early 60s. The site is now a very extensive industrial estate which sits on the airfield itself. The runways, taxiways and lots of buildings remain. But most have been repurposed for other uses. I don't think any of this site has been reported surprisingly and one I have not been too before either.
So we have the former entrance road to the site.
The sludge filtration beds are quite an impressive size and a lot of bricks have been used in its construction.
One of the holes for feeeding the beds.
Quite a bit of the old pipework exsidts.
Heading over to the drying beds. I counted eight of these in varying sizes and design.
Overflow channel.
Destructor shed and pump house.
Tool shed.
Whilst here I thought I would hunt out a few other bits that attracted my attention. Starting with the old ambulance shed and mortuary. This was part of the sick quarters situated on the far edge of the domestic site.
A Stanton shelter.
And last is this spigot mortar. These can be found quite regular but not complete like this. They are normally filled in with just the top of the concrete showing with the stainless pin. A Blacker Bombard anti tank weapon would be sat on top. The concrete bases were constructed by the royal engineers and they had small chambers for housing ammo. These were dotted around everywhere and mainly further south and east and manned by the home guard. This one at Eye was one of five and part of a perimeter defence for the airfield. This one is situated near a small river so that would guard the water as well I guess. I think several more in Eye are still about and in the same condition as this one. Originally they would have looked something like this.
RAF Eye was a former RAF base designated number 134 and was given to the US airforce for use with heavy bombers. It was even constructed by US army’s own engineers. It was one of the last to be built within that area and was completed in December 1943 And became operational in May 1944. At the end of the war the US handed the airfield back to the Air Ministry. It was then used as an active station till it was finally sold in the early 60s. The site is now a very extensive industrial estate which sits on the airfield itself. The runways, taxiways and lots of buildings remain. But most have been repurposed for other uses. I don't think any of this site has been reported surprisingly and one I have not been too before either.
So we have the former entrance road to the site.
The sludge filtration beds are quite an impressive size and a lot of bricks have been used in its construction.
One of the holes for feeeding the beds.
Quite a bit of the old pipework exsidts.
Heading over to the drying beds. I counted eight of these in varying sizes and design.
Overflow channel.
Destructor shed and pump house.
Tool shed.
Whilst here I thought I would hunt out a few other bits that attracted my attention. Starting with the old ambulance shed and mortuary. This was part of the sick quarters situated on the far edge of the domestic site.
A Stanton shelter.
And last is this spigot mortar. These can be found quite regular but not complete like this. They are normally filled in with just the top of the concrete showing with the stainless pin. A Blacker Bombard anti tank weapon would be sat on top. The concrete bases were constructed by the royal engineers and they had small chambers for housing ammo. These were dotted around everywhere and mainly further south and east and manned by the home guard. This one at Eye was one of five and part of a perimeter defence for the airfield. This one is situated near a small river so that would guard the water as well I guess. I think several more in Eye are still about and in the same condition as this one. Originally they would have looked something like this.
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