History:
Upon opening in 1939, RAF West Raynham was used for WW2 services which led to the losses of 86 of its most treasured fleet of planes.
The institute closed in 1994, though the MoD retained rights to its use until 2006 when the site was sold and is now used as a business park, like many other ex-RAF sites.
Today it spends its time being used for businesses such as airsoft and other general companies as well as serving as a solar farm.
The Explore:
After camping down a nearby track, @UrbandonedTeam, @The Excursionists and I headed to the complex.
The first building we got to was the Officers' Mess which boasted some first-rate architecture and decay.
The piano hall with an alluringly decaying ceiling and scintillating windows stretching almost from floor to roof.
Another social/common room here, bedecked with a fireplace and classic french doors at either entrance.
The bar sector of the Officers' Mess here with an array of natural decay, luckily spared from too much vandalism.
After leaving the first building, we came to the illustrious gym which is redolent of a typical High School sports hall, though I can't say mine was as large as this!
The heaving decaying changing rooms and toilets for the gym sharply contrast with the sterile main hall.
Just before entering the restaurant we got stopped by a security pick-up who seemed like a very pleasant chap. We insisted we weren't thinking of entering the buildings, though I'm not sure he was as credulous as he purported to be, since we saw him driving up and down around where we were soon after that... Regardless, we managed to infiltrate the building without too much hastle.
Directly beneath the foregoing shot is this main entrance to the restaurant.
Presumably a dining area for the restaurant; it's a shame there are no tables left at all to demonstrate the establishment's hospitable prowess.
Finally we came to the tower block at the rear of the site. Pictured here are the motors which lead straight into the large, protruding column with a favourably placed ladder.
Please excuse my hand held shots, it was far too windy up there for a tripod, but the view of the site is nonetheless unrivalled.
Thank you for reading
Upon opening in 1939, RAF West Raynham was used for WW2 services which led to the losses of 86 of its most treasured fleet of planes.
The institute closed in 1994, though the MoD retained rights to its use until 2006 when the site was sold and is now used as a business park, like many other ex-RAF sites.
Today it spends its time being used for businesses such as airsoft and other general companies as well as serving as a solar farm.
The Explore:
After camping down a nearby track, @UrbandonedTeam, @The Excursionists and I headed to the complex.
The first building we got to was the Officers' Mess which boasted some first-rate architecture and decay.
The piano hall with an alluringly decaying ceiling and scintillating windows stretching almost from floor to roof.
Another social/common room here, bedecked with a fireplace and classic french doors at either entrance.
The bar sector of the Officers' Mess here with an array of natural decay, luckily spared from too much vandalism.
After leaving the first building, we came to the illustrious gym which is redolent of a typical High School sports hall, though I can't say mine was as large as this!
The heaving decaying changing rooms and toilets for the gym sharply contrast with the sterile main hall.
Just before entering the restaurant we got stopped by a security pick-up who seemed like a very pleasant chap. We insisted we weren't thinking of entering the buildings, though I'm not sure he was as credulous as he purported to be, since we saw him driving up and down around where we were soon after that... Regardless, we managed to infiltrate the building without too much hastle.
Directly beneath the foregoing shot is this main entrance to the restaurant.
Presumably a dining area for the restaurant; it's a shame there are no tables left at all to demonstrate the establishment's hospitable prowess.
Finally we came to the tower block at the rear of the site. Pictured here are the motors which lead straight into the large, protruding column with a favourably placed ladder.
Please excuse my hand held shots, it was far too windy up there for a tripod, but the view of the site is nonetheless unrivalled.
Thank you for reading
