I recently became aware of this site through a local planning application page. It is not far from home so I decided it might be worth a butchers.
History
The site is one of many which were built in the middle of the last century around the airfield at Farnborough. What eventually became the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE, later Qinetiq, via a few other names) was at the forefront of aviation research in the UK since Samuel Cody’s first flight in 1908. The research and innovation undertaken at the RAE includes structural testing of aircraft, jet engine testing, testing of materials (Carbon fibre for aviation was developed there in the 1960’s). Early research into aviation wireless communications and direction finding was also developed at Farnborough.
The airfield sits just to the north of the North Downs, in a dip in the landscape and as such, radio coverage from the site in the early days wasn’t great. In the 1930’s and 40’s, the RAE and the RAF procured land and built a few wireless sites around the area for air traffic control communications and for development of instrument landing and radar systems. Many of these sites have been returned to agriculture or have been redeveloped, however a few remain in the wild, as it were.
This wireless receiver site sits to the south-west of the airfield on the North Downs. It was the receiver site for the Air Traffic Control wireless traffic; the transmitter site is about a half a mile to the east and is now a private business, though the old wooden tower still exists and is in use.
The building is typical of its time, but the weather and environment (and the local “artists”) have taken their toll. The building is completely invisible from the road, even when the trees are bare.
All but a few items are stripped from the building, but the structure is generally in good condition. There would have been a wooden antenna tower to the rear of the property where the trees are however, there is no evidence of it anymore
.
Front entrance on approach
Just inside the front door, local artwork to be admired.
Main equipment room with cable trenches in the floor
A very basic power system, but in those days it was all they needed.
View out the front door from the equipment room.
A vague warning from the past.
Out here somewhere would have been the wooden tower with the antennas on it.
History
The site is one of many which were built in the middle of the last century around the airfield at Farnborough. What eventually became the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE, later Qinetiq, via a few other names) was at the forefront of aviation research in the UK since Samuel Cody’s first flight in 1908. The research and innovation undertaken at the RAE includes structural testing of aircraft, jet engine testing, testing of materials (Carbon fibre for aviation was developed there in the 1960’s). Early research into aviation wireless communications and direction finding was also developed at Farnborough.
The airfield sits just to the north of the North Downs, in a dip in the landscape and as such, radio coverage from the site in the early days wasn’t great. In the 1930’s and 40’s, the RAE and the RAF procured land and built a few wireless sites around the area for air traffic control communications and for development of instrument landing and radar systems. Many of these sites have been returned to agriculture or have been redeveloped, however a few remain in the wild, as it were.
This wireless receiver site sits to the south-west of the airfield on the North Downs. It was the receiver site for the Air Traffic Control wireless traffic; the transmitter site is about a half a mile to the east and is now a private business, though the old wooden tower still exists and is in use.
The building is typical of its time, but the weather and environment (and the local “artists”) have taken their toll. The building is completely invisible from the road, even when the trees are bare.
All but a few items are stripped from the building, but the structure is generally in good condition. There would have been a wooden antenna tower to the rear of the property where the trees are however, there is no evidence of it anymore
.
Front entrance on approach
Just inside the front door, local artwork to be admired.
Main equipment room with cable trenches in the floor
A very basic power system, but in those days it was all they needed.
View out the front door from the equipment room.
A vague warning from the past.
Out here somewhere would have been the wooden tower with the antennas on it.
