Report - Draining pump - Tower End, Car Grave Yard - Bittering, RAF Wendling, Norfolk, December 2022

[HughieD]

Not big enough in their own right, but this trio make a nice little Norfolk pack 'o three!

Props to @Mikeymutt for intel.

1. Draining pump, Tower End, Middleton
Remains of the draining pump to the west of Tower End, outside King’s Lynn. It was constructed in 1877 and was located at a junction with a number of sluices on the Middleton Stop Drain. Originally the site of a wing pump, it was built by Sir Lewis Whincop Jarvis and powered by a 10hp non-condensing vertical steam engine. The pump house closed in 1934 but machinery was not dismantled till 1975.

It was a relaxed wander out to this place on a pretty horrible December morn. Big up to @Mikeymutt for giving me the head’s up about this one. It was nice to see the chimney still *intact and the water wheel still in situ.

Approaching from the east:

Graff gangs have reached here:

The very fine chimney that still remains:

The now collapsed pump house:

On to the waterwheel:

Bit of remaining ironwork:

On to the chimney base:

Chimney up-shot:

2. Car Graveyard, Bittering, Dereham
This place is really random. A number of old classic cars rusting away in the woods near Bittering. No info on whose they were, how the got here or how they were left. A number of them look to be Spitfire two-seater sports cars. That’s about it really!

Some sort of old hut:

This one looks like a mini:

CONTINUED...

 

[HughieD]

3. RAF Wendling, Dereham
RAF Wendling, also known as Station 118, situated near the Norfolk town of Dereham. It was first opened in 1943 as a bomber airfield originally to be used by the RAF. It was the most northerly of the 8th Air Force heavy bomber fields and was built by Taylor-Woodrow Ltd in 1942 featuring a 1,800m long main runway angled on a NE-SW axis. The domestic sites were near Beeston to the west of the airfield while the bomb dump and ammunition stores were in Honeypot Wood to the south-east.

However, after completion, it was handed over the USAAF, who took command of the airfield and build two T2 hangars. 392nd Bombardment Group was stationed there flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the 8th Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.

Post-war it was given back to the RAF and used as a standby airfield by RAF Maintenance Command’s No. 258 Maintenance Unit. It finally closed in 1961, but found a new lease of life when the Americans used it as a radio facility until 1964. It was then returned to agriculture and part of it became a Turkey farm.

Relaxed explore on the way back from an earlier explore. Would have liked to have a look at other parts of the base which are still left, including the bomb store (covered nicely by @Mikeymutt HERE) but was a bit pushed for time so just had time to check out these remaining bits of the domestic site. Nothing spectacular but as nice way to while away half-an-hour or so.

The first Nissan hut is empty:

Some nice colours still remain:

And an old Aga:

Facilities still in situ!

Looks like this old Nissan hut is still in use as a storage facility:

 

[mookster]

The cars were owned by the guy who built the Porta Maria Shrine on the other side of the woods. He lived there in a caravan and collected those cars before he died.

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

Nice collection mate. I keep meaning to back to Wendling domestic site. There is a building someone owns that has some lovely graffiti in.

 

[HughieD]

Nice collection mate. I keep meaning to back to Wendling domestic site. There is a building someone owns that has some lovely graffiti in.

Cheers mate.
Yeah, I've heard that too - think you may have even told me about it.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Lovely collection. Damn thats a great chimney. They withstand alot. The like the square build on this one.

 

[HughieD]

Lovely collection. Damn thats a great chimney. They withstand alot. The like the square build on this one.

Cheers @Calamity Jane - that chimney has withstood the test of time. Thought it may be listed but couldn't find an entry for it so maybe it isn't.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Well thats the longest thread title & a bizarre collection but nice report

 

[HughieD]

Well thats the longest thread title & a bizarre collection but nice report

Cheers mate. Yup, is a bit of a mouthful!