RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, UK

RAF West Raynham, Norfolk

A large abandoned RAF base in Norfolk with lots of buildings that remain in good condition. The station closed in 1994 and was held in reserve until 2006.

Visited July 2015  UK Nr Fakenham, Norfolk, England Derelict

History of RAF West Raynham

Opening in May 1939, Royal Air Force West Raynham was used by RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.

RAF West Raynham was an expansion scheme airfield with a grass landing strip and a Fort-type lookout tower. The lookout tower was replaced with a “Control Tower for Very Heavy Bomber Stations” later in the war. The headquarters and accommodation blocks were built to the west of the landing area and bomb stores to the south-east.

In 1943 two concrete runways were built to replace the grass landing strip. One runway was 1.8km and the other 1.3km in length. The housing on the base was also expanded at the same time, providing accommodation for 2,456 men and 658 women.

The station had a Rapier missile training dome, in which a 180 degree simulation could be projected onto the inside of the dome to simulate flight in a fighter jet.

Many of the facilities were similar to those provided by the stations sister base RAF Kirton in Lindsey in Lincolnshire, including the training dome.

The station closed in 1994 but was retained as a strategic resrve. The site laid derelict until the RAF decided it was surplus to requirements in 2006 and was sold to developers in 2007. Part of the site has been used as a new housing estate, and the land around the main runway is now a solar farm.

Control Tower Restoration

The control tower has recently been undergoing restoration by new owners. They have a Facebook page documenting the fantastic work they are doing – it’s always good to see buildings being saved and preserved in this way.

Airman’s Restaurant

RAF West Raynham - Twin staircases in the Airman's Restaurant
RAF West Raynham – Twin staircases in the Airman’s Restaurant
RAF West Raynham - Top of the twin staircases
RAF West Raynham – Top of the twin staircases
RAF West Raynham - Peeling paint
RAF West Raynham – Peeling paint
 
RAF West Raynham - Decaying room
RAF West Raynham – Decaying room
RAF West Raynham - Airman's Restaurant
RAF West Raynham – Airman’s Restaurant
RAF West Raynham - Servery area
RAF West Raynham – Servery area
 
RAF West Raynham - Kitchen
RAF West Raynham – Kitchen

Officer’s Mess

RAF West Raynham - Officer's Mess External
RAF West Raynham – Officer’s Mess External
RAF West Raynham - Officer's Mess main entrance
RAF West Raynham – Officer’s Mess main entrance
RAF West Raynham - Dining hall
RAF West Raynham – Lounge
 
RAF West Raynham - Dining Room
RAF West Raynham – Dining Room
RAF West Raynham - Ladies Room/Function Room
RAF West Raynham – Ladies Room/Function Room

Station HQ

RAF West Raynham - Station HQ
RAF West Raynham – Station HQ
RAF West Raynham - Bars on windows
RAF West Raynham – Bars on windows
 
RAF West Raynham - Telephone Equipment
RAF West Raynham – Telephone Equipment
RAF West Raynham - Doorway with serving shelf
RAF West Raynham – Doorway with serving shelf

Accommodation Blocks

RAF West Raynham - Accommodation Block External
RAF West Raynham – Accommodation Block External
RAF West Raynham - Staircase
RAF West Raynham – Staircase
 
RAF West Raynham - Chair in a room
RAF West Raynham – Chair in a room
RAF West Raynham - Ivy growing inside a dorm room
RAF West Raynham – Ivy growing inside a dorm room
RAF West Raynham - Sinks in shared bathroom
RAF West Raynham – Sinks in shared bathroom

Medical Block

RAF West Raynham - Medical block entrance
RAF West Raynham – Medical block entrance
RAF West Raynham - Medical block entrance lobby
RAF West Raynham – Medical block entrance lobby
RAF West Raynham - Treatment room
RAF West Raynham – Treatment room
 
RAF West Raynham - X-Ray room
RAF West Raynham – X-Ray room
RAF West Raynham - Cabinets in treatment room
RAF West Raynham – Cabinets in treatment room

Sports Hall

RAF West Raynham - The sports hall is well preserved
RAF West Raynham – The sports hall is well preserved
RAF West Raynham - Climbing ropes
RAF West Raynham – Climbing ropes
RAF West Raynham - Weight training bay
RAF West Raynham – Weight training bay
 
RAF West Raynham - Plant room
RAF West Raynham – Plant room
RAF West Raynham - Changing room
RAF West Raynham – Changing room

Control Tower

RAF West Raynham - Control Tower
RAF West Raynham – Control Tower
RAF West Raynham - Control Tower
RAF West Raynham – Control Tower
 
RAF West Raynham - Control desks
RAF West Raynham – Control desks
RAF West Raynham - On top of the tower
RAF West Raynham – On top of the tower

Hangars and Training Dome

RAF West Raynham - One of the hangars and the dome
RAF West Raynham – One of the hangars and the dome
RAF West Raynham - Inside the training dome
RAF West Raynham – Inside the training dome
 
RAF West Raynham - Dome external
RAF West Raynham – Dome external
RAF West Raynham - Hangars
RAF West Raynham – Hangars

Water Tower and Externals

RAF West Raynham - View down a tree lined avenue
RAF West Raynham – View down a tree lined avenue
RAF West Raynham - Building and courtyard
RAF West Raynham – Building and courtyard
RAF West Raynham - View from water tower
RAF West Raynham – View from water tower
 
RAF West Raynham - The water tower
RAF West Raynham – The water tower
RAF West Raynham - Admin building
RAF West Raynham – Admin building
RAF West Raynham - Squadron Garage
RAF West Raynham – Squadron Garage
 
RAF West Raynham - Front gates
RAF West Raynham – Front gates
Author: Andy Kay | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram

16 thoughts on RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, UK

  1. great pic’s i worked in shq 84-86; then after changing trades spent a month working in air traffic, on detachment from brize norton, i even abseiled of the tower with the ref reg’t. i can still see all my old buddies, esp pic of telephone exchange where i used to work, v spooky being alone in SHQ at night time, but great memories.

  2. Dave Morley I went back yesterday and had a mooch around, what a sad end to what was a brilliant camp. I spent nearly 3 years there, from Nov. 66, to when the Sqds. moved out in 69. You could say I grew-up and became a man there age 18 to 21. The place is a wreck. The excuse they give, that it was sold because it was out of date and can’t be modified is total bollocks, My old accommodation block 103 was modified for the time as I assume were all the blocks! the 10 man rooms that I remember were converted to four seperate 2 man rooms. Everything is a mess, there are still sinks and toilets in place but there’ve been smashed, “Why” of course they will blame vandals, but vandals wouldn’t go to that extreme!! “Again Why”. My old Section “Safety Equipment Section” doesn’t look good, I couldn’t get in, the door was padlocked, The “Brake Chute Section” which was in a old wooden building alongside the peri-track to the right of the airfield, has gone, we had one room, the rest of the building was to do with Electronics “Scallees” ha ha sorry guys couldn’t resist it. I hate to say it but the place should be levelled, it would accomodate a lot of houses. If there is anyone outthere who would like to meet-up and go and have a mooch, especially guys that I knew, get in contact through this site. Great great memories

  3. Went to West Raynham as a first posting from Halton onto 85 Sqn Canberras. Enjoyed my time there I have some fond memories of the guys I served with. I re-visited it last year with my wife I could have cried at the state the station is in now. However I spoke to some of the people living in the refurbished married quarters and was made very welcome in their Hub Cafe.

  4. When I read Chris Makinson’s reply I feit his pain!, they say you shouldn’t look back, but its our past that make us who we are!!. I hope they! decide what to do with the old place soon?. A sad end.

    • Hi
      The Rapier Dome is still in reasonable condition.
      If wish to know more you could get in touch with the owners, Norfolk Oak.
      -Jon

    • Thanks for the update
      It’s always good to see the buildings we visit getting a new lease of life, so it’s great the new owners are doing such a wonderful job of not only restoring the tower but preserving the history around it too.

  5. Behind Closed Doors the technical site is now under new ownership and no longer in administration.
    The noises from the new owner sound encouraging with renovations of the buildings planned.
    Meanwhile, the site continues as a business park with the vast majority of technical buildings occupied.
    Flying has now returned with the owner of Norfolk Oak owning all that remains airside (except the tower) to operate light aircraft.
    -Jon

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