Information for record number MWA7981:
RAF Wellesbourne Mountford

Summary RAF Wellesbourne Mountford airfield was opened around 1940. After the Second World War, from 1945 to 1947 it was used by gliders and then the Air Training School used it until its closure in 1967. It is located west of Wellesbourne.
What Is It?  
Type: Airfield
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Loxley
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 26 54
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 A three runway bomber airfield with Drem II approach lighting and 39 dispersal pads, built 1940/1. Major remains and features include:- 4 type T2 hangers about SP2654; 1 type J hanger at SP2654; bomb and explosive stores about SP2654. From 1941 to 1945 used by No22 Operational Training Unit. From 1945 to 1947 used by gliders. From 1947 to closure in 1962 used by Air Training School, School of Photography and airfield Construction Branch. Station associated with: satellite airfields at RAF Gaydon (MWA 8026) and RAF Atherstone on Stour (MWA 7991); Pillerton Priors decoy site (MWA 8008); Priors Hardwick practice bombing range (MWA8013).
2 Student project report on the changing use of RAF airfields in the modern county of Warwickshire.
3 WCC records not normally available to the public.
4 airfield plan - not to scale.
5 Plan.
6 Leaflet.
7 The first of Warwickshire's airfields to Open, on 14th April 1941. Built by John Laing and Son Ltd to accomadate a Bomber Comman Operational Training Unit. Three concrete runways were laid out in the conventional A pattern, with 39 hardstandings; these were spaced out around the airfield and lead from the long perimeter road. Rather unusually, a large J type hangar was erected, with four T1 types behind it set out in pairs. The technical site was set out immediately to the east of the hangars, and beyond that and across the perimeter road was the Communal or Domestic site. There were also five dispersed sites to the east and south of the airfield, with hutted accomadation for officers, NCOs and airmen, The Bomb stores were planned to the south of the airfield, on the edge of Wellesbourne Wood, with the Wireless Transmission site positioned to the west of the Wood (see MWA7985). Detailed information and wartime plan.
8 A former Second World War military airfield, RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, now a civilian airfield. Opened 1941, the wartime airfield consisted of three concrete and tarmac runways and aircraft hangars, with temporary accommodation for over 2600 personnel. It was a Bomber Command station, used by 22 Operational Training Unit and post-war was used for a variety of training purposes until it closed in 1964. From 1965-1980 the airfield was utilized as a vehicle testing ground and for some light aircraft. In 1981 it was licensed as a commercial civilian airfield. The wartime airfield's battle headquarters was renovated and opened as a museum in the late 1980s (see record MWA ). The airfield was transcribed from aerial photographs in 2011 and although the runways, airfield hangers and some airfield buildings remain, the majority of the airfield buildings and associated structures were demolished and cleared by 1993.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Fifty years of changing land use
Author/originator: Freeman, H
Date: 1989
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Bibliographic reference
Author/originator: WCC Planning Dept
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Box S12, S44, S1080
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Wellesbourne Wartime Museum
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Airfields in the Second World War
Author/originator: Smith G
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds NMP Project
Author/originator: Amanda Dickson
Date: 2010-2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Map
Title: Wellesbourne Mountford
Author/originator:
Date: 1942
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Map
Title: Wellesbourne Airfield Lights Drem II
Author/originator: Prately, J
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Plan
Title: Wellesbourne Mountford Air Raid Shelter
Author/originator: Brace, J
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Notes
Author/originator: Brace, J
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument SCHOOL * An establishment in which people, usually children, are taught. back
monument COMMERCIAL * This is the top term for the class. See COMMERCIAL Class list for narrow terms. back
monument AIRFIELD BUILDING * Non-specific building type associated with an airfield. back
monument RUNWAY * A hard level roadway or other surface from which aircraft take off and land. back
monument MILITARY AIRFIELD * A landing and taking-off area for military aircraft. Often includes ancilliary structures and buildings for the maintenance and storage of aircraft, etc. back
monument DOMESTIC SITE * Sites used for the accommodation, welfare and recreation of servicemen, especially those serving in the Royal Air Force. Use only for sites associated with military installations. For non-military sites use DOMESTIC class and its narrower terms. back
monument BOMB STORE * A complex of buildings and earthworks constructed for the storage of bombs and pyrotechnics. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument DISPERSAL * An area of hardstanding for parking aircraft, in a state of readiness, usually around the perimeter of an airfield. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
TECHNICAL SITE * The area of a military base where engineering and maintenance functions are grouped. back
monument BOMBING RANGE * An area of land, with associated buildings and targets, used for practicing the dropping of bombs and other aspects of air warfare. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument DISPERSED SITE * Accommodation and facilities for aircrew away from the main RAF airfield. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument AIR RAID SHELTER * A fortified structure used to protect civilians and military personnel from enemy bombing. back
monument AIRCRAFT * An aircraft, either whole or in part. Aircraft often survive as commemorative monuments, gate guardians or crash sites. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument BATTLE HEADQUARTERS * A concrete structure designed to be the headquarters for the coordination of an airfield's defences. Constructed partially underground it was only intended to be occupied during an attack. back
monument BOMBER COMMAND STATION * An airfield, and associated structures, used by one or more bomber squadrons. back
monument AIRCRAFT HANGAR * A structure used for the housing and servicing of aircraft. back
monument AIRFIELD * An area or site used for the landing and take-off of aircraft, often including associated buildings, equipment and other installations. back
monument HANGAR * A large shed for the housing of aircraft, etc. back
monument TRAINING SCHOOL * A school where specialist skills, relating to a particular subject, are taught. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record