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Summary

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War aerodromes were of a 'compact' layout whereby domestic buildings and technical accommodation were all located on the same site without being split into groups. Under the wartime dispersed system of layout, domestic buildings were separated from the technical site and instead grouped together into a number of detached sites. Fourteen dispersed sites (including the HF transmitting station) were built for Dunkeswell. See subsheets for individual sites.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST10NW/42

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY BUILDING (Built, World War II - 1939 AD (Between) to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

A number of military compounds are visible to the south-east of Dunkeswell Airfield, containing many nissen-hut structures and other buildings. They are interspersed with fields still in agricultural use.

Francis, P., 1995, Blackdown Hills Airfield Survey. Dunkeswell and Upottery, 66-75, Figs 19, 24, 25 (Report - Survey). SDV312951.

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War aerodromes were of a 'compact' layout whereby domestic buildings and technical accommodation were all located on the same site without being split into groups. Under the wartime dispersed system of layout, domestic buildings were separated from the technical site and instead grouped together into a number of detached sites. Fourteen dispersed sites (including the HF transmitting station) were built for Dunkeswell and thirteen sites at Upottery. As an aid to concealment buildings were laid out without symmetry or pattern (except in the case of Site No. 9 where a number of buildings were erected using American prefabricated hutting by the USN in a fan shape) and as far as possible huts would be located to follow lines of hedges or the perimeters of woods.
Most of the prefabricated hutting used for domestic accommodation at Dunkeswell was in the form of Ministry of Works, universal asbestos handcraft hutting, manufactured at Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts. Huts were purchased in bulk and held in store at the Ministry of Work's storage depot at Elstow near Bedford, until required for aerodrome construction. Another type of prefabricated hut, shown on the Air Ministry site plans as American prefabricated hutting, was erected on the domestic sites at Dunkeswell. Although none survive today, it is known that they were available in two sizes - 16' span and 36' long and 20' span and 48' long. The larger span huts were probably of the USN arched hutting (Quonset) type that were also erected on the technical site. Altogether, accommodation was provided for 262 officers (10 WAAF), 670 sergeants and 2100 other ranks (450 WAAF). See subsheets for individual dispersed sites.

Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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