St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of...

St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin HillStatement of SignificancePrepared for the London Borough of BromleyJuly 2015

Alan Baxter

St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin HillStatement of Significance Prepared for the London Borough of BromleyJuly 2015

Alan Baxter

Contents1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................1

2.0 History...........................................................................................................................................4

3.0 Significance..............................................................................................................................26

Appendix1:HERmap...................................................................................................................35

Appendix2:StatutoryListentries...........................................................................................37

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1.0 Introduction1.1 Background to the projectThepresent-dayBigginHillAirportissubstantiallythehistoricRoyalAirForce(RAF)aerodrome,RAFBigginHill,establishedbytheRoyalFlyingCorps(RFC)in1917andoperationaluntil1959.

ThecessationoffundingfromtheMinistryofDefence(MoD)totheRAF-maintainedStGeorge’sMemorialChapel,BigginHill,announcedin2014,coincideswiththeveryendoftheviablelifeofthestructureatBigginHillAirport’sformerEastCampknownasthedispersalhut.OfallthebuildingsintheformerRAFaerodrome,theChapelandthedispersalhutaremostcloselyassociatedwiththeBattleofBritain,thedefiningaerialbattlefoughtinJulytoOctober1940inresistancetoHitler’sdrivetooccupyWesternEurope.IntheBattle,RAFBigginHillplayedakeyrole—itwasnamed‘TheStrongestLink’.

Indevelopingaplantoovercomethethreatstothecontinuedexistenceofthetwostructures,LondonBoroughofBromley(LBBromley)hasanopportunitytoconserveandsustainbothoftheseirreplaceablehistoricbuildingsfortheforeseeablefuture,onasinglesiteofenhancedheritagesignificance.

LBBromleyexpectstoacquiretheChapelanditsprecinctfromtheMoDin2016/17.TheBoroughgrantedthecivilairporttoBigginHillAirportLimited(BHAL)in1974ona125-yearlease.BHALownsthedispersalhut,buthasagreedtoitsrelocationbytheCounciltotheChapelsite.TheTreasuryhasawarded£1mtowardsLBBromley’screationofaBattleofBritainheritagecomplexattheChapelsite,tocomprisetheconservedChapelandaMemorialMuseumwithvisitorcentreandfacilities.

1.2 Purpose of this reportLBBromleyhascommissionedateamofspecialistsledbyAlanBaxterLimited(ABA)toproduceaStatementofSignificanceforStGeorge’sChapelandthedispersalhutatBigginHillAirport,andaConditionSurveyofthedispersalhut—thelattertoincludeaconditionanalysisandcostedoptionsassessmentforrepairs,surveysandstructuralengineeringreport.Thissuiteofdocumentsanddrawingsamountstoafoundationalstatementofthehistoryandheritagesignificanceofthetwostructures,ananalysisoftheconditionandconservationrequirementsofthedispersalhut,andanoptionsappraisal,anticipatedimpactanalysisandheritagestrategyfortherepairandrelocationofthehutintheprecinctoftheChapelaspartofthedevelopmentofaMemorialMuseum.

TheteamcomprisesABAConservation,withMalcolmFryerArchitects,AndrewMortonAssociates(quantitysurveyors),JamesBrennanAssociates(charteredsurveyors)andABA’sStructuralEngineeringteam.Theirworkhasbeencompletedthroughsitevisits,archivalresearchandoff-siteresearch,analysisandreportingbetweenAprilandJune2015.

1.3 Structure and authorship

Statement of Significance ThisStatementofSignificancesetsoutaconcisebutwide-ranginghistoryoftheMemorialChapelsetinthecontextofthehistoryanddevelopmentofRAFBigginHill.ThisistheevidencewhichinformstheStatementofSignificancewithwhichthisdocumentconcludes.

TheStatementofSignificancewasresearchedandwrittenbyAlfieStroudofABA.AllphotographsarecopyrightofABAunlessotherwisecredited.AlldrawingsandgraphicdesignwereproducedbyVeraFabiankovaandJulioMendoza,alsoofABA.

Heritage Impact Assessment ThesuiteofdocumentsproducedforthisinceptionstageofLBBromley’sprojectconcludeswithABA’sHeritageImpactAssessment(HIA).Thisisashortstrategicreportwhichidentifiescriticalconsiderationsforconservingthetwohistoricbuildings,consideringtheirfullesthistoryandheritagesignificance,inanticipationoftherelocationofthehutanddevelopmentoftheMemorialMuseum.Itendswitheightmodestrecommendationswhichmayhelptodirectthenextstageoftheprocess.

AcknowledgementsThanksforassistancewiththeresearch,considerationandpreparationofthisworkaregratefullygiventoBredaDaly,RogerJCThomasandMatthewCooper,allofHistoricEngland,fortheirhelpwithresearchandreview.TheRAFArchiveHendongavevaluableresearchassistance.KristenAlexanderandErikManningskindlyrespondedtoemailqueriesabouttheirrelativeswhoservedatBigginHill.LaurieChester,theCustodianofStGeorge’sMemorialChapel,supportedourinvestigationoftheChapelandcaresforitknowledgeablyanddiligently.KatyWoolcottandColinHitchinsofBigginHillAirportLimitedalsoprovidedinvaluableinformationandsupportontheairportsite.DrHowardTuckofMinervaSpecialistProjectsandColPhil

WilsonoftheRoyalEngineerswerealsoconsulted.

St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015Alan Baxter

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Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 100022432. Plotted Scale - 1:6000

Site PlanStGeorge’sChapelprecinct;siteofMemorialMuseum

DispersalHut(notoriginallocation)

2 St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Alan Baxter

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BIGGIN HILLSTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

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Car park

North extension

Memorial Garden

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St George’s Memorial Chapel

Central Heating Range boiler-house and chimney

Air Cadets’ Building, former RC Chapel (site of Parachute Packers’ Hut)

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The Chapel precinct: identification of buildings

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2.0 HistoryBigginHill’sofficialroleinmilitaryaviationplacesitamongtheoldestaerodromesinBritain,pre-datingevenitsofficialopeningon14 February1917asalandinggroundoftheRoyalFlyingCorps.Whileitretainsapowerfulculturalresonancefoundedineventswhichoccurred75yearsago,thesite’scentury-longhistoryofinnovationinaviationandassociatedtechnologiesalsopersists.

BigginHill’searlyassociationwithaviationisowedtoitselevatedsituation,ofabout200mabovesealevelonasolidbedofclayabovethemist-pronevaletothesouthandwest.ThelandonwhichtheAirportstandswashistoricallypartofthemanorofAperfield,ownedbytheEarlsofStanhope,partoftheparishofCudham;thevillageofCudhamisabouttwomilestotheeast.Severalhousesstoodinthemanor,includingAperfieldCourtandCudhamLodge,aTudorestablishmentrebuiltintheeighteenthcentury.ThetenantedfarmstoodonasitenearthemiddleofwhatistodaytheAirport’smainrunway.FrederickHenryDougal,anentrepreneur,acquiredpartofthemanorin1895.Hesoldinexpensiveplotsfordevelopment,eventuallyledtothedevelopmentofthemodernvillageofBigginHill,southoftheAirport.

JohnWestacottwasfarmingCudhamLodgeattheoutbreakoftheFirstWorldWar.Evenbefore1914,hemayhaveallowedprivatepilotstomakeuseofaverylargeflatfieldontheeastsideoftheWesterhamRoad,spanningtheareabetweenwhatisnowthesouthendofWestCampandChurchillWay.Atthecornerofthisfield,atthejunctionofWesterhamRoadandSaltboxHill,stoodthe‘OldSaltBox’—apairofeighteenth-centuryfarmcottageswithverysteeplyslopingroofs,whichweresaidtobeahelpfullandmarkforpilots.

TheshockingpotentialoftheaeroplaneasanengineofwarwasrevealedduringtheFirstWorldWar(1914–18).ThedevelopmentofBigginHillasamilitaryaerodromereflectstheexploitationofthatpotential,inthreedistrictphases.

View: Kent XXVIII.NW (includes: Orpington.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428869

A 1909 OS map of the Biggin Hill area, showing the large fields attached to Cudham Lodge, visible near the top centre, and the Saltbox cottages, where a road to Cudham Lodge joined the curve in the Westerham Road.

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2.1 The Royal Flying Corps Aerodrome and the First World War

RadioWiththepermissionoftheStanhopes,theRoyalFlyingCorps(RFC)—theairarmoftheBritishArmy—openedalandinggroundatCudhamLodgeFarmin1914.EarlyintheFirstWorldWar,whichbrokeoutthesamesummer,emergencynight-timelandingsweretakingplace.Experimentationwithradiotechnologyfollowed,withtestingstationsandtrainingcoursesestablishedinformerhousesaroundthemanor.

In1916,worktoestablishamorepermanentaerodromecomplexbeganonCudhamLodgelandsontheeastsideofWesterhamRoad.AperfieldCourtwasformallyacquiredbytheWarOfficein1917fortheinstallationofatransmitterandtohousegroundcontrolofaircraftatthedevelopingBigginHillAerodrome.BigginHillwasinauguratedasaRadioSignalsUnitinFebruary1917,withtheRFC’sWirelessTestingParkrelocatedfromBrooklandsaerodromeinSurrey.

Air defenceThesedevelopmentsmetwithanintensificationoftheGermanaerialassaultonBritain,whichfrom1917involvedaeroplanesaswellasairships.Britainrespondedwithenhanceddefenceintheair,andBigginHillAerodromewasestablishedaspartofaninnerpatrolzoneinacoordinatedLondonAirDefenceArea.No.141SquadronhadbeenformedinJanuary1918andmovedfromRochfordtoBigginHillinFebruarytooperateitsnewflightsofBristolFighters,eachdecoratedwiththesquadronmotifofaredcockerel.InMay1918,No. 140SquadronformedatBigginHillwithmoreBristolFighters.AttheArmisticeinNovember1918,airdefencecapacitywaswounddown,andsubsequentlysquadronspassedthroughBigginHillbutrarelysettled.

View: Kent XXVIII.NW (includes: Orpington.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428863

A 1930 OS map of the Biggin Hill area. The map does not show the 1920s development which had already taken place to establish West Camp. It does show, unlabelled, the earlier development connected to the Aerodrome in the area later to become South Camp, near Aperfield and Biggin Hill village, and the properties acquired by the RFC and RAF from the Stanhope estate.

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2.2 The Royal Air Force and the development of Biggin Hill as a defensive station

Offence vs. defenceOn1April1918,theRFCandtheRoyalNavalAirService(RNAS)mergedtocreatetheRoyalAirForce(RAF).ThelessonsoftheGermanraidsintheFirstWorldWarwererapidlylearnedbytheRAFunderitsfoundingcommander,firstChiefoftheAirStaff,Major-GeneralSirHugh(laterViscount)Trenchard.Mostofthe301airbaseswhichexistedattheArmisticewereclosed,butbetween1923and1939,100werebuiltinpermanentfabric.Trenchard’sleadershipoftheRAFuntil1930establisheditasanindependentmilitaryforce.HisplanenvisagedbomberstationsconcentratedinEastAngliaandOxfordshire,witha15-mile-deepringoffighterstationsaroundLondontothesouthandeast.Thus,Trenchard’sdecisionsaboutitsoperationaldevelopmentwereinstrumentalinthegrowthofBigginHillAerodromeintoitsfullestformasanRAFstation.TheearlyRFCStationinwhatwouldlaterbeSouthCampbecamepartofaWarDepartmentAnti-AircraftDefenceSchoolinthe1920s.

However,Trenchardpersistentlypursuedhisconviction—sharedwithPrimeMinisterStanleyBaldwin—theoffensivecapacityoftheRAFbombersshouldhavestrategicpriorityoverfighterdefence.Hissuccessor,SirEdwardEllington,implemented‘SchemeF’whichfurtherexpandedbombercapacityrelativetofighterpower.ItwasnotuntilthetenureofSirCyrilNewallafter1937thatthedissentingviewofSirHughDowding,firstcommandingofficerofthenewlyestablishedRAFFighterCommand,begantowinout,withimportantconsequencesforthehistoryofBigginHillAerodrome.

Aerodrome layout and architecture in the early twentieth century

newstations,personnelgainedarealadvantageinknowingtheirwayaroundthenewsite.Variationandaccommodationofthelandscapewasonlyreallyfoundindomesticbuildings—officers’messes,forinstance,weregenerallygivenasouthernoutlookoveropencountryifthiswaspossible.

Camouflagestrategybecameanimportantinfluenceofaerodromeplanningaswarapproached,withtheincreasingrangeofaerialmilitaryoperationsthroughthe1930smakingclearthethreatfromtheGermanLuftwaffetothewholeoftheBritishmainland.Themilitaryinstinctforregularityworkedintensionwiththeneedtoblend-inwiththesurroundinglandscape;thesystematicgrowthofRAFoperationsanditseverlargerfleetandhangarshadtobeaccommodatedinstructuresofirregularlayout,composedofunreflectivesurfaces,anddarkornaturalisticcolours.Withthisinmind,thechancetodeploytemporary,lightweight,portablebuildingformsandmaterials—suchasprefabricatedwoodenhuts—mightevidentlybeastrategicadvantageaswellasanexpedientcompromise.(Halpenny,1993)

Largehangars,regulartile-orslate-roofedbarrackbuildings,roadsandrailwayswereallrelativelyreflectivestructureswhichcouldalertobserversintheairtoconcentrateddevelopment;atBigginHill,itmadesensetogatherthelargepermanentstructuresneartheroadsideinWestCamp,wheretheymightbemistakenforciviliandevelopment.ThehardstandingsandE-shapedblastpensforfighterplanes,andthesmaller,irregularstructuresassociatedwithdispersalwerescatteredaroundtheaerodromeperimeterandinEastCampbesideCudhamWoods.

TheearliestRFCaerodromesweresimplyaflatgrassfieldwithhangarsforaircraftstorageandafewoperationalbuildings,withlittlesystematicthinkingbehindtheirplanning.

AstheRAFformalisedaerialmilitaryoperationsduringthe1920s,astandardlayoutemergedbasedonthedefensiveapproachesadoptedduringtheFirstWorldWar:aircraftwerehousedinhangarsscatteredaroundtheperimeterofan‘omni-directional’flyingfield(thatis,withoutrunways).Theyweredispersedlikeothertechnicalanddomesticstructures,againstthepossibilityofasingleknock-outattack.

Duringintensiverearmamentinthelate1930s,whentheRAF’sbiplanefighterswerereplacedenmassebymodernHurricanesandSpitfires,thegrowingnumberofaircraftandtheneedforspeedyscrambling,ledtoamorerationalandconsistentapproachtoaerodromelayout.

Inparallelwiththeseoperationalconsiderations,amodestnewarchitecturedevelopedtoprovideforBritain’snewmilitaryinfrastructurebutalsotoaddresstheneedforpoplarreassuranceandstabilityamidrapidchange;theresultingidiomofclean,brickneo-Georgianbarracksandmessbuildings,complementedbyutilitarianbrick,steelandconcreteairfieldstructures,iswidespreadamong1930saerodromesurvivals.ThelistedexamplesatBigginHillaretypical.(EnglishHeritage,2000)

ExpansionofRAFstationswasrigorouslyorganisedandoverseenbytheAirMinistryWorksDirectorate.Buildingtypeshaduniquereferencenumbers,andtheirlayoutwasgenerallysystematic:withsquadronsroutinelyredeployedto


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West Camp in the 1930sTheextensiveearly1930sfabricwhichremainseventodayatBigginHillAirportmightseemtobeliethelateattentiontoBritain’scapacityfordefenceintheairduringtherearmamentprocessinthatdecade.TheRAF’sfirstpermanentstructureshadbeenconcentratedinthearealaterknownasSouthCamp.Indeed,a1929AirMinistrySitePlanshowsthefullextentofWestCampoccupiedbybuildings,betweentheSaltBoxandtheroadtoCudhamLodge.Theworkofthe1930sphaseofbuildingwastomakepermanentmanyoftheseoperational,technicalanddomesticstructures,whichwerestilltobeconcentratedinWestCamp(partlyforreasonsofcamouflage—seetheboxonAerodromelayoutandarchitectureintheearlytwentiethcenturyonp.6).Thefivebarrackblockswerebuiltin1930,afirstsubstantialOfficers’Mess(nowBuilding10,theAirmen’sInstitute),StationHQ(nowBuilding33)andSergeants’Mess(nowBuilding12,theCandidates’Club)allbuiltby1932.NeitherSouthCampnorEastCampisrecordedonthepre-warplanslocated,sothesemighthavebeenhomeonlytohardstandingsandtemporarystructures.Alternatively,theymightnothavebeendevelopedatalluntilfinalmobilisation,after1938.

BigginHill’searly1930sstructuresaretestamenttoTrenchard’sconsolidationoftheRAF’sFirstWorldWarlegacy,andshowthatBigginHill’sstrategicimportancewasacceptedandupheldthroughouttheinterwarperiod.Yettheypaleintheirscalecomparedwiththelast-minutemobilisationeffortsfortheSecondWorldWar:bythesummerof1939theRAF’sbuildingworkalonecostmorethanthreetimestheentireRAFbudgetin1934.FewofthesestructuresnowremainatBigginHill;indeed,interwarRAFbuildingssurvivegenerallyingreaternumbersthanthoseofthe1940s.(RAF,Short History)Thismakesthewartimeandimmediatepost-warstructuresthatdosurviveallthemoreprecious.


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An RAF Site Plan of Biggin Hill Aerodrome in 1924 showing semi-permanent RAF development in the area of the modern West Camp. The RFC’s earliest Station at South Camp is at least partly labelled War Department Anti-Aircraft Defence School.

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An RAF Site Plan dated 1929 again showing the extent of semi-permanent development at West Camp before the 1930s building works. As in the 1924 plan, the site of the present-day Chapel is occupied by an aeroplane shed

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Preparation for warInthemid-1930s,theRAFrolled-outtheuseofitshighlysecretiveradiodirectionfinding(RDF)technologies,basedonthewirelesstechniquespioneeredatBigginHillfrom1917.Thetechnologypermittedthedetectionofapproachingaircraftatadistanceof75milesfromcoastalstations,andwasagreatstepforwardintherealisationofradarasperfectedbytheUSAlaterintheWar.Hitler’smovetoannextheSudetenlandofCzechoslovakiain1938focusedmindsontheincreasinginevitabilityofwar.TheBritishmilitaryestablishment’swarningofthepotentiallydevastatingimpactofGermanbombingattacksonBritaingainednewpoliticalweight,andpromptedincreasedeffortstorapidlyembedRAFFighterCommandcapacity.AtBigginHill,thepermanentstructuresoftheearly1930swererapidlyjoinedbynew,prefabricatedoperational,technicalanddomesticaccommodation,includingtheMarriedQuartersonVincentSquare.Biplanefighterswereusedrightintothelate1930s,butnewstate-of-the-artHurricanefightersarrivedin1938.TheLondonclayunderlyingtheaerodromewasjudgedtobetoounreliabletosupportthenew,heavieraeroplanes,soa4,800fttarmacrunway—No.1—wasconstructedinlateAutumn1939.

OntheeveoftheSecondWorldWar,RAFBigginHilloccupiedacriticalpositionforsecuringtheskiesoverBritish.TheAirDefenceofGreatBritaincommandstructurehadbeenreplacedin1936withfourstrategiccommands:Bomber,Fighter,CoastalandTraining.MainlandBritainwasdividedintofourFighterCommand‘Groups’orzones;Group11coveredthedefensivelycrucialsouth-eastofEnglandandwasresponsibleforthedefenceofLondon.Eachgroupwasdividedinto‘Sectors’,eachcommandedbyaSectorStation;BigginHillwastheSectorStationforSectorCofGroup11,onaparwithSectorStationsatRAFKenley,RAFNortholt,RAFHornchurchandRAFTangmere.BigginHill’sSectorControlRoom,withtheradiocallsignTOPHAT,commandedRAFHawkingebetweenFolkestoneandDoverinKent,andRAFFristonnearBeacheyHeadinEastSussex,aswellassatelliteairfieldsatWestMallingandGravesend.


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An RAF Site Plan of Biggin Hill dated 1945. The Plan shows the Aerodrome at its fullest extent as a flying station.

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2.3 Biggin Hill and the Battle of BritainAftertheNaziinvasionofPolandandthedeclarationofwarinSeptember1939,aperiodof‘PhoneyWar’ensued,whichgaveBritainbreathingspaceforrearmament.InMay1940,Hitlerputhismuch-postponedstrategyforoccupationofWesternEuropeintoeffect,withanadvancethroughtheLowCountriesintonorthernFrance.AtBigginHill,32,79,213,229,242SquadronsalloperatedintheearlygroundwaroverNorthernEuropeandprovidedcoverfortheevacuationsatDunkirk.Parisfellon14June1940andfourdayslaterinLondon,WinstonChurchill,newlyappointedPrimeMinister,toldtheHouseofCommons:‘theBattleofFranceisover.IexpectthattheBattleofBritainisabouttobegin’.

HitlerplannedtoinvadeBritain,butintendedfirsttogainsuperiorityovertheRAFbycripplingitfromtheair,inordertogivehisgroundforcescover.ThattheBattleofBritainbeganandendedintheairwasdowntotheextraordinaryvictoryoftheRAFoverthelargerNaziairforce.In1940theLuftwaffehadslightlyfewerthan2,000aircraftwhiletheRAFhadonly825fightersincluding520Hurricanesand258Spitfires.Hitler’sassaultonBritainbeganon26JunewithprobingattacksonRAFandportinfrastructuretargetsinsouth-eastEngland,reachingfurtherintoBritainintoAugust.

Two Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 32 Squadron coming in to land for refuelling and rearming at Biggin Hill, watched by an airman standing with a signalling flag in the foreground, August 1940.

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The Strongest LinkAtBigginHill,deepairraidshelterswerebuiltalongwitha2,370ftconcreterunwayinearly1940.WiththestartoftheBattleofBritain,32,141and610Squadronsweredeeplyinvolved,thoughtheaerodromeitselfwasasyetundamaged.The90thAARegimentprotectedthebasewhile74menfromtheQueen’sOwnRoyalWestKentRegimentprotectedBigginHillfromattackbyparatroopers.On19Julyalone,10membersof141SquadronwerelostinactionfromBigginHill—theStation’sheaviestdayoflossesduringtheBattle.

FromlateAugust1940,theLuftwaffewereconductinglarge-scaledaylightattacksagainstRAFairfieldsinsouth-eastEngland,aswellasnightattacks.Group11’s‘HardestDay’was18August,whichsawheavyattacksonnearbyRAFKenley,buteffectivedefenceofBigginHillduringthefirstdirectattacksitsufferedleftitlittleharmed.Laterinthemonth,32and610Squadronslefttheaerodrome,and72SquadronarrivedatBigginHillwithSpitfires.

OnFriday30August,aftermorningraidswhichdamagedahangarandtelephonelines,araidbynineundetectedJunkerbombersataround6pmdevastatedtheaerodrome.Thetransportyardwasdestroyedandtherunwaybadlyhit,storerooms,hangars,thearmouryandbothofficers,andsergeants,messeswereseverelydamaged,withgasandwatermainsruptured.Approximately40personnelwerekilledinadirecthitonashelter,and35morewereinjuredintheraid.FurtherattacksfollowedonSaturday31,whenalltelephoneoperationsatBigginHillweredestroyedandtheoperationsblocksufferedadirecthit,withgraveconsequencessincetheaerodromewastheSectorStation.Theoperationsofficewasdisplacedtoashopinthevillage,andthentoTowerfields,amanorhousefromtheoldStanhopeestate.InraidsonSunday1SeptemberthedefenceteleprinternetworkoperatedbythemembersoftheWomen’sAuxiliaryAirForce(WAAF)tookadirecthit.ThreeWAAFoperators—SergeantsElisabethMortimerandHelenTurner,andCorporalElspethHenderson—wereawardedtheMilitaryMedalfortheirbraveryincontinuingtooperatethedefencelinesduringtheraid.

TheRAFwaswinningtheairbattle:LuftwaffelosseswereintheorderoftwotoeveryoneBritishfighterlost.Moreover,mobilisationmeantBritishfighterproductionwasoutstrippingthatoftheAxisPowers.InSeptember,theLuftwaffeturneditsattentiontoLondon,beginningnight-timeBlitzraidsthatwouldlastintoMay1941.SincetheAlliedvictory,historianshaveestablishedthat,bymid-September,theRAF’sdefenceofBritainhadforcedHitlertoindefinitelypostpone‘OperationSealion’,hisinvasionofBritain.TheBattleofBritainissaidtohaveendedon31October,afterwhichdatetheLuftwaffeshifteditsessentialobjectivefromestablishingsupremacyovertheRAFtowagingBlitzkriegagainstBritishcivilianandinfrastructuretargets.Atotalof51aircrewhadbeenlostfromBigginHill.ItssolidserviceasaSectorStationintheOuterLondonringearneditthenickname‘TheStrongestLink’,whichwaslaterincorporatedintotheStation’screst.

JCM Park & HM Stephen of 74 Squadron receiving the DFC on 27 August 1940, outside a dispersal hut at Biggin Hill, on the occasion of the shooting down of the 600th enemy aircraft.

‘An Operations Room’, painted by Elva Blacker, a WAAF sergeant and artist who served at Biggin Hill and recorded her experiences there.


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The later WarRAFBigginHillandGroup11’swarwasfarfromover,however.Between18August1940and7January1941,therewere12directattacksonBigginHillAerodrome.TheBlitzpersistedintoMay1941,beforeHitlerturnedhisattentiontotheEasternFront.From1942,BigginHill’sfightersprovidedcoverforBomberCommand’soffensivesovertheContinentandengagedinotheroperations.In1944,BalloonCommandoperatedbarrageballoonsfromBigginHill,andTransportCommandtookupresidencetooperateservicestoliberatedpartsoftheContinent.

Wartime Life at RAF Biggin HillTypicallyonly20percentofthepersonnelresidentatanRAFStationwereflyingaircrew.ManymorewereRAFandWAAFgroundpersonneloperatingradarandcommunicationsequipment,engineersmaintainingthefleetandbuildings,officers’servantsandcaterersfortheaircrew.TheMarriedQuartersatBigginHillwereevacuatedattheoutbreakofhostilities,asofficers’wiveslefttheaerodromeandaircrewtookupresidencewithouttheirfamilies.

Aircrewspentlongshiftsbeginningatdawnat‘dispersals’,towhichtheyweredrivenfrombarracksinWestCampeverymorning.Theypassedthetime,ateanddrankin‘readiness’,whichmightmeanwaitinginadispersalhut,orsimplyindeckchairsortentsaroundtheairfield—butalwayssomewherewithinsprintingdistanceoftheirfighterplanes.Sectionsrotated,relievingoneanotherforbreaksatbreakfast,lunchanddinner.

Whatmadeproximitysoessentialwaspreciselythesystemofradarwhichhadbeendeveloped,inpartatBigginHill,betweentheWars.Itenabledcontrollerstoorderscramblesto

intercepttheincomingenemyfromfurtheraway,insteadofconstantairpatrolling.

EachfightersquadroncommandedbyanofficerwiththerankofSquadronLeader,wasmadeupoftwoflights,AandB,eachcommandedbyaFlightLieutenant.EachFlighthadthreesections,Red,GreenandYellow,andeachsectionhadthreeaircraft,One,TwoandThree.SowhilethreesquadronswereinserviceatBigginHilltheremighthavebeenupto54fighterplanesflyingsorties.

Instructionsto‘Scramble,Scramble’werebroadcastoverthetannoyfromtheOperationsRoom.Pilots’intercomcarriedinformationabouttheenemy.Onceinflight,theobjectivewastodrawawayandpickofftheGermanfightersinordertogettothebombers.

Thesortiereturned,aheadcountestablishedcasualties,andthepilotfiledacombatreport.Whiledaytimeraidswerethenorm,dutieswouldbesteppeddownatnightfallandpilotsmightfindachancetogotoapubinthevillagebeforeretiringtobarracks.(Halpenny1984;RAFMuseum)

Geoffrey Welham (92 Squadron), pilot of one of the St George’s Chapel Gate Guardian aircraft, in dispersals at Biggin Hill.

A dispersal hut at Hornchurch Aerodrome, May 1942.

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The first St George’s Memorial ChapelAchapelorstationchurchwouldhaveexistedatBigginHillAerodromefromearlyinitshistory,butnosuchstructureismarkedonthe1929siteplan.ThehistoryofStGeorge’sChapeldatestoJune1943,atthetimeofthedestructionofthe1,000thGermanaircraftbyfightersfromtheBigginHillsector.StationpersonnelwishedforamemorialtothegrowingnumberskilledonoperationsfromwithintheBigginHillsector,torememberespeciallythosewhohaddiedintheBattleofBritain.Threeprefabricatedhuts,madewithsteelangle-ironframesandlinedwithfibreboard,wereacquiredandplacedtogethertoformasinglerectangularunitasachapel,similarinsizeandlayouttotoday’schapel.ThefirstStGeorge’sChapelstoodinSouthCamp,onthebusinessparksitewhichtodaystandsbetweenWirelessRoadandChurchillWay.Ithadtakentheplaceofoneofthehangarsdestroyedduringtheworstraidsof1940.OnthenearestSundaytoBattleofBritainDay,19September1943,acommemorativeservicewasheld,unveilinganddedicatingtheMemorial—thereredosofthepresent-dayChapel—andtheBookofRemembrance.

The 1943 reredos with memorial inscriptions, against the east wall of the present St George’s Chapel.

The 1943 Book of Remembrance, with the page for 19 July — Biggin Hill’s day of heaviest losses during the Battle of Britain — on display in a darkwood case in the present St George’s Chapel. A poignant inscription notes that the page nearest to the date is displayed, but that ‘if, by the Grace of God, no page exists for that date, the book is set to the next page’.


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Biggin Hill after the victoryVeryshortlyaftervictoryinMay1945,RAFBigginHillwastransferredcompletelyfrom11GroupFighterCommandto46GroupTransportcommand.ThereafteritpassedbetweenTransport,ReserveandFighterCommand,andservedasatrainingbase,untiltheRAFfinallyceasedflyingoperationson7February1959.Between1959and1962,RAFOfficerandAircrewselectioncentreswereestablishedinWestCamp,eventuallyheadquarteredinthelargepurpose-builtE-shapedbuildingconstructedtothesouthofStGeorge’sChapel.TheOfficerandAircrewSelectionCentre(OASC)wasthemainsuchcentrefortheRAFandremainedatBigginHilluntil1992.

An aerial view of Biggin Hill Airport in c. 1950; St George’s Chapel has not yet been begun where the parade ground still exists, apparently occupied by aircraft.

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2.4 Post-war: Rebuilding St George’s Memorial ChapelInDecember1946,afirebrokeoutintheChapel,andthelargelytimberandboardstructurewasalmosttotallyrazed.Asuccessfulappealformainlyprivatedonationsduringthelate1940s,withthebackingofChurchillhimself,madeitpossibletocommissionadesignforanewchapel.AirMinistryWorksDepartment(AMWD)recordsidentifiedbyEnglishHeritageatthetimeoftheChapel’slistingidentifyitsarchitectsasABeasley,W SHarperandGAWilliams.HistoriesoftheChapelandthememoirsofcolleaguesandfamilyalsorecordtheinvolvementofanarchitectanddesignerwhohadservedintheRAF:FlightLieutenantWemyssWyltonTodd(1906–1961)of29(sometimeBigginHill)and169SquadronandFlyingOfficerKazimierz(‘Kazik’)Zakrzewski-Rucinski(1909–1982)oftheFreePolishAirForceandlater300(Polish)SquadronRAF(seeboxonp.24forbiographicaldetails).ThedivisionoflabourbetweentheAMWDarchitects,ToddandZakrzewski-Rucinskihasnotbeenestablished,butitcanbeconjecturedthatapopularcampaignofseveralyears,originatingfromtheStation,andeventuallyrealisedbytheRAF,wouldhaveinvolvedseveralphasesofspeculativedesignsandrevisionsasfundswereraisedanddesignsandspecificationseventuallyfinalised.

The Great EscapeToddandZakrzewski-Rucinski’scollaborationatBigginHillhadaspecialpoignancy,sincetheirfirstarchitecturalworktogetherhadbeenwhilebothwereinternedatStalagLuftIII,theprisonerofwarcampinLowerSilesia,famousfortheGreatEscape.After50ofthecapturedescapeeswereexecutedandtheirremainsreturnedtothecamp,theprisonerspersuadedtheirintendentstopermitthemtocreateamemorial.Theywerepermittedtogatherrubbleonexcursionsfromthecamp,andseekoutsparetoolsandmaterialsforthework.Hundredsofprisonerscontributed,butToddwasappointedbythechaplainstodesigntheworkfromamongtheseveralinternedarchitectsandcraftsmen;Zakrzewski-RucinskicraftedanRAFeaglefromaluminiumcookingutensilsandbribe-wongoldlacquer.ThememorialwasdesecratedbySoviettroopsin1945,butstillstandsinitsoriginallocation.

Building the new ChapelThedesignforStGeorge’sChapelwasbasedontheoriginalChapel,asisevidentinthewatercolourofthefirstChapelwhichhangsinthevestibuleofitspresent-daysuccessor.Itsexteriortreatment,though,

wasquiteoriginalandstrikinglyelegant,showingrealattentiontothedesignsofcontemporarypeers;EnglishHeritage’sdescriptionatthetimeitaddedtheChapeltotheNationalHeritageListatGradeIIcomparedittoaLombardicEarlyChristianChurch.Thedesignwaspraisedduringconstructionforrecapturingtheausterity,simplicityandatmosphere,aswellasthesizeandshapeofthewartimehuts.

Replicatingtheprefab-hutChapel’sregularvolume,thenewChapelusedawideunaislednave,withoutarticulationwhereitbecomesthesanctuary,andwithaslightlynarrowernarthex,StGeorge’sRoomtothewest.Smallflat-roofedvestriesstoodnearthewestendtothesouthandnorth.Linkingthesouthvestryandthenave,alobbystoodatthefootofatallrectangularbelltower.Thesesimple,regularvolumesreplicatedtheolderchapel,and—asintheseparablenarthexspace—madeforapracticalbuildingthatcouldcontinuetoaccommodateotheruses,suchasthatrecordedbya1945SitePlanforRAFBigginHill,whereStGeorge’sChapelisalsomarkedasalectureroom.TheChapel’sarrangementalsoallowedforaclean-linedexterior.

TheChapel’ssymmetricalandrestrainedexternalappearancewaskeptneatbythestraightlinesofclayRomantilerooflaidonsteel

An unattributed watercolour of the east end of the 1943 St George’s Chapel at RAF Biggin Hill; the underside of the pitched roof is evident.

Todd and the prisoners’ memorial to ‘the Fifty’ at Stalag Luft III.


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The west end of the Chapel, with the narthex (St George’s Room) to the fore, and the bell tower.

The west elevation of the 1980s extension, which was built in matching style and materials.

trusses,butsoftenedbythelightredbrickworkinFlemishbond.Ithadkneelers,consistentsillsandacontinuousbrickoffsetplinth.Thearchitectsaddedsubtlebrickworkdetailing,suchasthetympanuminherringbonebricktothehalf-brickarchwithcasementwindow.Viewedfromthewestend,thelower,narrowergableofthenarthexechoesthelargerspanacrossthenave.Theoff-centretower,withtheclocktoitswestfaceaddedlaterinthe1950s,echoesthebrickchimneyofthe1930s-40sStationboiler-housebuildingtoitseast.

Thearchitectsgavethenaveandsanctuarysixbays,eachwithrectangularwindowsdestinedtoreceivememorialstained-glasscompositionsbytheglassartistHughEaston(1906–1965,seeboxonp.24forbiographicaldetails),whohadin1947createdtheBattleofBritainMemorialWindowinWestminsterAbbey.ThebadgesandseraphimheusedinthatcompositionwereprogenitorstothestrikingdesignshecreatedforStGeorge’sChapel,ineachofwhichthewingedspiritofayoungpilotbearsthestylisedemblemofaSquadronoftheStation.

TheChapel’sinteriorfittingswerewell-finishedandsimple,variouslymodernortraditional,indarkhardwoodstocomplementthesaved1943reredos.Otherwise,materialsanddesignsweremoremodernandunusual,asintheinterestingfontinstainlesssteelcomposedofashallowbasinonaY-shapedbase,whichseemstorecalltheformsofaircraftormissiles.Achangetotheinteriordepictedinthewatercolouroftheearlierchapelistheinsertionofaceiling,ofnarrowfibreboardpanelsspanningbetweencrosspieces,gentlycambersacrossthenaveandcarrieselegantoriginalceilinglightsofemphaticallymid-centurystyle.Incontrast,thereredosissetonawoodenplatform,behindthesimplewoodenrail,settingapartasimplesanctuarywhichstruckamoretraditionaltone.Somewherebetweenthesestyles,thenotableparquetfloorissaidtobecomposedofblocksmadeoutofthelaminatedpropellerbladesofdecommissionedplanes.Withalloftheseoriginalfeaturesstillextant,itispossibletosaythatthedesignachievedaspaciousbutcomfortingatmosphereinthenave,itseclecticfurnishingsstrikingacharacterfulbalancebetweenthemodernandthetraditional.


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Hugh Easton’s memorial windows, in sequence from south-west, to north-west. Each badge commemorating a Squadron that served at RAF Biggin Hill.


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TheChapel’snewsitehadbeentheStation’sparadegroundattheendoftheWar.TheChapel’sfoundationstonewaslaidbyAirChiefMarshallHugh,bythenLord,Dowding,on25July1951,asrecordedbythestonesetbeneaththewindowinthewestwall.BuildingwascompletebyNovemberfordedicationbytheBishopofRochester.

Context of the new Chapel’s designInthemid-centuryRAF,taste(asithadbetweentheWars)tendedtowardsthearchitecturallyconservativeandreassuring.Infact,thiswasnotfarremovedfromwiderchurch-buildingtastesinEnglandaroundthemid-pointofthecentury.RebuildingofdamagedchurchesandtheconstructionofnewchurcheswasgivenimpetusbytheChurchCommissioners,formedbyamergerin1948.Thenewworkfrequentlyincorporatedever-moreup-to-datematerialsandconstructiontechniques.However,cladding,detailinganddecoration,thepopularidiomsoftheearlycentury—ArtsandCrafts,neo-Gothicorneo-Georgian—continuedtoprevail,albeitgraduallypaveddownundertheinfluenceofModernism.

Anewroundofpost-warmemorialisationwasalsounderway,influencedbythesameidioms.SirEdwardMaufe(1882–1974)wasperhapstheleadingfigureinthesetrends:hismodernneo-GothicdesignforGuildfordCathedralinthelate1920s—stillunder

St George’s Chapel under construction in summer 1951.

The inscribed foundation stone. The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, also by Maufe.

Sir Edward Maufe’s Guildford Cathedral.

St Mark’s, Biggin Hill – ‘TheMoving Church’.

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constructioninthe1940s—waswidelyrevered,andin1951hebeganworkontheAirForcesMemorialatRunnymede.Thoughthelatterworkwasastone-cladpieceofmonumentalneo-Classicism,itsuseofroundedarches,arcadingandnarrowwindowsmadereferencetomedievalecclesiasticalarchitecture.ItalsodemonstratesMaufe’sdeepaffectionforcontemporaryScandinavianreligiousarchitecture,whichheregardedashavingfoundaneloquentmodernlanguageofausteresimplicityforbuildingsinverytraditionalforms.IfnotalltheseinfluenceswereattheforefrontofTodd’smindindesigningthenewChapelatBigginHill,histreatmentofitsexteriorinparticularwasafinereflectionofthebalanced,eclecticidiomofthetime,mostexpertlyappliedbyMaufe.

Importantchurch-buildingwasalsoplannedatanearbysite.In1951,ReverendVivianSymonsbecamePerpetualCurateofBigginHill,aparishwhosechurchhad,since1904,beenthetemporarycorrugated-ironchurchofStMark.SymonslaterrecalledthathisfirstarrivalinBigginHilltookhimpastthelarge,unusuallylight-brickMemorialChapelstillunderconstruction.Helaunchedintotheprojectofconstructingapermanentchurchforthevillage,identifyingtheabandonedneo-GothicAllSaints,NorthPeckhamasasourceofthenecessarymaterials.Injustoverthreeyears,hedeconstructedtheolderchurchandrecycleditsbricks,stonesandtimberstobuildStMark’satBigginHill,apparentlyscarcelyrelyingonthehandsofothers.LikeStGeorge’sChapel,StMark’sappliedmoderndetailingtotraditionalforms,withsimple,sometimestexturedbrickelevations,asolidrectangularbelltower,cleanrooflinesandasteeplypitchedroof.Duringthebuildingofthe‘MovingChurch’,SymonsservedasthefirstChaplainofStGeorge’sMemorialChapel.(Lewis,acc.2015)


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2.5 A Permanent Shrine

Landscaping and the Gate GuardiansAHurricaneandaSpitfirewereflowntoBigginHillin1953tobecome‘GateGuardians’,mountedonpolesoneithersideoftheentrancefromtheWesterhamRoad.Attheirinstallation,eachplanewassurroundedbyarosebedplantedwith‘Peace’roses.TheaircraftwereeventuallyreplacedbytheMinistryofDefencewithfibreglassreplicas,butthesewereinturnreplacedin2010whentheFriendsoftheChapelreinstatedrealaircraft.TheHurricaneandSpitfirewhichguardthegatestodaywereflownfromBigginHillduringtheWar:theSpitfire,K9998Q-JK,wasflownbyPlt.Off.GeoffreyWelhamof92SquadronduringtheBattleofBritain.

ThenewChapelhadbeenbuiltontheparadegroundoftheStation,andthephotographrecordingitsconstruction(seep.21)appearstoshowrubbleandruinsaround.Thelandscapingforthenewchapelwascompletedafteritsconstruction,andisbestrecordedbyaphotographinBromleyLocalStudiesLibrarydatingtoabout1953,andanotherintheImperialWarMuseumarchivefromthelate1950sorearly1960s.ThephotographsrevealthattheChapeloriginallystoodunenclosed,integratedwiththeneat,perhapsgravelledpathsaroundthenearbyStationbuildings.Lowboxhedgesedgethelowterracealongthewestfrontofthechapel,andyoungtreesstandaroundthelawns.Thefirstphotographsuggeststhethreetreestotheeastofthechapelbesidetheairfield,andtherowsoftreestodayimmediatelynorthofthenorthvestryextension,wereplantedatthetimeoftheChapel’sconstruction.Arowofyoungfirsalsostoodtothenorth;thesemaybethesamewhichsurvivetoday.Atthetimeofthephotograph,thepresent-dayGardenofRemembrancetothesouthhadyettobeestablished.TheChapel’ssettingwasformalbutsimpleandhadagreatsenseofopenness—especiallyofconnectiontothewideskiesoftheairfieldvisiblebeyondtotheeast,greatestofall

beforetheconstructionoftheOASC.

London Biggin Hill AirportDuringthelate1950s,CroydonAirport,London’soriginalcivilianairport,hadbeenclosingdown,whichledtoagrowthinnon-militaryflightsfromBigginHill.AfteralmostadecadeofnegotiationswithWhitehall,in1972,BromleyBoroughCouncilagreedtopurchaseBigginHillAerodromefromtheRAF,takingformalcontrolin1974.

In1992,theDepartmentforTransportrequiredlocalauthoritiescontrollingairportsofacertainsizetocreateanindependentoperatingcompany,andin1994a125-yearleasewasfinallyagreedbetweenLBBromleyandBHAL,asubsidiaryofRegionalAirportsLtd.,whichoperatesLondonBigginHillAirporttothisday.Followinga2001actionintheCourtofAppeal,BHALisrestrictedtooperatingnon-ticketedflights,butoperatesthousandsofprivatetraining,businessandcorporateflightseachyear.

The Chapel at the civil airportFrom1958,aftertheRAFceasedusingBigginHillforanythingbutofficerandaircrewselection,ownershipandmanagementofthecivilairportwasorganisedbytheGovernment’smilitarystructures—from1964,bythenewMinistryofDefence—untiltheformerStation’ssaletoBromleyin1974.ThesalelefttheRAFincontrolofpartsofthestationitstillusedforselection,andformallyincontrolofStGeorge’sChapelanditsprecinct.AstheBoroughbegantosellpartsofWestandSouthCampsforbusinessuseitbecamenecessarytodividetheChapelanditsprecinctfromthesurroundingstructures.Todaythisseparationisachievedbytallmeshfencing,whichhasbeenpartiallydisguisedbyplanting.

The Chapel and Gate Guardians freshly arranged, c.1953.

The Chapel and Gate Guardians in a planted landscape, c.1960.

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The Garden of Remembrance, with repurposed walkway. St George and the Dragon, by Goddard & Gibbs, 1980.Biggin Hill Airport’s ‘Dispersal Hut’ in its location from the 1970s to 2015.

TothenorthoftheChapel,twosingle-storeybrickbuildingsstandatrightangles,linkedbyacoveredwalkway.Siteplansanddesignationreportsrecordthatthesewereaparachutestoreandpilots’lockerroom,thelatteralsoreferredtoas‘MGWorks’intheConservationAreadocumentation.TheparachutestorewaslaterusedasaRomanCatholicChapel.AftertheclosureoftheRAFStation,CatholicserviceswererehousedinStGeorge’sChapel,andthetwolinkedbuildingstothenorthhavebeenusedbythelocalAirCadetsbranch.

TheChapelitselfcontinuedtobetreasuredbylocalresidentsandveteransfromfartherafield,aboveallformemorialisationofTheFew—preciselythepermanentshrinethatChurchillandothershadenvisagedinthelate1940s.Aroundthesouthvestry,aGardenofRemembrancewaslaidoutfortheburialofashesofRAFpersonnelandtheircloserelatives,andfortheplacementofprivatememorials.AbedofrosesliesbesidetheChapel,andthecoveredwalkwaywhichformerlyconnectedtotheadjacentOASCbuildingwasadaptedbytheadditionofbenchesandtrellisestobecomeaplaceforcontemplation.

Chapel alterationsInthe1980s,theChapelwasextendedatthelinkingcorridortotheoriginalnorthvestrybytheadditionofasmallchapelandadditionalvestryrooms.ThisgrowthreflectedthegreatusestillmadeoftheChapel—forservices,weddings,funeralsandotheroccasions,especiallyinconnectionwithveteransoftheBattleofBritain,manybythenintheir70s.Theextensionwasbuiltinastylematchingthatofthemainchapel,inlightbrownbrick,withacontinuousplinth,matchingkneelers,andstraighteavestothetiled,gabledroof.ItswestelevationwasgivenasubtlymorecomplextreatmentwhichstressedapossibleLombardicinspiration,withtheadditionofprojectingpanelstoeithersidesuggestingpilastersandcapitals,andrecedingcoursesbeneaththegable,overanoculusabovethewestdoor.Thewestdooritselfmatchedthatofthemainchapel,witharoundedarchandthreeplainrecedingorders.

SomechangesweremadeinsidetheChapeltoo.Thelong-establishedstainedglassfirmGoddard&GibbsdecoratedStGeorge’sRoomwithnewwindows:thewestwindowinStGeorge’sRoomspace,showingStGeorgeandtheDragon,wasinstalledtocommemoratea40thAnniversaryceremonywhichtookplaceon21September1980;fourotherwindowswereinstalledin1985toreplacethecasementsineachofthebaysofthesamenarthexstructure,eachcommemoratingtherolesplayedbygroundsupport.


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Flight Lieutenant Wemyss Wylton ToddWyltonTodd(1906–1961)wasborninAdelaide,Australia,wherehetrainedinarchitecture,arrivinginLondonviaaspellinNewYork.HisprojectsinLondonmayhaveincludedworkonJamesLomax-Simpson’sUnileverHouse(1933)andHerbertBaker’s1939rebuildingoftheBankofEngland.Heenjoyedgreatsuccessinarchitecture,beinghonouredatEdwardVIII’slastlevéeceremony.Thoughinhislate30swhenWarbrokeout,ratherthanleaveforCanadawithhisfamily,heliedabout

hisagetojointheRAF,andflewwith29and169Squadron,inpartfromBigginHill.HisMosquitowasshotdownin1944andhewascapturedandimprisonedinStalagLuftIIIinSilesia,wherehistalentsinperformancesawhimdeeplyinvolvedindramaticandmusicalproductions.Heiscreditedwithacentralroleincraftingthememorialtothe50executedfollowingtheGreatEscape.HispracticeaftertheWarinLondonenabledhimtoreturntothetheatretocollaboratewithCecilBeatonona1950refurbishmentoftheDukeofYork’sTheatre,StMartin’sLane.HeworkedonotherprojectsinBritain,India,MexicoandtheBahamas.

Wemyss Wylton Todd in uniform.

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Flying Officer Kazimierz Zakrzewski-RucinskiKazikZakrzewski-Rucinski(1909–1982)wasborninPolandandtrainedinartinWarsaw.Heworkedasanillustratorbutfledtheoccupationin1939,reportedlytravellingintoSyriaviaGreeceandTurkey,crossingNorthAfricaandreachingGibraltartojointheRAF.Flyingwith300(Polish)Squadron,hewasshotdowninAugust1942.InternedatStalagLuftIII,heproducedmovingwatercolourportraitsofhisfellowPOWs.Afterthewar,inadditiontoKazik’scontributionatBigginHill,heworkedasanarchitecturaldraughtsmandrawingperspectives,forTPBennettandSon,amongothers.

Portraits of FLt (C) Bob McBride & FLt (RAF) Peter Gardner by Kazik Zakrzewski-Rucinski.

Hugh Easton’s Battle of Britain Memorial Window in Westminster Abbey (1947).

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Hugh EastonHughEaston(1906–1965)wasborninLondon,UK.Heestablishedastained-glassstudioinCambridge,movingtoLondonaftertheSecondWorldWar.Heenjoyedparticularsuccessintheimmediatepost-warperiod,producingaround250memorialwindows,including,in1947,thegreatBattleofBritainMemorialWindowatWestminsterAbbey,commemoratingTheFewwithShakespeare’swordsfromHenryV,‘Wefew,wehappyfew,webandofbrothers’.HemadeotherwindowsacrossBritaininthisperiod,includingthoseatStGeorge’sChapel,BigginHill,andanotherfighter-themedwindowattheRollsRoycefactoryinDerby.


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A detail from one of Hugh Easton’s windows, in the location where others carry private inscriptions.

Goddard & GibbsGoddard&GibbsisadecorativeglassstudioinitiallyestablishedasWalterGibbs&SonsonBlackfriarsRoadinLondon.In1938thestudioacquiredGoddardsGlassWorks.Thefirmwassubsequentlytakenover,butretainedtheGoddard&Gibsnameand‘GG’insignia,underitschiefdesignerJohnLawson(1932–2009).


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3.0 Significance3.1 Assessing significance Assessingsignificanceisthemeansbywhichtheculturalimportanceofaplaceanditscomponentpartsisidentifiedandcompared,bothabsolutelyandrelatively.Thepurposeofthisisnotmerelyacademic,itisessentialtoeffectiveconservationandmanagementbecausetheidentificationofelementsofhighandlowersignificance,basedonathoroughunderstandingofasite,enablesownersanddesignerstodevelopproposalsthatsafeguard,respectandwherepossibleenhancethecharacterandculturalvaluesofthesite.Theassessmentidentifiesareaswherenochange,oronlyminimalchangesshouldbeconsidered,aswellasthosewheremoreintrusivechangesmightbeacceptableandcouldenrichunderstandingandappreciationofsignificance.

Statutorydesignationisthelegalmechanismbywhichsignificanthistoricplacesareidentifiedinordertoprotectthem.StGeorge’sMemorialChapel,BigginHillwaslistedatGradeIIin2005.However,itisnecessarytogobeyondthisinordertoarriveatamoredetailedandbroaderunderstandingofsignificancethatconsidersmorethanmattersarchaeologicalandarchitectural-historical.ThisisachievedherebyusingtheterminologyandcriteriafromtheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework(NPPF;adoptedMarch2012).Thisdocumentplacestheconceptofsignificanceattheheartoftheplanningprocess.

Annex2oftheNPPFdefinessignificanceas:

The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting.

InConservation Principles, Policies and Guidance(2008)HistoricEngland(HE;formerlyEnglishHeritage)setoutamethodologyforassessingsignificancebyconsidering‘heritagevalues’.TheHEvalues—evidential,historical,aesthetic—arebroadlyalignedwiththeNPPFtypesofsignificance,andtheyincludealsocommunalvalue,‘themeaningsofaplaceforthepeoplewhorelatetoit’.InthisreporttheNPPFtermsareusedbecausetheiradoptionsimplifiesthepreparationofplanningandlistedbuildingconsentapplications,butwealsotakeintoaccountthecommunalvalueidentifiedinConservation Principles.

Annex2ofNPPFdefinesarchaeologicalinterest[‘evidentialvalue’]inthefollowingway:

There will be archaeological interest in a heritage asset if it holds, or potentially may hold, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point. Heritage assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them.

TheDepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernmenthaspreviously(inPPS5)giventhesedefinitionsfortheothertypesofinterest:

Architectural and Artistic Interest [‘aesthetic value’]: These are the interests in the design and general aesthetics of a place. They can arise from conscious design or fortuitously from the way the heritage asset has evolved. More specifically, architectural interest is an interest in the art or science of the design, construction, craftsmanship and decoration of buildings and structures of all types. Artistic interest is an interest in other human creative skill, like sculpture.

Historic Interest [‘historical value’]: An interest in past lives and events (including pre-historic). Heritage assets can illustrate or be associated with them. Heritage assets with historic interest not only provide a material record of our nation’s history, but can also provide an emotional meaning for communities derived from their collective experience of a place and can symbolise wider values such as faith and cultural identity [‘communal value’].

HEhassoughttoclarifythedistinctionbetweenarchaeologicalinterestandhistoricinterestthatNPPFintends.Para16ofHE’sHistoricEnvironmentGoodPracticeAdviceInPlanningNote2:ManagingSignificanceinDecision-Taking(published27March2015)begins:

Archaeological interest, as defined in the NPPF, differs from historic interest . . . because it is the prospects for a future expert archaeological investigation to reveal more about our past that need protecting.

Theassessmentofsignificanceisusuallyanamalgamofthesedifferentinterests,andthebalancebetweenthemwillvaryfromonecasetothenext.Whatisimportantistodemonstratethatalltheseinterestshavebeenconsidered.Thisisachievedbyassessingthesignificanceofthewholesiterelativetocomparableplaces,andtherelativesignificanceofitscomponentparts.

ThisassessmentofsignificancebeginswithareviewofdesignationsatBigginHillinsection3.2.AsummarystatementofthesignificanceofStGeorge’sMemorialChapelfollowsinsection3.3,elaboratedwithreferencetothethematicdefinitionsofheritageinterestdescribedabove.Section3.4describeshowthesignificanceoftheChapelanditsprecinctvariesbyarea,beforesection3.5expandsthistoconsiderviewsandthesignificanceoftheChapel’srelationshipwithitsneighbours.


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3.2 DesignationsTheChapelisaGrade-IIlistedbuilding—a‘designatedheritageasset’.Therationaleforitslistingisnotrecordedinthelistdescription,butthisdoesgiveadetaileddescriptionandconcisehistoryofthebuilding(seeAppendix2).TheChapelisoneofsixlistedbuildingsintheformerRAFStation’sWestCamp,withtwolistedgroupsofbarrackblocksandmarriedquarters,allindicatedintheplansincludedhere.TheselistingsweremostlytheresultofathematicsurveyofairfieldstructuresbyEnglishHeritage.

EnglishHeritage(andnowHistoricEngland)hashistoricallyconsideredbuildingsforlistingaspartofthematictypologies;inthesetermsStGeorge’sMemorialChapelisahybridbuilding.AsuiteofDesignationListingSelectionGuidespublishedin2011treatedMilitaryStructuresandPlacesofWorshipinseparatevolumes.Bothofthesecategorisationshavebeenconsideredintheassessmentofsignificancewhichfollows.

LBBromleydesignatedaBigginHillConservationAreathatencompassesallofthelistedbuildings,butalsoprotectstheundesignatedbuildingsbetweenthemaroundWestCampaspartofanareaofparticularlyvaluablecharacterorappearance.Aspecialpropertyofconservationareadesignationisthatalltreesreceivespecialprotection,beingsubjecttoparticularrulesaboutlocalauthorityoversightofworkdonetothem.

GradeIIlisted

1 StGeorge’sMemorialChapel(1951)

2 Building33(1931)(FormerStationHQ)

3 FormerOfficers’Mess(c.1935)

4Building12(1932)Candidate’sClub(FormerSergeants’Mess)

5 Building15(1934)(HawkingeBlock)

6 Building10(1930)Airmen’sInstitute(FormerOfficers’Mess)

7 Buildings1-5(1930)(Airmens’BarrackBlocks)

8 VincentSquareMarriedQuarters(26surviving1929)

9 ArmoryAnnexe(rejectedforlisting)

10 Armory(rejectedforlisting)

11 Inflammablematerialsstore

12 Fuelsheds(rejectedforlisting)

13 Pilots’lockerroom(rejectedforlisting)

14 Parachutestore(rejectedforlisting)

15 FormerRomanCatholicchapel

16PassengerTerminal(incl.1950scontroltower,rejectedforlisting)

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3.3 Summary and thematic significanceStGeorge’sMemorialChapelisdesignatedasalistedbuildingbecauseofitsspecialhistoricandarchitecturalinterest.Architecturally,itsrestraineddesignisacleanandmodernuseoftraditionalchurchforms,whichincorporatescleverreferencetolocalantecedentsandtothematerialsandaestheticsofitsaerodromesurroundings.Itsarchitecturalinterestextendstoitssettingwithinaprecinct,andbeyondthatitsrelationtothesurroundingRAFStation.Thiscontextisalsothefoundationofitshugehistoricinterest;theChapelwasestablishedbypublicdonationstobealastingnationalmemorialtothoselostintheaerialdefenceofBritainduringtheSecondWorldWar.ItscreationwassupportedbySirWinstonChurchill.ItslocationcelebratestheparticularroleandhistoryofRAFBigginHillasasiteofmilitaryaviation.AsaplaceofcommemorationandworshiptheChapel’ssocialandcommunalvalueisinevidenceinitsdailyuse.ItisitsuniquehistoricinterestwhichmakestheChapelparticularlyspecial.

Architectural and Artistic Interest StGeorge’sMemorialChapelhashigharchitecturalinterest,insummaryforitselegantbalanceoftraditionalformswithcontemporarysensibility,andcalmsymmetrywithapaletteofmaterialsanddecorationwhichrichlyevokesitsparticularcontext.Beingattributabletotheworkofseveralarchitects,theChapeldoesnotderivespecialarchitecturalinterestfromtheotherworksofitscreators,exceptinsofarasthecreativeroleofAMWDarchitectsmeanitmarksastepforwardinthegradualdevelopmentoffairlyconservativeRAFtastesinarchitecturegenerally,andtheinvolvementofWemyssWyltonToddandKazikZakrzewski-RucinskiconnectsittoaspeciallyinterestingstrandinthestoryofSecondWorldWarmemorialisation.

Themostarchitecturallyinterestingpost-warchurchbuildingreflectscontemporarydebatesinecclesiologyandsocialperspectivesonworship.BuildingslikeCoventryCathedralcouldberadicalreimaginingsofchurchformsformodernity,whileotherssuchasLiverpoolRCCathedralphysicallyembodiedattemptstomovetheeucharistintothecentreofthecongregation.StGeorge’sChapelatBigginHillwasnotreallyintentionallyinnovativeinform,althoughitwasunusualintryingtoreplicatetheshapesetbytheprefabricated

hutswhichhadconstituteditsdestroyedpredecessorandevoketypicalairfieldbuildingformssuchashangars.Itsaltarsitsagainstanunarticulatedeastwall,thenaveandchanceltechnicallypartofthesamespaceasbefittedthecontemporarymood,butactuallybothraisedonasimplebuttraditionalsanctuaryplatform,exaltingthe1943memorialreredos.

EvenifitssimplicityistypicalofRAFChapels,thischaracteristicwasexploitedbyitsarchitectsforstylisticeffect,allowingittoreflectinitsownwaythepost-warreformistmoodinchurchbuildingbyevokingancientplainnessinitscalmsymmetryandausterityreminiscentofa

LombardicEarly-Christianchurch.SimplicityandcalmareessentialtotheChapel’seffectasaplaceofcontemplationandcommemoration.ThepowerfuleffectofsuchmodernistsensibilitiesappliedtohistoricformswasacoreconvictionofSirEdwardMaufe’sleadingworkinchurchbuildinginthesameperiod.Maufeusedausteresimplicitytocreatereligiousatmosphere,andwasinthiswayatleastaninfluenceontheStGeorge’sChapel.HisAirForcesMemorialwasanimportantcontextfortheChapel,buthisStNicholas,Saltdeanisacloserparallel,wherethesimpleandadaptableformrequiredtoaccommodateparochialeventsinthesamesmallspaceasworshipisprovidedinamodestbutelegantpieceofarchitecture.

St Nicholas, Saltdean (Sir Edward Maufe, 1964)

Interior of the Chapel, looking east


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ThearchitecturalinterestofStGeorge’sChapeliscompoundedbyitsmaterialpalette,chosenwithattentiontointernaltexture,deliberatelymixingnaturalandsyntheticmaterials.TheChapel’sinceptionanditsarchitectsanddesignersbringithistoricinterestthroughassociationwithstoriesofwar,andthishistoricinterestiscompoundedbytheirchoicesofmaterials;architectureandhistoryinformandcelebrateoneanother.Theparquetfloorcomposedoflaminatedtimberstripscutfrompropellerblades;thestrikingmissile-likefont;therudeandnotatallchurchlikematerialsoffibreboardpanelsandmetalstripswhich,withelegantlamps,createanattractiveceilingevocativeofaviation.Thechoiceofhumbleandsalvagedmaterialsmayalsohavebeenduetorationing;restrictionsonthesupplyanduseofbuildingmaterials,sodesperatelyneededforhouseconstruction,continueduntil1954.Inthesecircumstances,thedeterminationoftheChapel’smakerstoprovidearobustanddignifiedbuilding,isallthemoreimpressive.ThesedesignchoicesarepartoftheChapel’sarchitecturalinterestandunderlineitshistoricinteresttoo.

TheChapel’sartisticinterestishighforsuchasmallbuilding.Theexceptionalcollectionofstainedglass—aboveallthebeautifulsequenceofmemorialwindowsbyHughEaston,butalsothoseinStGeorge’sRoomcelebratingtheservicegroundpersonnel—isatraditionalformappliedwithgreatsuccesstoamodernbuildingandtheparticularhistoricandreligiouscontextofaBattleofBritainmemorialchapel.OtherbeautifulitemsintheChapel’scollectionweredesignedforthebuildinginremarkablematerials,orinmanycasesaredonationsorbequestsgiveninmemoryofindividualsorunits,theseappearingoftentobefittingsbroughtfromchurchesorchapelselsewhere.Thefinecarvedeaglelectern,forinstance,wasagiftfromtheBelgianAirForceandwasnotdesignedfortheChapel.Thepewsseemalsotohavearrivedfromanotherplaceofworship.Amultitudeofotheritems—commemorativeplaques,theBookofRemembrance,theknittedpewcushions,paintingsandphotographs,andmore—haveartisticinterestoftheirown.Insomecases,theirprovenanceordedicationsgivethemhistoricinterest,describedfurtherbelow.WheretheyweredesignedfortheChapelthesepieceshavespecialartisticinterest,whichcompoundsthearchitecturalinterestofthespace;thearchitectsofothertwentieth-centurychurchesfrequentlydesignedorcommissionedcontemporaryartandcraftspecificallyfortheirbuildings.Butallthepiecesofthecollectiontogether,regardlessofprovenance,arepartoftheChapel’stotalarchitecturalandartisticinterest,asaspacewithacertainformandfunction,designedtobefurnishedwithreferencetobothtraditionanditsspecificcontext.

Details of interior fittings and furnishings


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Historic interestTheChapel’shistoricinterestismuchgreaterthanitwouldbeforatypicalnewplaceofworshipofthe1950s.TheChapel’shistoricinteresthastwomainstrands:first,itsplaceinthedevelopmentofRAFBigginHillandthroughitinthehistoryoftheRAFandmilitaryaviationandinparticulartheBattleofBritain;andsecond,theintentionofitsvariousandeminentfoundersthatitshouldbeamemorialtotheBattleofBritainandthosewhofoughtit.

Aswithanyhistoricbuilding,thedetailsoftheconstruction,materialsanddevelopmentofStGeorge’sChapelinitscontextcantellusaboutthetimesinwhichitexisted.ThisChapelislinkedspecificallywiththechangingfortunesofBritain’smilitaryaircapacity,andwithattitudestocommemorationandworshipduringthetwentiethcentury,asdescribedinsection2ofthisreport.ThefirststrandoftheChapel’s

historicinterestalsogainsfromtheChapel’sassociationwithallthegreatfiguresofBigginHill’spast,aswellastheserviceandsacrificeofthosenotindividuallycommemorated.ThisassociativehistoricinterestisredoubledintheChapel’scasebecauseoftheparticularinterestfiguresashistoricallysignificantasSirWinstonChurchillshowedinitscause.Todd,Zakrzewski-RucinskiandtheGreatEscapeareanotherrichassociativestrand.

TheChapelexcelsinhistoricinterest,however,ininterpretingthestoryoftheBattleofBritain.Avisittellsthishistoryinawaythattranscendsexhibiteddocumentsandphotographsalone;theweightoflossandscaleofservicetheChapelexpressesisitsessentialquality.Objectssuchasthescramblebellarespeakeloquentlyofitshistoricinterest.TheChapelhasaleadingroleinBritain’scommemorationofitsdecisiveairbattleandoftheSecondWorldWarasawhole.

Social interest and communal valueInformallytheChapelhaslongfunctionedasavisitor’scentreforthoseinterestedinthehistoryofRAFBigginHill.Thisrolehasaccretedgreatsocialinterestoverthedecadesofitsexistence:manynewRAFrecruitsvisitingtheneighbouringOASCmusthavepaidtributeattheChapel.TheChapel’ssocialinterestisstronglyassociatedwithitscommemorativefunction.PersonaldedicationssuchasthoseineachofEaston’smemorialwindowsarecollectivelyaweightysource

ofcommunalvalue,furtherexploredbelow.TheChapelservesasocialpurposetooforthosemuchmoreremotefromitsbuildingbystandingasafocalpointfortheircommemorationatarenownedhistoricsite.ManyactsofcommemorationarenotedonobjectswithintheChapel,andinitsprecinct.Forinstance,astonesetintheGardenofRemembrancemarksthegratitudeoftheDutchAirForce.

ConsideringtheChapel’scommunalvaluesuggestsanotherslightlydifferentstrandinitssignificance,asthelivingfocalpointofseveralcommunities–notablytheworshipperswhoattendregularservicesattheChapel,ministeredbyitsChaplain,theVicarofBigginHill,andbyitsRomanCatholicpastor.ManymorevisitorsattendtorememberlovedoneswhoseashesareinterredattheChapelortomarkceremoniesofpersonalsignificancewhichtookplacethere.StGeorge’sChapeldoesnothavea‘parish’inthenormalsensebutwidercommunityofFriendshelpstocarefortheChapel,supportingtheworkoftheChapel’sCustodian.Theirinvolvementaimstoensureitremainsasa‘livingmemorial’aswellasa‘permanentshrine’.AstillmovewidespreadcommunityofgroupswithaninterestinRAFBigginHillanditshistory,andwiththeBattleofBritainwhereveritwasfought,willhavespecialregardfortheChapel,eveniftheirassociationisremote,ornotformallyrecorded.SeveralgroupsincludingtheBigginHillBattleofBritainSupporters’ClubandtheBigginHillAirportSocialClubrevolvearoundthehistoryandlifeoftheairfield,andsotheytoohaveaspecialregardfortheChapel.

The interior of St George’s Room, with RAF memorabilia on the walls. Hand-stitched hassock covers of uniform design on a background of Air Force blue.

The Biggin Hill scramble bell.


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Archaeological interestThewholesiteofthehistoricaerodromehaspotentialforarchaeologyofgreatinterest.Mainlythisrelatestoitshistoryasanaerodrome,aboveallintimesofconflictwhenmanypaststructureswereabruptlylostwithoutrecord.Incertainplaces,structuresofolderprovenancesuchasCudhamLodgemayhaveleftarchaeologytoo,buttheselocationsaregenerallydistantfromeitherthedispersalhutinEastCamportheChapelprecinctinWestCamp.Bothsortsofarchaeologicalinterestmaymeritfutureinvestigation–theformerpotentiallyhavingparticularinterestinrelationtotheChapel.However,theChapelandprecinctaspresentlyconstitutedandunderstood,donothavearchaeologicalinterestwhichcontributetosignificance.

3.4 Significance by areaTheChapel’ssignificanceisessentiallyinseparablefromtheexperienceofthewholebuildinganditsprecinctasadesignedshrineonahistoricsite.Noelementcouldbelostwithouttakingfromthesignificanceofthewhole.Thatsaid,certainofthebuilding’selementshavealwaysplayedagreaterroleinpreservingandpresentingitsvariousformsofsignificance:aboveallthisappliestothenaveandStGeorge’sRoom.Theyarehighlysignificantbecauseoftheircentrality,literally,intheChapel’sarrangement,andfigurativelyinitscommemorative,interpretativeandreligiousfunctions,aswellasbecauseofthecareandinterestoftheirdesign.Inthislatterregard,thebelltowertooisahighlysignificantpartofthearchitecturalcomposition.Themorefunctionalspacesofthetwovestriesandthenorthextension,whichdoesnotcurrentlyserveasanadditionalchapelspace,areoflowerdesignstatusandarelesscentraltowhatisspecialaboutthebuilding.Nonethelesstheyaresignificant,sincetheyaretrulyindispensabletothefunctionofthebuildingasawholeandessentialtothearchitecturalcomposition.Theextensionwasacarefully-consideredandwell-executedevolutionofthebuilding.Inmuchthesameway,theChapel’sprecinctcontributestothesignificanceofthesitebothinitsfunction—providingadignifiedapproachtotheChapelandaGardenofRemembranceforquietcontemplation—andthecontributionitmakestotheexperienceofworshipersandothervisitors.

3.5 Significant views and relationshipsStGeorge’sMemorialChapelwasbuiltwithinandasanadditiontoaworkingRAFbase,anditsarchitectureandsettingcannotbefullyunderstoodwithoutthiscontext.

CertainviewsoftheChapel—andviewsfromthevicinityoftheChapel—areimportanttotheappreciationofitsheritagesignificance,andthesehavechangedduringtheChapel’slifetime.TheChapel’scloseneighbourshavenotmuchchangedin60years,buttheydonotallrelatetoitwithequalworthforitsheritagesignificance.Thesignificanceplanonp.33graphicallyexpressesthesignificanceoftheChapelbuildinganditskeyviewsandneighbourrelationships.

Significance of viewsTheChapelwasdesignedasasymmetricalcomposition,andthoughtheadditionofthenorthernextensioninthe1980shaschangedthisoriginalbalance,plantingaroundtheChapelandthecarefulconsiderationofthescaleandformoftheextensionmeanthattheviewontotheChapel’swestelevationisstillthemostimportantoneforappreciatingitsarchitecturalsignificance.ItisframedmeaningfullyandevocativelybytheGateGuardiansandtheornamentalgatesandrailingsinAirForcebluewiththeirRAF-insigniadesign.ThisviewontothemainroadistheChapel’spublicfaceandrevealsitscreators’intentionthatitshouldserveasaplacewheretheRAF’sinstitutionalcommemorationofTheFewopenstosharewithcivilianBritainin

itscelebrationoftheirachievement.ItisinterestingtocomparethisviewtodaywiththephotographoftheChapelfromthesameperspective,takeninabout1960,whichshowshowthelandscapehassubtlymaturedanddeveloped,buttheChapel’ssettingisinessencepreserved.Thisviewfromthewestissignificant.

Incontrast,theviewontotheChapel’srear(east)elevationislesssignificant.ThiselevationoftheChapelwasdesignedwithevenlessdecorativearchitecturaldetailorarticulationthanitswestside.ItisviewedfromfunctionalareasoftheformerWestCampwhichlietoitsnorthandeast.ItisscreenedfromtheairfieldbytheblockworkscreenofuncertaindatewhichwasprobablyerectedtoscreentheChapelandMemorialGardenalittlefromthenoiseandexposureoftheworkingairfield.Thisviewfromtheeasthassomesignificance,nonetheless,beingalittle-alteredperspectiveontheChapel’soriginalfabric.

The Chapel and Gate Guardians viewed from the west today and in c.1960.Ph

oto:

IWM


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TheonlysignificantviewfromtheChapel’sprecinctisthatontotheairfield—aglimpsedviewtothesouth-eastthroughtreesandhangars.Inconveniently,thisviewisavailableonlyfromanareaoftheenclosurelargelyscreenedfromarchitecturally-andhistorically-interestingelementsoftheChapel,asituationthatisacknowledgedbytheperforationsintheblockworkwalltotheChapel’seast,whichseemsambiguouslytoscreentheChapel’scontemplativespacesfromexposurewhilealsotryingtomaintainavisualconnectiontothewiderairport.Theviewissignificantbecausethesounds,breezesandviewsofaircraftitaffordscanevocativelyenhancetheexperienceof

visitingtheChapel,andmeaningfullyremindChapelvisitorsofthebuilding’sworkingcontext.Otherviewsontothebuilding’ssideandrearelevations,havenosignificance.

Significance of relationshipsTheChapelrelatesinheritagesignificancetoitsneighbouringbuildingsinvisualterms,butalsoinhistoricandfunctionalways.Thebrown-brickboiler-housebuildingandchimneytotheChapel’seastwasbuiltinthe1930sor1940s,andwaslabelledonthe1945siteplanasthe‘centralheatingstation’.Thoughafunctionalbuildingoflittlespecialinterest,earlyviewsofthecompletedChapelstronglysuggestthatthevisualcontextofthisbuildinganditsmodestbutinterestinglymodernchimneywasaconsiderationinthedesignoftheChapelandthesituationofitsbelltower.Furthermore,theexistenceofsuchanobviouslyfunctionalbuildingclosetotheChapel,emphasisedbythevisualechoofthetwotowers,servestostressthehistoricsignificanceoftheChapel’ssituationonaworkingfighterbase.Theyhaveasignificantrelationship.

TothenorthoftheChapelstandstheStation’sformerRomanCatholicchapel,asingle-storeybrickbuildingwithpitchedrooflinkedtoanotherthatstandsatright-anglestoit.ItisnowusedbyalocalAirCadetbranch,sinceCatholicservicesarenowaccommodatedinStGeorge’sChapel.AsaformerplaceofworshipandasanotherpublicfacilityattheformerStation,linkingthecommunitytoitshistory

throughtheactivitiesoftheAirCadets,thebuildinghascommunalvalueandhistoricsignificancewhichsignificantlycomplementsthatofthemainChapel.

ThesignificancerelationshipbetweentheChapelandtheformerRCchapelissomewhatcompromisedbytheexistenceofthecarparkbetweenthemandthewaytheyarecrudelyseparatedbyutilitarianfencing.ThehistoricroleofthebuildingasanRCchapeldeservessomeinterpretationwhereverthehistoryofworshipandcommemorationatBigginHillisdescribed.

TothesouthofStGeorge’sChapelstandstheOfficerandAircrewSelectionCentrebuilding,alargeE-shapedmodernistofficeblockinbrick,purpose-builtbytheRAFforitsrecruitmentfunctionsatBigginHillfromthe1960s.Assuch,thebuildingisnotanoriginalpartoftheChapel’scontext,butisanofficebuildingofsomemodestarchitecturalinterest,andsomewhatgreaterhistoricinterestforstandingasareminderofthepost-warfunctionsofRAFBigginHill.Unfortunatelythebuildingisabandonedanddilapidated,andnonewuseisexpected.AlthoughforitshistoricfunctionithassomeinterestinrelationtotheChapel—generationsofnewrecruitswouldhavepaidtributetotheirforbearsattheChapelwhilevisitingtheOASCforselectiondays—initscurrentconditionitcompromisesthesettingoftheChapelandespeciallytheMemorialGarden,andsoisatbestanelementofneutralsignificance.

Views onto the rear elevation of the Chapel from its east. The view to the airfield from the east of the Chapel precinct. The former RC chapel to the north, now in use by the Air Cadets.


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1711/200


N

Highlysignificant

Significant

Significantgarden

Somesignificance

Neutral

Negative

Significantview

Significantrelationship

Neutralrelationship

Viewofsomesignificance

SIGNIFICANCE


1711/200


N

Highlysignificant

Significant

Significantgarden

Somesignificance

Neutral

Negative

Significantview

Significantrelationship

Neutralrelationship

Viewofsomesignificance

SIGNIFICANCE

Significance

N


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Appendix 1HER mapThemapoverleafsummarisesthefullGreaterLondonHistoricEnvironmentRecorddatasetforBigginHillDispersalHut&RAFChapel,heldbyHistoricEngland,licensedtoAlanBaxterLimited,andissuedseparatelyasanattachmenttothisreporttoLBBromley.

Itissubjecttothefollowingstatementofcopyrightandprovenance:

© Historic England [2015]. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right [2015]

The Dataset contained in this material was obtained on [27 April 2015].


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Bromley

541000

541000

541500

541500

542000

542000

542500

542500

160500

160500

161000

161000

161500

161500

27 April 2015

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of HerMajesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Unauthorisedreproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead toprosecution or civil proceedings. Historic England. 100019088. ©Historic England. Historic OS Mapping: © and database right CrownCopyright and Landmark Information Group Ltd (all rights reserved)Licence numbers 000394 and TP0024.

Notes:Any Listed Building information shown on this map extract isprovided solely to indicate the location of the listed building(s) anddoes not attempt to indicate the curtilage or the full extent of thelisting(s).Any archaeological priority area(s) shown on this map extract arethose used by the Historic England archaeological advisors and

±GLHER Report 11714

Biggin Hll AirportRAF Chapel & Dispersal Hut

TQ41714 60982900m radius

" Pottery SitesRivers

Modern Boroughs

World Heritage Sites

Archaeological Find Spot

Building

Maritime Archaeologyë

_̂

Event Location (Archaeology)

XY

Event Location (Not fully recorded on the GLSMR database)!e

8 Listed Building

Scale (at A4): 1:10,000

Archaeological Priority Area

( TDP & TAS

Archaeology

Registered Parks & Gardens

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Requested Search Area

1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn,London EC1N 2ST

Tel: 020 7973 3000 Fax: 020 7973 3001www.HistoricEngland.org.uk

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Appendix 2 Statutory List entries


Appe

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http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391588&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 14:41:27]

List Entry SummaryThis building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 asamended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Name: MEMORIAL CHAPEL

List Entry Number: 1391588

Location

MEMORIAL CHAPEL, A233

The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County: Greater London AuthorityDistrict: BromleyDistrict Type: London BoroughParish:

National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.

Grade: II

Date first listed: 01-Dec-2005

Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

Legacy System InformationThe contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System: LBS

UID: 495981

List Entry


Asset GroupingsThis List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the officialrecord but are added later for information.

List Entry DescriptionSummary of Building

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation


History


Details

785/0/10082 A233 (WEST SIDE) FORMER RAF BIGGIN HILL 01-DEC-05 Memorial Chapel

GV II Memorial chapel to airmen lost whilst flying from Biggin Hill in WWII. Consecrated 1951, architect WWylton Todd ARIBA. Red brickwork in Flemish bond, clay Roman tile roof on steel trusses.

PLAN: A wide unaisled nave with sanctuary entered through a slightly narrower ante-room or narthex, boththese gabled, the nave at a higher level. To the right (S) is an attached oblong campanile over the smallentrance lobby, and beyond this is a flat-roofed sacristy. On the opposite (N) side a flat roofed set back link,formerly vestry, and a large gabled chapel, of later build.

EXTERIOR: The whole building is neatly detailed in brick with tiles, sills and with a continuous brick offsetplinth. The W end, facing the road, is gabled, with a tall casement under a half-brick arch with tympanum inherring-bone brick, all set to a recessed blind arched panel, with a tile sill across the bottom. Roof tiles arebrought to a close-cut eaves, carried out to flush moulded stone kneelers. Below the main panel is a panelset flush, and inscribed: 'This stone was laid on 25th July 1951 by Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding GCBGCVO CMG'. The returns each side have two tall casements, detailed as for the nave. The tower is in plainbrickwork, with a set-back top stage, containing to each face a louvred opening, rectangular to the sides, andarched to front and rear, the ridge of the gabled roof parallel with the main roof. The W face has an openclock face; the main entrance is an arched opening in three recessed orders to a pair of framed diagonallyboarded doors. To the right of the tower is the flat-roofed vestry, with triple steel casements to brick piers onthe W and S sides. Left of the main gable is a similar flat-roofed unit, including triple light and archeddoorway, now acting as a corridor link to the later chapel. The nave is a plain gabled rectangle with 5 talloblong steel casements each side, and the blank E end, with verge and kneelers as to the W, and with abroad recessed blind panel to tiled sill. The large chapel to the N is detailed in a more complex way; to the W

St George’s Memorial Chapel


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List Entry


Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details

MapNational Grid Reference: TQ 41076 60603

The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scalemap, please see the attached PDF - 1391588.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for thedownload to complete.

© Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number100024900.

© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 02:40:35.

List Entry


is an arched doorway in recessed brick orders to half brick voussoirs and a pair of diagonally boarded doors,within a recessed panel including splayed jambs, taken to elaborate kneelers and eaves in three brick-on-edge courses. In the gable is an oculus with double half-brick voussoirs. The returned side has blankrecessed panels with a small vertical light. The E end has a sunk panel with elaborate quoins and to aweathered plinth, and a complex 'frieze' with prominent lead dressings.

INTERIOR: The ante-room or narthex has a plain parquet floor, unpainted walls in three bays with internalbrick piers, and a fibre-boarded ceiling. This links through wide doors to the 6-bay nave, also in unpaintedbrick with internal piers, the floor in square laminated wood blocks, made from aircraft propellers, and with anear-flat ceiling in three facets. At the E end, in the simple sanctuary, is a broad memorial record panel;Squadron losses include Polish, East Indies, French, Dutch, RCAF and RZNA names.

FITTINGS: In addition to the memorial reredos, there is a fine lectern, a stainless steel font with Y-shapedbase, and simple benches. Windows each side of the nave all contain memorial stained glass.

HISTORY: This is an elegant little building, a simple and relatively austere version of a Lombardic EarlyChristian church, that stands as a memorial to those who lost their lives serving from Biggin Hill.

Following the destruction by fire of a memorial chapel (converted from a hut in 1943 and dedicated to StGeorge) in 1946, and consideration of whether to convert the bomb-damaged operations room into a chapel,architects from the Air Ministry Works Directorate (A Beasley, WS Harper and GA Williams) werecommissioned to design a simple building in brick and tile, funded through a public appeal for (in Churchill'swords) 'a permanent shrine of remembrance') backed by Churchill himself as well as friends and relatives ofaircrew who had died in action. The chapel was constructed on the site of one of the hangars destroyed in1940: Lord Dowding laid the foundation stone in July 1951, and it was opened and dedicated on 10November 1951. Hugh Easton, the designer of the RAF Memorial Window in Westminster Abbey, designedtwelve stained glass windows for the chapel, each with the winged spirit of a young pilot embracing in hisarms a badge. The west window was installed in 1981 and four other windows in St George's Room installedby Goddard and Gibbs in 1985 to commemmorate the role of ground support. The memorial tablet recordsthe names of airmen lost from Biggin Hill, and illustrates the large number of nations whose pilots used thebase.

Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through itsassociations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom andindependence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing acritical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in theSecond World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greaterresonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore thebrunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the wholefighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice MarshallKeith Park from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle,with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden andHornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets.

For further details of the history of the site, see description for Station Headquarters.

Selected SourcesList Entry









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Building 33 (former Station Headquarters)List Entry



Name: BUILDING 33 (STATION HEADQUARTERS)


Location

BUILDING 33 (STATION HEADQUARTERS), A233




Grade: II




Legacy System: LBS

UID: 495980

List Entry







History


Details

785/0/10087 WEST CAMP, A233 (EAST SIDE) FORMER RAF 01-DEC-05 BIGGIN HILL Building 33(Station Headquarters)

GV II Office block, formerly station headquarters building. Dated 1931, to Air Ministry Directorate of Worksdrawing no 1329/27. Red brickwork in stretcher bond to cavity walls, slate roof, leadwork to flat section.

PLAN: Central hall and staircase to corridor and double-banked offices to each floor. A symmetrical 2-storeyrectangular hipped range with short central T-arm to rear with flat roof, continued in one storey with a doublehipped unit to a central valley. Original accommodation included for the Commanding Officer, engineer officeand clerks, also accounts section, waiting and orderly rooms, lecture room and library.

EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; 9-window front. Windows are timber glazing-bar sash set to slight reveals, to brickvoussoir heads and concrete subsills. The front, in 9 bays, has the central 3 brought forward, and with a brickparapet taken above the continuous eaves-line. Windows are mainly with plain bottom sash and 6-paneupper, but full 12-pane have been inserted later in bay 4, ground floor, and bay, 9, first floor. A central pair of3-panel doors on 2 steps is framed in a Portland stone surround with fine moulded architrave, plain pilastersto block bases, and modelled brackets to a heavy plain cornice to flat top and moulded edge; the friezebetween the brackets is dated 'AD 1931'. The end returns are in 2 bays, all windows with plain lower sash,and the rear has 3 over 1 windows each side of the projecting flat-roofed section; those to the left are 12-pane at first floor, and to the right 12-pane; to the ground floor single light only. The flat-roofed bay has areplacement light above door and small 4-pane, right, and a sash with plain lower light at each level, left; therear wall has a central small light to the left of a square stack taken up to a brick capping. The double single-storey range has four 12-pane to the long sides.


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to the barracks, WAAF quarters, workshops, stores and an 'F-type' Admiralty hangar. On the following daythe Sector Operations Room took a direct hit and other hangars were badly damaged; on the 6th ofSeptember - after further raids had rendered much of the base unusable - the last surviving hangar wasdestroyed on orders of the base commander. With attacks switched to London throughout the autumn Blitz,there was some respite, but there was a prolonged daylight attack on the morning of October 2, and 4 dayslater another raid demolished three of the barracks blocks: Tangmere Block (Building 1) retains evidence ofthat period, when its left wing was damaged and reduced from two storeys to one. Several units of themarried housing in Vincent Square were also destroyed.

Biggin Hill's location south of London guaranteed its front-line involvement in fighter operations throughoutthe Second World War, from the Battle of France to the support of daylight raids by Bomber Command. Inaddition to sharing 'with Hornchurch the distinction of being the most bombed aerodrome in FighterCommand' (Ramsey, 67), it was regarded as Britain's principal fighter station. More enemy aircraft (1,400,including the first thousand by 1943) had been destroyed by squadrons based at Biggin Hill than any otherairfield, and its 'aces' - including Michael Crossley, 'Sailor' Malan, Mungo park, A.C. Deere, Max Aitken andBrian Kingcome - became national figures, as well as the volunteers of the Free French and U.S. Eaglesquadrons. 453 aircrew were killed while operating from Biggin Hill.

Biggin Hill's satellites were West Malling and Manston, with the former customs airport at Lympne serving asa landing strip. Like Kenley, it was sited within the balloon barrage erected around London as part of'Operation Diver' between spring and October 1944. The main runway was then extended in 1957 forHawker Hunter jets. The RAF ceased flying in 1959, after which the runways were transferred to civil control,and withdrew from the site in 1992. It was subsequent to this, and fears concerning the future of the site, thatBromley Borough Council, with the strong support of English Heritage and veterans' associations, designatedthe technical site and the former married quarters as a conservation area. The technical site is now mostly inthe ownership of Formula One, and the married quarters - the best-preserved group of their type noted in thethematic survey - have now been sensitively developed for private housing. The former flying field is nowused by Bromley Civil Airport. The RAF ceased flying in 1959, after which the runways were transferred tocivil control (Bromley Civil Airport).

Wallace G, RAF Biggin Hill, 1957; Halliday P, 'Biggin Hill', in W.G. Ramsey (ed), The Battle of Britain Thenand Now (5th edition, London, 1989), pp. 62-70; Operations Record Book, PRO AIR20/28/64; Churchill, W.The Second World War. Volume II: Their Finest Hour (London, 1949); Lake, J. and Schofield, J.,'Conservation and the Battle of Britain'. In The Burning Blue. A New History of the Battle of Britain, Addison,P. and Crang, J. (eds), 229-242 (London, 2000); Wood, D. and Dempster, D. The Narrow Margin (London,1969)

Selected SourcesLegacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details


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A fascia with ogee gutter on a small soffit to a bed-mould is carried completely round the main block. Centredto the ridge is a square wooden turret with louvred sides and flat square leaded cupola; above the entranceis a short flat-staff, rising from the gutter level and braced to the parapet.

INTERIOR: Original joinery with panelled doors. Dogleg staircase with steel balustrade.

HISTORY: The building is located at the S end of the domestic site in West Camp, opposite the formerOfficers' Mess (qv). It is a characteristic example of early Expansion Period architecture and is externallyalmost unchanged, except for a small number of replacement sashes. It was the first building to bereoccupied after the devastation of the West Camp in the Battle of Britain.

Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through itsassociations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom andindependence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing acritical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in theSecond World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greaterresonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore thebrunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the wholefighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice MarshallKeith Park from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle,with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden andHornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets. It relates tohistoric sites and fabric stretching from those used by the RAF to those used by or built especially for theLuftwaffe, including the now-protected sites at Paris Le Bourget and Deelen in the Netherlands.

Biggin Hill opened as a military landing ground in February 1914. From 1917 it functioned as a Radio SignalsUnit and from February 1918 as a 'Home Defence Aerodrome' as part of London's air defence system. Thefirst substantial group was erected on South Camp in 1917, when 80 acres were acquired from the Earl ofStanhope's estate. Only fragmentary remains date from this period, the significant surviving buildings -mostly of 1930/31 - being located further north, in West Camp, and situated on each side of the mainBromley to Westerham road (the A 233). Work on rebuilding the station in permanent fabric begun in 1929,several buildings bearing datestones of 1930 and 1931 and the Air Estimates for 1933-4 showing that ?190,000 had been allotted for this purpose. The surviving buildings are mostly representative of the typedesigns associated with Trenchard's Home Defence Expansion Scheme of 1923 onwards, the principalexception to this being the officers' mess. Biggin Hill had been the subject of pioneering air-to-air andground-to-air experiments in radio communication and, crucially, how radar was to be integrated into anoperationally-successful fighter defence system. During the critical Biggin Hill Experiment of 1938 the stationwas used as a laboratory for creating the Fighter Direction organisation, linking radar to defending aircraft.The 1930s also saw Biggin Hill functioning as both a weather-reporting station on the Croydon-Le Bourgetroute, and a relief airport for Croydon. The runways, perimeter track and 12 blast pens were constructed onan enlarged airfield as part of Dowding's drive to provide dispersed and servicable flying fields on FighterCommand's front-line bases in 1939 (the runways completed in March 1940) , of which one intact and twopartially-surviving blast pens survive in the north half of the site. Some pillboxes and an hydraulically-operated Pickett Hamilton fort have survived. The runways - which were augmented by a 1700-yard runwayextending to the north and begun in March 1942 - form a 'V' instead of the more typical plan, in part due tothe constricted nature of the site.

Few buildings have been demolished on the technical site since 1945, and the existing lacunae date fromthe raids on the site which caused such damage and loss of life during the Battle of Britain. The raid of the30th of August resulted in considerable loss of life (39 dead and 26 wounded) in addition to severe damage


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Building 15 (Hawkinge Block)List Entry



Name: BUILDING 15, HAWKINGE BLOCK, WEST CAMP


Location

BUILDING 15, HAWKINGE BLOCK, WEST CAMP, A233




Grade: II




Legacy System: LBS

UID: 495996

List Entry







History


Details

785/0/10108 A233 01-DEC-05 Former RAF Biggin Hill, Westerham (East side) Building 15, Hawkinge Block,West Camp

GV II Barrack block. Dated 1934. By the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings. Dark redbrickwork in stretcher bond, hipped (originally slate) concrete tile roof.

PLAN: Dormitory rooms on each side of central entrance and staircase.

EXTERIOR: Single-storey. Three 12-pane sashes each side of central entrance, flanking a central pair of 3-panel doors in a cast stone heavy pilaster surround with moulded flat cornice Windows set to brick voussoirs,and with stooled sills. Roofs are all slightly swept to the box eaves with deep soffits. Six sashes to rearelevation. Smaller 8-pane sash to small service annexe to left of front.

INTERIOR: retains original doors and joinery.

HISTORY: This barracks block, constructed to designs established during the post-1923 expansion of theRAF, has been externally little-altered since the Second World War.

Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through itsassociations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom andindependence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing acritical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in theSecond World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greaterresonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore the


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brunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the wholefighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice MarshallKeith Park from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle,with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden andHornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets.

For further details of the history of the site, see advice and description for Station Headquarters.




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brunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the wholefighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice MarshallKeith Park from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle,with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden andHornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets.





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Building 12 (Candidates’ Club, former Sergeants’ Mess)List Entry

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/...owText=1http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391606&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:06:45]


Name: BUILDING 12 (CANDIDATES CLUB, FORMER SERGEANTS MESS), WESTCAMP


Location

BUILDING 12 (CANDIDATES CLUB, FORMER SERGEANTS MESS), WEST CAMP, A233




Grade: II




Legacy System: LBS

UID: 495998

List Entry







History


Details

785/0/10109 A233 01-DEC-05 Former RAF Biggin Hill, Westerham (East side) Building 12 (Candidate'sClub, Former Sergeant's' Mess), West Camp

GV II Sergeants' Mess. 1932. By the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings. Drawing No 191/24and 2897/35. Stretcher bond cavity red brick walls, slate roof on timber trusses.

PLAN: A single-storey building with entrance off-centre, right, and with gabled wing projecting forward toright. The layout had the billiard room to the right of the entrance and the mess, with external eaves stack, tothe left; kitchen and services to rear.

EXTERIOR: Windows are generally timber-bar sashes to stone sills and with brick voussoir heads. On the S,entrance front, the projecting gable has a 8:12:8-pane triple sash to flat voussoir heads, under a flushsemicircular arch containing a flush tympanum in herring-bone brickwork. Above these is a small ventilationslit, then the shouldered gable with stone copings. The inner returns have a small sash, then the set-backlong front has a central square bay with tall 8:12:8-pane sash to brick mullions, and a small 8-pane on thereturns, the bay taken up to a coped parapet above eaves level. To its left is the external eaves stack, takenup to a bold brick capping, flanked by tall 8-pane sashes, and with two 12-pane sashes to left. To the right isa pair of panelled doors, the top panel glazed, in a cast stone heavy pilaster surround with simple architraveflat cornice, again flanked by tall sashes.

The left return has 12-pane sashes, and the rear gable is as to the front; the right return has a part-hippedouter end under a louvred half-gable, then a lower, set-back wing to a hipped end, connected to a wallbounding the service yard, and a hipped wing to rear left. Small 1970s additional bay to left of front.


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INTERIOR: not inspected.

HISTORY: This sergeants' mess, constructed to designs established during the post-1923 expansion of theRAF, has been externally little-altered since the Second World War and relates to a rank of airmen thatplayed a key role in military aviation in the Second World War.






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INTERIOR: not inspected.

HISTORY: This sergeants' mess, constructed to designs established during the post-1923 expansion of theRAF, has been externally little-altered since the Second World War and relates to a rank of airmen thatplayed a key role in military aviation in the Second World War.





The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scalemap, please see the attached PDF - 1391606.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for thedownload to complete.List Entry






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Building 10 (Junior Ranks’ Mess, former Airmen’s Institute)List Entry



Name: BUILDING 10 (Junior Ranks Mess, former Airmen's Institute)


Location

Building 10 (Junior Ranks Mess, former Airmen's Institute), West Camp, Former RAF Biggin Hill, A233 (EastSide)


County: Greater London AuthorityDistrict: BromleyDistrict Type: London BoroughParish: Non Civil Parish


Grade: II




List Entry Description

List Entry


Summary of Building

Airmen's Institute and recreation centre, with dining room. c1926 design, built 1930. By the Air Ministry'sDirectorate of Works and Buildings. Brick with gabled slate roofs and brick stacks.

PLAN: Rectangular main block, with dining room, card, writing and games rooms, the kitchen and ancillaryrooms linked to the rear.

EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. Gauged brick flat arches over all window openings, replacement windows to front andsteel-framed windows to rear. Front has 3-window outer wings, the gable ends of which are expressed asbroken pediments and the ground floors with panelled double doors with overlights set in renderedarchitraves with bracketed flat hoods. The central 8-window range has two inserted ground-floor doorways,the second bays in being heightened to break the eaves line with small hipped roofs. 4-window returnelevations. The rear service ranges with various casements at both levels.

INTERIOR: Little original detail survives later remodelling; dog leg stairs.


Legacy Record – This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

History

HISTORY: This institute building, constructed in 1930 to designs established during the post-1923 expansionof the RAF, was one of the principal barracks buildings at this internationally renowned historic fighter base,complementing the Officers' Mess which lay across the main road that passes through the site.

Details



Selected SourcesNone.


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MapNational Grid Reference: TQ4119960816






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Buildings 1 to 5 (Airmen’s Barrack Blocks)List Entry



Name: BUILDINGS 1 TO 5 (AIRMENS BARRACK BLOCKS)


Location

BUILDINGS 1 TO 5 (AIRMENS BARRACK BLOCKS), A233




Grade: II




Legacy System: LBS

UID: 495982

List Entry







History


Details

785/0/10084 WEST CAMP, A233 (EAST SIDE) FORMER RAF 01-DEC-05 BIGGIN HILL Buildings 1 to 5(Airmen's barrack blo cks)

GV II Group of five airmen's barracks blocks. 1930, to Air Ministry Directorate of Works drawings 99-109/23.Red brickwork in stretcher and Flemish bond to cavity walls, slate roofs.

PLAN: Two rows of gabled two-storey long frontage buildings with central pediment and entry, with a shortT-arm central to the rear, at slightly lower eaves and ridge level, and to hipped outer end. Central lobby andstaircase flanked by small rooms for NCO's, then dormitories for 64 airmen; the rear wing with ablutions andservices. Building 04 (Croydon) is larger, accommodating 80 airmen.

EXTERIOR: Buildings were originally identical (except for 04); the most fully retained externally beingBuilding 05 (Manston). Windows are generally wooden glazing-bar sashes set in slight reveals, with brickvoussoir heads and concrete sub-sills. The long front has a 3-bay centre slightly stepped forward to an openpediment. A central feature in painted concrete has a part-glazed panelled door with 5-pane overlight, on twosteps, with pilasters to a simple architrave and cornice; above this a 12-pane sash in flat architrave surroundflared out and on a blocking-course below, and to a central keystone. To each side are 8-pane sashes ateach level, in brick panels brought forward from the central panel, and the eaves/pediment mould broken tothe centre. A small ventilation slit in the head of the gable. To each side are 4 bays of 12-pane sashes,grouped 1:2:1. Small brick stacks flank the centre unit. The gabled returns are also treated as openpediments with short returns of the eaves moulding, with a single 12-pane to each floor, and ventilation slit atthe head of the gable. The rear has four 12-pane and one 8-pane to each floor, on either side of the wingwhich has two broad 4-pane and a narrow 8-pane on one side, a paired sash and a similar opening facedwith glass block to leave level, and an 8-pane above a blocked door to the other. The outer end has two


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small sashes above one and a flush door with 4-pane over-light or louvres. A small box eaves on a bed-mould is carried round the whole.

VARIATIONS: Building 01 (Tangmere) has one storey only to left of centre, the result of aerial bombing in1940, and the rear has two blocked openings and no glass block fill. Building 02 (Kenley) has smaller plainsashes in rebuilt jambs in bays 8 - 11 upper floor, front and bays 1 - 3 upper floor, rear. The service wing hasto the rear plain casements, and the window above the door (with louvres) has been blocked in brick.Building 04 (Croydon) has 5 bays each side of centre, with 3-bay returned ends in 8-pane sashes, but theground floor sash to bay 1 at the front is replaced by a steel casement, and on the left return steelreplacements flank a blocked centre light to the ground floor. The service wing has slit windows each side,but retains 6-pane sashes to the outer end.

INTERIORS: original joinery including panelled doors. Dog leg staircases with simple steel balustrades.

HISTORY: The buildings are located at the north end of the domestic site, and immediately adjacent to thepublic highway (A 233), set in two parallel rows, following the curve in the road. In view of the manysustained attacks on the base, especially in the Battle of Britain, these buildings are surprisingly wellretained; the loss of an upper floor to part of Tangmere block, however, is a poignant reminder of that period.This barracks format was devised in 1923, during the Trenchard Home Defence years, and developed withminor variations and extensions until the introduction of the 'H'-plan after 1938.




MapNational Grid Reference: TQ 41269 60861, TQ 41288 60833, TQ 41307 60914, TQ41321 60862, TQ 41337 60895

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small sashes above one and a flush door with 4-pane over-light or louvres. A small box eaves on a bed-mould is carried round the whole.

VARIATIONS: Building 01 (Tangmere) has one storey only to left of centre, the result of aerial bombing in1940, and the rear has two blocked openings and no glass block fill. Building 02 (Kenley) has smaller plainsashes in rebuilt jambs in bays 8 - 11 upper floor, front and bays 1 - 3 upper floor, rear. The service wing hasto the rear plain casements, and the window above the door (with louvres) has been blocked in brick.Building 04 (Croydon) has 5 bays each side of centre, with 3-bay returned ends in 8-pane sashes, but theground floor sash to bay 1 at the front is replaced by a steel casement, and on the left return steelreplacements flank a blocked centre light to the ground floor. The service wing has slit windows each side,but retains 6-pane sashes to the outer end.

INTERIORS: original joinery including panelled doors. Dog leg staircases with simple steel balustrades.

HISTORY: The buildings are located at the north end of the domestic site, and immediately adjacent to thepublic highway (A 233), set in two parallel rows, following the curve in the road. In view of the manysustained attacks on the base, especially in the Battle of Britain, these buildings are surprisingly wellretained; the loss of an upper floor to part of Tangmere block, however, is a poignant reminder of that period.This barracks format was devised in 1923, during the Trenchard Home Defence years, and developed withminor variations and extensions until the introduction of the 'H'-plan after 1938.




MapNational Grid Reference: TQ 41269 60861, TQ 41288 60833, TQ 41307 60914, TQ41321 60862, TQ 41337 60895List Entry







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6, 7 and 8 Vincent Square (Married Quarters)List Entry



Name: 9-12 VINCENT SQUARE AT FORMER RAF BIGGIN HILL


Location

9-12 VINCENT SQUARE AT FORMER RAF BIGGIN HILL, A 233




Grade: II




Legacy System: LBS

UID: 495989

List Entry







History


Details

WESTERHAM

771/0/10082 A 233 01-DEC-05 (West side) 9-12 Vincent Square at Former RAF Bigg in Hill

GV II Terrace of four houses, part of group of 26. Dated 1929, by the Air Ministry's Directorate of Worlds andBuildings. Painted brickwork, cavity walls, slate roofs, lead to bay windows.

PLAN: A short straight terrace in two storeys, hipped roof to right and gable to the left. Each dwelling enteredto the right, with living, dining and kitchen ground floor, and three bedrooms; originally with four openfireplaces, two to each floor, on party wall to left. Terrace lies to W side of the Square near the N end.

EXTERIOR: Windows generally plain wooden sash, in half-brick reveals and to concrete sub-sills. At firstfloor four windows, separated by narrow brick piers, and the outer lights narrower than the centre; belowthese a canted flat-roofed bay, with brick mullions, large central and smaller side-lights. To the right, on twosteps a flush panelled door with square glazed top panel, under a flat concrete hood with roll-mould edge,and on concrete brackets. Large ridge stacks, to the left of each house, and end stack to the left; the stackshave deep stepped cappings.

End returns are plain, and the back has a double sash with brick mullion to the first floor, above a largereplacement casement, a door L and a small side light. Datestone with carved date '1929'. Simple eaves tothree sides and clipped gable verge to left.

INTERIOR: Not inspected; the houses restored by a Housing Association as part of the renovation of thewhole Square.

HISTORY: This forms part of the best preserved group of married quarters, typically designed on Garden


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City principles, that predate the post-1934 Expansion Period of the RAF and relate to a nationally importanthistoric aviation site. They are dated 1929, six of the houses having been demolished following the 1940raids but still presenting a group of 26 planned as an elongated square around a central grassed area. Landfor the new married quarters had been purchased in 1923-5.





© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.List Entry




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Former Officers’ MessList Entry



Name: FORMER OFFICERS MESS, RAF BIGGIN HILL


Location

FORMER OFFICERS MESS, RAF BIGGIN HILL, MAIN ROAD




Grade: II

Date first listed: 21-Mar-1994



Legacy System: LBS

UID: 358671

List Entry







History


Details

The following building shall be added:

WESTERHAM MAIN ROAD TQ 46 SW (west side) 785-/12/10003 former officers' mess, RAF Biggin Hill

II

Officers' mess, circa 1935, possibly designed by S Bullock FRIBA who designed several Air Ministrybuildings, including a smaller but comparable mess dated 1934. Neo-Baroque style. Built of red brick withstone dressings and hipped slate roof with brick chimneystacks. Comprises a three-storey centre block withtwo-storey end blocks. Central block has projecting central three bays with sash windows, band belowsecond floor and stone semi-circular entrance porch with Tuscan columns and stone balustrading. Flankingparts of 5 bays each with mainly glazing bar sashes and pedimented projection with oculus through groundand first floor attached to ground floor flat-roofed portion attached to projecting two-storey wings. Rearelevation has projecting three-storey, nine-bay central section with band below second floor, 12-panesashes and central first floor round-headed staircase window over pilastered doorcase. Two storey 5 baywings on either side. Large flat-roofed later C20 extension on right hand side. Interior has central wellstaircase with turned balusters, some round-headed alcoves, oak panelling and 6-panelled doors. One of thelargest and most elaborate RAF officers' messes, and the building with most architectural merit at RAFBiggin Hill, the most famous of the Battle of Britain airfields.

Listing NGR: TQ4098660614

Selected SourcesList Entry









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Alan BaxterPrepared byAlfieStroudandKitWeddReviewed byVickySimonDraft issuedJune2015Final issuedJuly2015

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