Second World War Dispersed Site No. 5, Ridgewell Airfield, near The Warren (EHER 16621)

No.5 Dispersed site associated with the WWII airfield. This site is partially extant; three Nissen huts remain, one brick hut, an air raid shelter of brick construction covered by an earthen mound, and the brick showers and ablutions block which has been converted to private dwelling. The remainder of the original buildings are no longer extant.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: No.5 Dispersed site associated with the WWII airfield. This site is partially extant; three Nissen huts remain, one brick hut, an air raid shelter of brick construction covered by an earthen mound, and the brick showers and ablutions block which has been converted to private dwelling. The remainder of the original buildings are no longer extant. <1> - <3> 1997. Survey. A pair of World War Two Nissen huts (airmen's' quarters) associated with Ridgewell Airfield, at TL 7558 4002, noted by Simon Thorpe during a survey of the site made on behalf of Essex County Council. The Nissen huts (either 259 and 260 or 249 and 250 on the original buildings schedule) were situated at the former Number 5 Dormitory Site, a dispersed site to the south of the main flying field. Each was intended to accommodate 12 airmen and had a span of 16 foot. The gable ends were of wooden boarding. These have been altered post-war. In 1996 the buildings were extant and in use as outhouses; however there was a potential threat of demolition at that time, due to possible clearance for agricultural development. The sergeants quarters (building 243 on the original Air Ministry buildings schedule) were situated at Number 5 Dormitory site: they housed 8 people. They take the form of a Nissen hut. This has a 16 foot span, with cement rendered brick gable ends. In 1996 it was noted that the building was rested on a brick foundation, unusual for the period: this may mean that the building could have been moved slightly from its original location in the Post-War period. In 1996 the building was under potential threat of demolition due to possible clearance for agricultural development. The latrine (building No. 239 on the original Air Ministry buildings schedule) is situated at Number 5 Dormitory Site, and it was for the use of sergeants and airmen. It was built of "temporary" brick : a wartime economy measure utilizing low-fired bricks laid in stretcher bond with walls of a half bricks thickness. The walls were cement rendered. The building had a sloping concrete slab roof. The building was noted as extant in 1996 but was under potential threat of demolition at that time, due to possible clearance for agricultural development. The air raid shelter is located at the former Number 5 Dormitory Site, a dispersed site situated to the south of the main flying field. The Stanton was a common type of air raid shelter on military airfields of the period: it comprised a semi-sunken shelter built of precast concrete panels with a curved section. It was protected by earth banked around it. The entrance was also protected by a brick blast wall, and there was an emergency escape exit in the form of a shaft at the rear of the shelter. In 1996 the structure was still extant but under potential threat of demolition due to possible clearance for agricultural development. The ablutions block was situated at the former Number 5 Dormitory Site, to the south of the main flying field. It is recorded as building Number 266 on the original Air Ministry buildings schedule for the airfield's dispersed sites. It was a long low building built of "temporary" brick: with bricks laid in stretcher bond and walls having a half brick's thickness. The walls were cement rendered. The roof was gabled and was covered with corrugated asbestos. In 1996 the building was still extant and by that time had been altered for use as a domestic house; however it was under potential threat of demolition due to possible clearance for agricultural development. <4> Aerial photo. <5> Eight photos of the site. <6> 2004. Survey. Sergeants and Airmen's Latrines: The Sergeants' and Airmen's Latrines is of temporary brick construction with brick piers at 4ft intervals supporting a concrete slab sloping roof. The exterior faces are cement rendered although this has deteriorated in patches revealing the brickwork. The original metal window frames survive and it is possible that the doors are original too. Sergent's Quarters: A 16ft span Nissen hut of 9024/41 design, accommodating 8 personnel of this rank. The end walls are brick with a cement rendered finish in contrast to the other two Nissen huts extant on this site. Airmen's Quarters: A pair of 16ft span Nissen huts of standard 9024/41 design, each providing accommodation for 12 airmen. The end walls are of timber framed sections clad with boarding which was an alternative to the half-brick and render. The openings have been altered to suit the present use as outhouses. Airmen's Ablutions and Latrines: The Airmen's Ablutions and Latrines is of temporary brick construction. The walls were cement rendered on the exterior and left bare inside ready for painting, with bare concrete floor surfaces. The pitched roof is covered with corrugated asbestos sheeting. This building has been converted into a residential dwelling with the addition of a central chimney and double-glazed windows; it is therefore well maintained. Stanton Air-Shelter: The Stanton air raid shelter was common on airfields, comprising modular pre-cast concrete panels with a parabolic cross-section. It was semi-sunken and embanked with earth which substantially increased its blast resistance. The main entrance is protected by a brick blast wall, with an alternative emergency exit in the form of a chimney protruding above the earth from the rear of the structure. This example at Ridgewell is overgrown with vegetation disguising its form. <7>