Second World War blister hangar, Bradwell Bay Airfield, Weymarks Farm (EHER 81603)

One of four extant 'Easy-Over' blister hangars at Bradwell Bay Airfield (EHER 16047). It is constructed from corrugated iron with an asbestos roof and has two doors each with roller shutters at the entrance. Sometime since 1946 it was converted for use as an agricultural building.

1996. Military Airfields in Essex survey. One of twelve blister hangars which were dispersed around the perimeter of the three runways at Bradwell Bay Airfield (EHER 16074). Of the twelve, four remain in good condition (see also EHER 81601, EHER 81602 and EHER 81604) and a fifth is derelict (EHER 81605). <1> January 2009. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop assessment. When visited, four of the Blister hangars still survived. They are each approximately 90 feet in span by 60 feet in length. A 1945 plan of the airfield refers to them as ‘E.O. Blister’ type. The abbreviation E.O. probably refers to 'Extra-Over', a variation of the Blister type, although the dimensions as measured do not conform to those in a modern reference book on the subject. <2> <3> This hangar has a corrugated asbestos roof and two doors each with roller shutters at the entrance. The plan refers to the hangars being constructed of corrugated iron. It is in fine overall condition, appearing far newer than its documented 60+ years. However, at the time of compiling this report, the extent of originality is not known. Although not visited, a fifth hangar, derelict, is known to stand in trees at TM 0110 0768 (EHER 81605). This could be particularly useful in establishing the originality of the other four. <4> Twenty photos. <5> See also <6><7>. NRHE data transfer: An article by Paul Doyle on surviving airfield features at the former Bradwell Bay site, published in 1999 describes four surviving 'blister' type aircraft hangars in the vicinity of Halls Farm, Bradwell on Sea. They had been reclad, presumably for use as farm buildings, though this is not stated directly. <8> On OS sheet TM 00 NW, Easthall farm mentioned as the general location of the hangars in <8> is situated at TM 0205 0790, however there are appear to be no suitable buildings indicated at the farm itself. There are four large identically proportioned buildings indicated to the NW between Easthall Farm and Weymarks Farm, which might be an alternative location for the hangars. These buildings are dispersed between TM 0130 0825 and TM 0130 0853. <9> NRHE summary description: A group of four 'blister' type hangars on East Hall Farm. They were once part of the RAF Bradwell Bay military airfield, they were probably installed in 1940-1941. Since the war they have been reclad, and possibly used as agricultural buildings.