First World War airplane workshop, Stow Maries Aerodrome, Cold Norton (EHER 81729)

A single-storey rendered brick-built workshop for the repair and maintenance of aircraft, linked at its south end to the dope shop (EHER 81730). The roof is covered with asbestos. The building is internally divided into three rooms, heated by a stove situated in the central room.

1997. RCHME field survey. This is a single-storey, rendered brick building, 43.9m in length and 8.8m in width, measurements which are in rough agreement with the 130 x 30 feet (39.6m x 9.1m) of the 1918 RAF survey. The building is thought to have been used as workshops for the repair and maintenance of aircraft, and is linked at its south end to what was probably the dope shop (EHER 81730). The roof is asbestos-covered and has circular ridge vents. It is possible that both the covering and the vents are secondary, but the timber work beneath the vents seems primary and implies that there were originally vents in this position. In total the building is 14 door and window bays in length. It has brick cross walls between bays 6 and 7, and 10 and 11 from the north, which divide the range into three rooms. Access to each bay is by large double doors, the most northerly of which are timber and original, whilst the others have been replaced with sliding corrugated-iron doors. There are double doors also in the south cross wall but not in the north. The window openings contain the standard cast-iron glazing units and have tile sills. The roof trusses have metal king-rods with timber angled struts. The struts are formed of two parallel members, but the tie is a solid beam consisting of several lengths of timber. A brace, formed by a pair of parallel lengths of timber which sandwich the ends of the principals and ties - being nailed to both - rises from a brick corbel. The ends of the principals are strapped to the tie and a metal strap holds each brace to the wall. The trusses rest on piers and carry four ranks of timber purlins, the top pair forming the ridge. The apex of the principals is held by a cross piece or yoke. The range was apparently heated by a single stove situated in the central room, although the contents of the building made it difficult to be sure there were no other flues. <1> April 2012. Grade II* listed. Plan: Rectangular, of 14 bays, divided into three rooms. Exterior: Used for the repair and maintenance of the aircraft, this building is linked to the dope shop (EHER 81730) to the south. The workshops have been restored, the original fabric being encased and the metal windows refurbished. There are double doors to each room. Interior: The roof trusses have been refurbished, with some members replaced. Generally timber, each truss carries four ranks of timber purlins, the top pair forming the ridge and has a substantial timber tie with angled struts. <2> The building is depicted on the 3rd edition OS map. <3>