Site of First World War women's hostel, Stow Maries Aerodrome, Cold Norton (EHER 81750)

Now destroyed. The site of one of a series of blocks which are identified in the 1918 RAF survey as the women's hostel (see EHER 81749-81754), and are set well away from technical buildings. Only fragments of this building survive, but it appears to have been intended as an accommodation block, built around a courtyard. It was brick-built and there is evidence of several flues for stoves.

1997. RCHME field survey. The site of one of a series of blocks which are identified in the 1918 RAF survey as the women's hostel (see EHER 81749-81754), and are set well away from the men's huts (EHER 81758 and EHER 81759) and technical buildings on the site. It was 15.55m long by 6.30m wide, constructed of a single skin of yellow and red bricks laid in stretcher bond. The trusses were supported by piers at the walls and there is evidence of several flues for stoves; one survives standing in the east wall. Scant evidence for internal divisions survives, but where it does it suggests rooms which were a little smaller than those in the officers' quarters (EHER 81756). Only fragments of this building survive, but it appears to have been similar to EHER 81754, while the building between these (EHER 81752) is a bay shorter. All three seem to have been intended as accommodation blocks, built around a courtyard on the east side. It was intended to link all three buildings by intervening lengths of wall along the west side, but the wall linking EHER 81754 with its neighbour, though indicated by toothing, is not shown on the 1922 Ordnance Survey map. As with similar walls elsewhere these may never have been built. Buildings EHER 81749, EHER 81751 and EHER 81753 are more various in size than this building, suggesting a range of different functions within the hostel. The survey plan indicates this building had not been completely constructed in 1919. <1> Notes from A. Doyle amended to <1> describe that 'although given as a women's hostel, an elderly local resident has confirmed that, when working on the site as a cook, she and others were collected daily from their homes (in her case Woodham Ferrers). Apparently the 'serving' women did not stay on site overnight. [EHER 81749-81751] were unfinished by December 1918, whilst [EHER 81752-81754] were used by the 'Works and Bricks' department employed in building up the site. EHER 81754 was used to house the steam roller necessary to restore the flying area 'rutting' to smoothness.' The building is depicted on the 3rd edition OS map.<2> When the RAF survey was carried out in October 1918, the station personnel totalled 219. Amongst that number were three members of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF), who had separate lodgings on the station (EHER 81749-81754) and 12 civilian women who came in on a daily basis to undertake the various domestic duties on the site. <3>