First World War officers' quarters and ablutions block, Stow Maries Aerodrome, Cold Norton (EHER 81756)

A group of three parallel ranges with a linking south cross range which appear to have formed the officer's quarters and ablutions block. The materials and form of construction are generally consistent with the rest of the site, as is the glazing. The east block is the only unit to be divided internally and may have been designed to accommodate higher ranking personnel than the others.

1997. RCHME field survey. A group of three parallel ranges, 27.7m long by 4.8m wide and 9.15m apart, lying on a north/south axis, with a linking south cross range. It appears have formed the officers' quarters. This is suggested by the relatively generous room dimensions, by its proximity to the officers' mess (EHER 81757) and by the 1918 RAF survey, which identifies three officers' quarters. The materials and form of construction are generally consistent with the rest of the site, as is the glazing. At the time of survey there was very limited access to the ranges, and observation of the interior was consequently limited. The west and central blocks are six window bays long. Three chimneys over the west elevation of the west block mark the position of stoves, and a doorway positioned between the first and second north-end bays on the east side gave access. The central block mirrored this, with stoves on the east side - the chimneys have been removed and the roof patched - and the entrance on the west. Whilst the doors have concrete lintels, the windows have timber lintels hidden under the eaves. The roof trusses are similar to those noted for EHER 81752. The east block is divided internally, unlike its neighbours. Its entrance door is in the west elevation and gives access to a corridor which runs down the west side of the block. From the corridor, doorways lead into a room at each end. Four doorways in the axial partition give access to the rooms. The roof structure is concealed behind a lath and plaster ceiling. The east elevation could not be examined due to shrubbery but internally, although access was very limited, it could be seen that there were three flues in the east wall which vented angled fireplaces in each room. There was no evidence of this in the other blocks nor evidence for a ceiling or internal partitions. Internally the west and central blocks were in a poor condition and it is possible that these features had been removed. It also possible that the blocks were not completed or that the east block accommodated higher ranking personnel that the others. South-end doorways on the east side of the west block and the west sides of the central and east block, lead into corridors connecting to the cross range. This range has partly collapsed and is heavily overgrown, but it appears to have been an ablution block. Its most notable component is a lavatory block positioned at the south end of the central block. <1> April 2012. Grade II* listed. Plan: A group of three parallel ranges with gable roofs, aligned north-south, linked by ablutions blocks at the south end. Exterior: The west and central blocks are six bays long, each with stacks on the west elevations marking the position of stoves, and both with doorways on the east elevations. The easternmost block has an external render and its entrance on the west elevation and stacks were on the east. Entrances at the south end lead into corridors to the ablutions blocks, which has partially collapsed. All of the ranges have 16-light metal casements. Interior: The likely internal arrangement is a corridor from which rooms, each with a stove, are accessed. The RCHME survey records that the roof structures comprise king-post trusses with planked tie beams and four ranks of purlins.<2> The buildings are depicted on the 3rd edition OS map. <3>