First World War officers' mess, Stow Maries Aerodrome, Cold Norton (EHER 81757)

A brick-built single-storey structure on an 'E-shaped' plan which has been much altered, particularly to the south range, and which is identified in the 1918 RAF survey as the officers' mess. The structure is made up of four ranges. The south (largest and tallest) range was divided into three rooms, all heated: a quiet room to the west, a central games rooms with bar, and a dining room to the east. This range has seen the most alteration and is now used as a motor repair shed, though the internal arrangement survives. The second east-west aligned range was used as an ablutions block with in situ plumbing for four baths and a separate wash room. It also housed the mess orderly's office at the east end. The north-south aligned 'cross' range was used as store rooms, the commanding officer's quarters and squadron silver rooms. The northernmost range house the kitchen, which was flanked by the pantry on the east and store rooms with shelving to the west. An external door in this range leads to a yard area with boiler room, WCs and a bike shed.

1997. RCHME field survey. This building is positioned at the south end of the site and is identified in the RAF survey as the officers' mess. It has been greatly altered, particularly the south range, which is now a motor repair workshop, and it was not possible to gain access to any part of the building. In addition, the building is secure so that many windows were blocked and looking through those that remain open was difficult and not informative. It is a rendered, brick single-storey structure which is 'E-shaped in plan. The east range which forms the spine of the 'E' lies approximately on a north/south axis and the largest of the ranges forms the south arm of the 'E'. The north and south ranges overlap the east range, while the central range abuts it. It has a corrugated-sheet covered roof, probably asbestos, but this is unlikely to have been the original covering which was probably slate. The original fenestration, one or two examples of which survive or are not blocked, consisted of timber windows. The building was heated, as might be expected for an officers' mess, and the chimneys survive. It is possible that the important rooms had fireplaces rather than stoves. Due to the limited access it is difficult to assign functions to particular rooms, but it is likely that the mess contained at least a dining room, some accommodation, a kitchen or an area for final preparation and marshalling of food, and rooms for relaxation, such as a writing room or a smoking or reading room. The main range would appear to have been the south range. Two cross walls divided it into three rooms. The two end rooms are heated from stacks placed centrally in the gable walls. Formal access in to the central room was via double doors from the west-end room. The central room is the largest and probably formed the dining room. It too was heated from the west cross wall. It was possible to see that the rooms were open to the rafters and that the roof structure was of the king-rod type with braces on brick corbels, similar to that used in EHER 81729. There is no evidence that the range which forms the central arm of the 'E' was heated and there is little that can be said about it without access to it. The room it abuts in the north/south elevation has a south and east chimney and it might be inferred that it formed a quiet room of some description. Small windows at the NE corner of the north range indicate that it housed WCs, probably two. The west end of this range is a secondary addition, though shown on the 1918 RAF survey. <1> April 2012. Grade II* listed. Materials: Rendered brick. Plan: A broadly ‘E’–shaped complex, comprising three parallel ranges aligned east-west, joined at the east by one cross range aligned north-south. Exterior: All of the ranges have gabled roofs and timber casement windows. The principal entrance was off-centre at the south elevation of the southern range, the largest and tallest of the three; unfortunately three large tractor openings have been inserted into the south elevation and the windows removed, but the interior arrangement remains (see below). The west elevation has a central stack and two windows and there is a door at the centre of the second range to the north. The northernmost range housed the kitchens and is smaller. The east elevation of the cross range has a door to the north and two windows to the left of it which probably represent the commanding officers private entrance into the mess from the flying field. Interior: Despite the alterations to the south elevation, much of the internal arrangement remains. The southern range had three rooms, all heated; the west, quiet room has a brick fireplace, dado and picture rails. The central games room had a bar, and retains its fireplace, and the dining room was to the east. All the original doors are in situ or have been kept. To the rear, in the second range, a corridor links the ablutions block which has in situ plumbing for four baths and a second external entrance leading to a wash room at the west end. At the east end of this range is the mess orderly’s office with a counter served by a sash window opening and original shelving. Beyond, in the cross range, are store rooms and the commanding officer’s quarters and squadron silver rooms. The northernmost range housed the kitchen, where the position of the cooking range is apparent; the pantry lies to the east and store rooms with shelving to the west. An external door at the west leads to a yard area, where the boiler room, WCs and a bike shed are located, and provides easy access from the officers quarters on the west side of the track. <2> The buildings are depicted on the 3rd edition OS map. <3>