First World War men's accommodation hut, or night-flying equipment store, Stow Maries Aerodrome, Cold Norton (EHER 81758)

A brick-built six-bay rectangular building which is listed as a men's accommodation hut, but which was interpreted as a possible 'night-flying equipment store' when surveyed by the RCHME in 1997. If an accommodation hut, it is the only remaining building of a total nine which provided this function, and differs from the rest which were probably of timber construction. The RCHME suggest it may have originated as the senior non-commanding officers' (NCO's) quarters, which could explain the presence of the chimney stacks, possibly for stoves. When the building was listed in 2012, it was noted that the southern end had collapsed.

1997. RCHME field survey. The 1918 RAF survey specifically mentions eight men's huts (EHER 81759), and these tally with eight structures (of constant width but various lengths) shown to the north of the officers' mess (EHER 81757) on the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map. A ninth, and surviving, building forms part of the same group, but it is differentiated by the use of brick construction. One suggestion that has been put forward is that it served as the 'night-flying equipment store', night flying commencing at Stow Maries in 1917. This theory is not without its problems, however. When the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) first commenced night flying in 1917, pilots could depend on little technical assistance in the air beyond a light to read their instruments by. Night-flying equipment at this stage consisted principally of flares used in setting out and illuminating the landing strip for returning pilots. A contemporary account describes these flares as simply 'two-gallon petrol tins with the tops cut off, half-filled with cotton waste and soaked with paraffin'. Such limited equipment is unlikely to have required the exclusive use of a building as large as this one. Further, the existence of stacks, probably for stoves, inside the building may suggest that it was adapted (or partially adapted) from an earlier use. One further possibility is that it originated as the senior NCO's quarters (see EHER 81755), but was not differentiated from the men's huts in the RAF survey because it was seen as an integral part of the other ranks' accommodation. The building is six bays in length, gabled north-south, and stands on the edge of the landing ground north-east of the officers' mess. Access to the interior was not possible and internal observation was limited. There is an original entrance in the north gable, retaining fragments of the original chamfered architrave. A similar doorway in the south gable is secondary: it has made-up jambs and lacks traces of original joinery. The ferro-concrete lintel is similar to those used elsewhere in the first phase, but is accompanied by a tile make-up course. No internal divisions were visible, though the existence of chimney stacks rising on both the east and the west elevation suggests that they may have existed, and also casts some doubt on the suggested function of the building. <1> April 2012. Grade II* listed. Plan: A six bay rectangular building, aligned north and south with a gabled, slated roof. It is one of eight original men's blocks, the others (which were probably timber) are no longer remaining. Exterior: The building has collapsed at its southern end. Each bay that remains has 16-light metal casement windows. Interior: Not inspected. <2> The buildings are depicted on the 3rd edition OS map. <3>