RAF Culmhead, Somerset Dispersed Sites

RAF · Somerset · England · United Kingdom

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Opened 1941. Designed from the beginning for three grass strips with each strip 200 yards wide and approximately 60 degrees to each other. Hard surface runways were to be built along the centre of the strips and connected together by a hard surface perimeter track with a width of 50 feet. The chosen runway lengths were over and above of those recommended in March 1941 for a typical night fighter station. Building started in the winter 1940/41. At this stage only essential buildings and structures were built on the airfield site with the majority of them being erected on the dispersed sites. Many were in the form of a new Ministry of Supply prefabricated building known as the “Laing hut” . These were supplied by the Air Ministry to various airfields from January 1941 when production started at Elstree, Herts. The airfield then was upgraded to a fighter station in its own right, including many new structures to the latest standard of temporary brick buildings. At least one of these was the new watch office. The planning and layout of Churchstanton in its final form as a fighter station of the early part of the war and was typical of the period with technical buildings located on the airfield site In anticipation of concentrated bombing, a policy of dispersed layout was introduced so that domestic accommodation was separated from the airfield. These were provided within six dispersed sites located in the local area to the north-east. All domestic sites were located close to public roads. Huts were erected without symmetry or pattern and where possible as an aid to concealment, they were positioned close to hedge lines. From 1 March 1941, Nissen hutting was made available and eventually these were used as an alternative to both temporary brick and Laing hutting. Many were erected on the dispersed sites to supplement the existing Laing huts. Two new sites were added in late 1941 for WAAF's and eventually accommodation was provided for over 1400 personnel consisting of 1,136 RAF and 301 WAAF's. A further two sites were added to the six already established but these were located at some distance further north towards Taunton. Both used existing houses with one functioning as a sick quarters, while the other became a large officers’ mess. A water supply taken from the natural springs of the river Culm was piped to a large static water tank and pumping station located on the administrative site. A booster pump house on the main communal site, pumped water from here to another static tank and finally to a high level water tower. In addition, static water tanks were provided close to groups of buildings for fire-fighting purposes. Raw sewage was pumped from the domestic sites and airfield to a specially built sewage farm for processing. Closed 1946. (from Somerset Heritage Culmhead).

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

A USAAF reconnaissance air photo showing the layout and the dispersed sites.

Somerset CC from Record Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry.

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

35 Station Offices TB.
36 Latrine (RAF) TB     9026/41.
37 Latrine (WAAF) TB 9026/41.
38 Picket Post TB         1240/41.
39 Cine Camera Workshop unknown type.
39a Blast Shelter PB      2390/41.
39b Main Static Water Tank & pump House.

TB = Temporary Brick.
PB = Permanent Brick.

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry

35 Station Offices TB would have probably looked something like this.

36 Latrine (RAF) TB 9026/41 with urinal.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Now a private home.

Entrance into the Admin Site.

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32 man blast shelter. 39a Blast Shelter PB
2390/41 (The plan is of a 2360/41 which this may have been). — 32 man blast shelter. 39a Blast Shelter PB 2390/41 (The plan is of a 2360/41 which this may have been).

39 Cine Camera Workshop unknown type of building.
A Williams G45 gun camera for a fighter. — 39 Cine Camera Workshop unknown type of building. A Williams G45 gun camera for a fighter.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Now a private home.

36 Latrine (RAF) TB 9026/41 It looks to be still there and

39a Blast Shelter PB 2390/41.

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RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

When they state 'RAF' or just 'Communal', that means Officers & Men. A WAAF site would have WAAF added to it to donate the women´s site.

40 Officers Mess (for 24) TB 15801/40.
41 Officers Bath House & Latrines TB 15801/40.
42 Sergeants Mess (for 88) TB 15803/40.
43 Sergeants Showers, Ablutions & Latrines TB 1502/40.
44 Officers Mess & Cinema TB 15804/40.
44a Airmen´s Dining Room ( for 301-399) 24ft N 12910/40.
45 Ration Store TB 158054/40.
46 Institute (for 112 Corporals & 755 Airmen) 15805/40.
47 Grocery & Local Produce Store TB 1505/40.
48 Airmen´s Showers & ablutions 15802/40.
48a Airmen´s Showers & ablutions (for 301 - 400) TB 9164/41.
49 Latrine (WAAF) TB 15803/40.
49a Latrine (RAF) (301-400) TB 14397/41.
50 Decontamination Centre (KM) PB 13843/40.
51 Post Office (formerly Picket Post) TB 15797/40.
52 Stand-by-Set House TB 12613/40.
53 Commanding Officer´s Quarters TB 9023/41.
54 Fuel Compound C 9106/41.
55 Tailors & Barbers Shop 24ft N 12878/41.
56 Gymnasium TB 14604/41.
57 Squash Court TB 16589/41.
58a Cycle Shed.
58b Cycle Shed.
58cCycle Shed.
59 Managers Quarters TB Unknown.
60 Surveyors Hut 16ft N Unknown.
61 Booster Pump House TB Unknown.
62 AMWD Building TB & N Unknown.
63 Contractors Hut T Unknown.
64 Medical Inspection Block TB 6153/41.
65 Ambulance Garage & Mortuary 24ft N Unknown.
66 Transformer Plinth TB Unknown.
67 High Level Water Tank (Braithwaite) S.
68 Latrine Bucket Tip Unknown.
69 Static Water Tank (EWS) Concrete Unknown.
70 Education Block TB 9887/42.
542 to 550 Blast Shelter PB 2360/41.
S - Steel. N - Nissen Hut. C - Concrete. T - Timber hutting.35 Station Offices TB
36 Latrine (RAF) TB     9026/41
37 Latrine (WAAF) TB 9026/41
38 Picket Post TB         1240/41
39 Cine Camera Workshop unknown type
39a Blast Shelter PB      2390/41
39b Main Static Water Tank & pump House

TB = Temporary Brick.
PB = Permanent Brick.

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry

66 Transformer Plinth TB Unknown. That may have been here.

65 Ambulance Garage & Mortuary 24ft N Unknown.
RAF Keevil's 13207/41
24ft Nissen Hut Mortuary. — 65 Ambulance Garage & Mortuary 24ft N Unknown. RAF Keevil's 13207/41 24ft Nissen Hut Mortuary.

68 Latrine Bucket Tip Unknown.
Bucket emptying platform. — 68 Latrine Bucket Tip Unknown. Bucket emptying platform.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Now replaced is, 67 High Level Water Tank (Braithwaite) S. Braithwaite water tanks are very distinctive.

07 February 2015

69 Static Water Tank (EWS) Concrete Unknown. How it may have looked.

58a - 58c Cycle Shed.
Cycle shed at RAF Netheravon. — 58a - 58c Cycle Shed. Cycle shed at RAF Netheravon.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

I am not sure if this is an original building, most of the site is now a Traveler site. If it is its one side of the Officers Mess 44 on the plan. The site number is 1580/40 and made in Temporary Brick, a single course of bricks with brick buttresses.

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RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

56 Gymnasium TB 14604/41.

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RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

56 Gymnasium TB 14604/41.

This is just the Gymnasium, other RAF stations their Gymnasiums would have had a cinema camera room one end and a Chancel/Chapel the other.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

56 Gymnasium TB 14604/41.

End wall.

08 November 2009

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

56 Gymnasium TB 14604/41.

Air vent on the roof.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

53 Commanding Officers Quarters TB 9023/41.

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RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

60 Officer´s & Servants Quarters Laing 13903/40.
60a to 60e Officer´s & Servants Qtrs Type A N 14420/41.
61 Officer´s Latrine TB 15797/40.
61a Officers Ablutions & Latrines (17 - 24) TB 16330/41.
62 Sergeant´s Qtrs Laing 13903/40.
62a Sergeant´s Qtrs Type B N 14420/41.
63 Sergeant´s Qtrs Laing 13903/40.
63a Sergeant´s Qtrs Type B N 14420/41.
64 Sergeant´s Latrines & Drying Room TB 15797/40.
64a Sergeant´s Latrines (for 16) TB 16330/41.
65 - 66 - 67 Airmen´s Barrack Block Laing 13903/40.
67a to l Airmen´s Barrack Block N 14420/41.
68 Airmen´s Latrine & Drying Room TB 15797/40.
68a Airmen´s Latrine TB 16330/41.
69 Picket Post TB 15797/40.
xx Fuel Compound C 9108/41.
xx Drying room 68 Airmen´s Latrine & Drying Room TB 15797/40.
551 Static Water Tank c unknown.
552 to 558 Air-Raid Shelter Con. & Brick unknown.

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry

60 Officer´s & Servants Quarters Laing 13903/40.
This Laing Hut was turned into chicken sheds and now into factory units at RAF Acaster Malbis. — 60 Officer´s & Servants Quarters Laing 13903/40. This Laing Hut was turned into chicken sheds and now into factory units at RAF Acaster Malbis.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

The field on the left is Site No.1.

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RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

The lovely track way in winter leading to Site No.2.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

RAF Laing Hut produced as flat pack and supplied by the Air Ministry to various airfields from January 1941 when production started at Elstree, Herts..

AIR 20/7587

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

The area of Site No.1.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Still a few remains left inside the field.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Stanton style shelter.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Stanton style air-raid shelter.

The end entrance. These could accommodate 19 to over 30 people, depending on their size. So if you can count the air-raid shelters, you can work out how many men were living in the camp.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Stanton shelter.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

61a Officer´s Ablutions & Latrines (17 - 24) TB 16330/41.

07 February 2015

Plinths for resting large concrete bowls on the top as wash stands.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

61a Officer´s Ablutions & Latrines (17 - 24) TB 16330/41.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

61a Officer´s Ablutions & Latrines (17 - 24) TB 16330/41.

Crittall window frame.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Inside an air-raid shelters escape hatch is the base of a pot bellied stove.

07 February 2015

You can see the concrete plinth under the stove, the same as the one in the main photo.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

63 Sergeant´s Qtrs Laing 13903/40.

07 February 2015

A tin 13903/40 Laing hut. They were covered with tin, tarred paper or concrete sheets.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

69 Picket Post TB 15797/40.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

69 Picket Post TB 15797/40.

The interesting thing here is that the object is an Elsan bucket emptying point inside the Picket post.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

Says it all..

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

69 Picket Post TB 15797/40.

The interesting thing here is that the object is an Elsan bucket emptying point inside the Picket post.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

552 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown.

Air-Raid shelter concrete type. There are seven in Site No.1 so that makes about 300 men would sleep in huts here.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

552 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown. Looking inside. You can see several frames from a Nissen tin hut left in there.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

68a Airmen´s Latrines and Drying Room TB 15797/40.

The urinal inside the Latrine.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

68a Airmen´s Latrines and Drying Room TB 15797/40.

The urinal inside the latrine.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

68a Airmen´s Latrines and Drying Room TB 15797/40.

The urinal inside the latrine.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

RAF Site No.2

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

562 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown.

Well actually I do know what it was, its a Stanton shelter.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

562 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown.

Entrance.

08 November 2009

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

562 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown.

As you can see with its concrete sides bolted together that shows its a standard Stanton shelter of a type No. C-4167.

08 November 2009

Constructing a smaller width the shelter.

They look like whale bones, but perhaps thats where the idea came from.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

562 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown. The plan is for a double entry C-4167 but here the second entrance was discarded and at the far end was a steel ladder and an escape hatch and cover.

The Stanton Iron Works

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

562 Air-Raid Shelter concrete & brick unknown.

The way out. They would have come in kit form, enough bricks, concrete wall sections, iron work including nuts and bolts, etc.

08 November 2009

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

84 Sergeant´s Latrine and Drying Room tb 15797/40.

I think this is a Latrine & Drying Room but in the plan it shows it further west??

07 February 2015

Water tank in the brick tower. To give water pressure at ground floor.

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

84 Sergeant´s Latrine and Drying Room tb 15797/40.

I think this is a Latrine & Drying Room but in the plan it shows it further west??

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

RAF Site No.3. Quarters.

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

111 Picket Post tb 12404/41.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

111 Picket Post tb 12404/41.

The idea of a picket post was to have everybody sign in when entering the site and then it was officially known who and how many service personnel were there at any time. If there was a bombing raid, they would know and also even a domestic fire/accident.

08 November 2008

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

111 Picket Post tb 12404/41.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

111 Picket Post tb 12404/41.

Door to the latrine.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

111 Picket Post tb 12404/41.

Crittall window frame.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

565 Static Water Tank (emergency water supply) concrete and brick unknown.

EWS Emergency Water Supply, if there was a fire. The fire pump and tender could immediately use the water to put ou a fire.

07 February 201507 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

565 Static Water Tank (emergency water supply) concrete and brick unknown.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

107 Airmen’s Barrack Block Laing hut 13903/41.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

107 Airmen’s Barrack Block Laing hut 13903/41.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

107 Airmen’s Barrack Block Laing hut 13903/41.

How the foundations were made. Then the hut was bolted onto the concrete base.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

110 Airmen’s Latrines and Drying Room tb 15797/40.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

566 Air-Raid Shelter concrete and brick unknown.

This is a half size type, one that I have seen before but very rare. Most would be full size but presumably there were not so many Officer's/Sergeant's & Airmen living in Site No.3.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

566 Air-Raid Shelter concrete and brick unknown.

07 February 2015

RAF Culmhead, Somerset. Dispersed Sites

WAAF Communal Site, WAAF Site 1 & 2. Being an early build type of airfield, the WAAF had their own Dining room, Officer's & Sergeant's mess. Later built airfields the WAAF shared with the men. Except their barrack blocks.

Site Plan 4997/45 Air Ministry