Our display, essentially explains and demonstrates sector level command and control in an entertaining way and it fitted in perfectly with your other displays today, especially. Many thanks to all at bentley priory museum for welcoming the ww2 raf group battle of britain emergency operations room display to such an important historical location. In 1775, sir john soane designed a large mansion house north of the original priory, called bentley priory, for the wealthy businessman james duberley. It is a 55 hectare mosaic of ancient woodland, unimproved neutral grassland, scrub, wetland, streams and an artificial lake, an unusual combination of. Bentley priory museum, previously raf headquarters fighter command, is a site of national historical importance and from where the battle of britain was won.
After a glorious history, and a period in limbo, soanes georgian building reopened as a visitor attraction in 2014. Battle of britain 75 year anniversary air war publications. Some shots of the former cold war bunker at raf bentley priory, itself carved out of the ww2 bunker on the same site. As there was no enduring operational use for raf bentley priory, however, the ministry of defence mod released the site as part of its greater london estate consolidation project. Bentley priory uk airfield guide a guide to the history.
Raf uxbridge was a royal air force raf station in uxbridge, within the london borough of hillingdon, occupying a 44. Although little detail is known, the lands of bentley priory and the surrounding area were scantily populated but civilised long before the time of the romans. Project model ministry of defence estates in london aims to raise at least. Apr 01, 2018 100 years of the raf in pictures a fighter plane above the trenches on the western front photograph. The british government purchased the estate in 1915, three years before the founding of the raf. Battle of britain hq bentley priory to be turned into museum daily. Bentley priory has a long and colourful history, from its monastic origins through to its use as a family home, its conversion into a hotel and then its eventual sale to the air ministry. These photographs were taken marchapril of that year, as the raf started to leave. The raf finally left bentley priory on 30 may 2008.
The observer corps remained at raf uxbridge until 1 march 1936, when it transferred to raf bentley priory. These, together with the park are designated a registered garden grade ii. All the saturdays and wes out at the various rugby internationals. Bentley priory hosted regular royal visits, as highlighted here in 1958 when her majesty queen elizabeth ii celebrated the 40th anniversary of the raf. With their headquarters at raf bentley priory the roc remained administered by fighter command until 31 march 1968 when responsibility was handed over to the newly formed raf strike command. A brief talk about the history of the site and the usual admonishment to keep hard hats on, we went into what most people treat as the ground floor. It was the headquarters of fighter command during the battle of britain and the second world war. Bentley priory museum is the perfect place for schools to learn about the history of the battle of britain, one of the most significant moments in modern british and world history. In 1775, sir john soane designed a large mansion house north of the original priory, called bentley priory, for the wealth. The priory was the final home of the dowager queen adelaide, queen consort of william iv, before her death there in 1849. This was added to throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by various owners.
The bentley priory battle of britain trust has since worked hard to negotiate a strong position with the disposal brokers whereby the costs of refurbishing the building for museum purposes would be funded as enabling development within the planning consent. The roc was a defence warning organisation operating in the united kingdom between 1925 and 31 december 1995 when it was stood down. Raf bentley priory wikimili, the free encyclopedia. It was originally a medieval priory or cell of augustinian canons in harrow weald, then in middlesex. In the second world war, bentley priory was the headquarters of raf fighter command, and it. As of 20, the site has been sold to a developer and plans to convert some of the building to luxury apartments and build new houses have been approved and construction commenced. The plotting rooms became the nerve centre of the systems such as radar originated by the british and operated by dedicated young men and women to provide the first early. Fighter command is airborne again at bentley priory.
It is an irregular hexagon in plan, orientated with the long rear entrance elevation to the northwest. When bentley priory was closed by the raf in may 2008, the royal air force museum was asked to collect the objects that related to bentley priorys history and role in the battle of britain. In the second world war, bentley priory was the headquarters of raf fighter command, and it remained in raf hands in various roles until 2008. Raf bentley priory was latterly home to the defence aviation safety centre, air historical branch ahb and raf ceremonial. For many, the priory is a national wartime treasure which must not fall in private hands. Raf bentley priory raf stanmore park associated places. At the time the first priory was dedicated, the majority of the area was in the manor of harrow. Bentley priory museum stanmore 2020 all you need to. Tour of mansion and grounds including cold war bunker exteriors. Including, montrose walk gordon avenue stanmore, warren house, stanmore park, the old stanmore branch line, the. Raf bentley priory was a nonflying royal air force station near stanmore in the london borough of harrow. Entrance to bunker police picket raf bentley priory bunker and site april 2008 pic heavy. After the war the royal air force remained and in 1968 several other operational defence command units were transferred to bentley priory.
Raf bentley priory officially closed on 30th may 2008. Object details category books creator hamlin, john f. It became famous as the headquarters of fighter command during the battle of britain and the second world war. The headquarters of raf fighter command, bentley priory was the nerve centre of.
Bentley priory is an eighteenth to nineteenth century stately home and deer park in stanmore on the northern edge of the greater london area in the london borough of harrow. Morten is spending this week on tour with a group of swedes in london, southern england and northern france, visiting many of the important sites relating to the battle of britain. Bentley priorys history and role in the battle of britain. It was famous as the headquarters of fighter command during the battle of britain and the second world war. Bentley priory is a wonderful 18th and 19th century country house that was used in wwii by the raf as its hq for fighter command to over see and organise the battle of britain.
Raf bentley priory bunker and site april 2008 pic heavy. In the period running up to the writing of the domesday book, the priory housed a cell of augustinian friars in buildings to the south of the present mansion. Arriving at raf stanmore, the accommodation station for raf bentley priory. The most important museum youve probably never heard of. To establish and maintain bentley priory as a centre for education, information, training and teaching of the history of the battle of britain, aerospace history. During the war, two bombs destroyed a wooden hut near the married quarters, a blast from a v1 f.
During the second world war, raf bentley priory was home to fighter command, under the stewardship of sir hugh dowding. It was significantly extended in 1788, again by sir john soane, for john hamilton, 1st marquess of abercorn. The battle of britain was planned, orchestrated and won from these rooms. Feb 15, 2006 raf bentley priory is one of a number of ministry of defenceowned properties in london likely to be sold by july.
Headquarters for fighter command during the battle of britain, bentley priory museum tells the story of this beautiful grade ii country house. Raf bentley priory is one of a number of ministry of defenceowned properties in london likely to be sold by july. Until the outbreak of the second world war in 1939, the station was open to the public. For the historic building itself and its civilian use before and after the raf, see category. It was famous as the headquarters of fighter command during world war ii. Raf bentley priory is a nonflying royal air force station near stanmore in the london borough of harrow.
Bentley priory on the northern edge of london, and the hawker hurricane on display in front. We are a small private charitable trust ensuring that the legacy of the one, the few and. After a few iterations, dissolutions and mergers, there emerged raf fighter command on the 14th july 1936 under its first commanderinchief, air chief marshal sir hugh stuffy dowding, the man. The raf bentley priory site includes a grade ii listed officers mess and italian gardens. Historian and dowding biographer, robert wright, who served as dowdings personal assistance during the battle of britain, wrote in his book. Fighter command is airborne again at bentley priory telegraph. Raf bentley priory was a nonflying royal air force station near stanmore in the london borough of harrow originally built in 1766, bentley priory was significantly extended in 1788, by sir john soane, for john hamilton, 1st marquess of abercorn. The history of royal air force bentley priory and stanmore park. Here is an 18thcentury english country house overlooking central london, with st pauls clearly visible, that, from 1936, was the headquarters of the newly formed raf.
In may 1926, inland area training command, part of the air defence of great britain adgb moved into the priory. Originally built in 1766, bentley priory was significantly extended in 1788, by sir john soane, for john hamilton, 1st marquess of abercorn. In the interwar years as the raf was developing, what was known as the air defence of great britain adgb was stationed at bentley priory. In total, 525 objects were collected and it was decided at the time to accession these into the. It subsequently served as a hotel and girls school before being acquired by the royal air force in 1926. Raf bentley priory was a royal air force station in stanmore, middlesex. Raf bentley priory was a nonflying royal air force station near stanmore in the london. Raf bentley priory project gutenberg selfpublishing. Mar 27, 2019 at the parade to mark the disbanding of raf fighter command held at raf bentley priory on 30 april 1968, air marshal sir frederick rosier kcb cbe dso adc, the last air officer commander in chief of the command stands with several of the most famous second world war aces, from left to right. For the nature reserve, see bentley priory nature reserve.
Professor j e b gover in his book place names of middlesex, derives the word bentley from anglosaxon. This museum cleverly recreates the operation hq so that it feels as though youve dropped in on sir hugh dowding and the amazing raf personnel. Parish church the first parish church was the 14th century st marys, built on the site of a wooden saxon church which itself may have been built on the site of a roman compitum shrine. During the war, two bombs destroyed a wooden hut near the married quarters, a blast from a v1 flying bomb broke a few windows, and the. Page history last edited by alan hartleysmith 6 years, 8 months ago. It appears that a twostrip airfield was laid out in 1944 by us army engineers at.
History of the priory before the raf medieval beginnings. During the war, two bombs destroyed a wooden hut near the married quarters, a blast from a v1 flying bomb broke a few windows, and the windows in the officers mess were shattered by a v2 rocket. Raf stanmore park closed in 1997 and is now a housing estate and raf bentley priory closed in 2009. Raf aircraft fly over bentley priory, which became the headquarters of the. S of the a4140, the common, e of the a409, common road, roughly 1. Bentley priory was a country house, built in 1766 on a site previously occupied by augustinian friars. A tour inside raf bentley priory ianvisits london news and events.
Raf bentley priory marchapril 2008 derelict places. Bentley priory is an eighteenth to nineteenth century stately home and deer park in stanmore. To the north of the site is an old military pillbox it is a type 24 design and was erected as part of the perimeter defenses of raf bentley priory, probably around 194041. Working in scah and with the supply wing especially the old ticker tape machines. Aug 28, 20 the headquarters of raf fighter command, bentley priory was the nerve centre of operations during the battle for national survival that raged in the air between july and october 1940. Books the history of royal air force bentley priory and stanmore park. It is an irregular hexagon in plan, orientated with the. There are no remains of the original priory, but it probably stood near priory house, off clamp hill. Bentley priory and the raf in 1926, the priory estate was split up and one lot comprising of the priory itself and around 40 acres was sold to the air ministry, for a sum believed to be. Their actions truly changed the course of history in europe and. This article is about the medieval priory and later house.
During the second world war, raf bentley priory was home to fighter. Bentley priory museum stanmore 2020 all you need to know. Derek robinson on jonathan glanceys love song to the rafs most prized possession, spitfire. Bentley priory, northwest london, as a senior officer. This is where we put things right and give the honour and respect deserved to a. Bentley priory was the headquarters of raf fighter command from where air chief marshal hugh dowding coordinated the battle of britain against the german air force in 1940. I am not sure what has happened to the non sir john soanes buildings but as developers are to build flats on the site, i dont think all of them will survive. The headquarters of raf fighter command, bentley priory was the nerve centre of operations during the battle for national survival that raged in the air between july and october 1940. Bentley priory museum, mansion house drive, stanmore. Hq raf fighter command later including the allied expeditionary air force hq prior to and after the dday invasion.
The history of bentley priory stanmore, including john james hamilton the 9th earl of abercorn, queen adelaide, sir john kelk, frederick gordon, a school for girls, the air ministry and hugh dowding, and the battle of britain museum, things to do and places to visit in stanmore. Important medals, log books and cunninghams blue woollen battledress have been. In 1936 royal air force fighter command moved to bentley priory and during the second world war it was used by inland area training command, which formed the centre of the countrys air defence system. May 18, 2015 bentley priory is a wonderful 18th and 19th century country house that was used in wwii by the raf as its hq for fighter command to over see and organise the battle of britain. For the headquarters of fighter command during the second world war, see raf bentley priory. The history of royal air force bentley priory and stanmore. Vsm estates is a joint venture between vinci plc and st modwen properties plc established to deliver project model, the ministry of defences programme to create a. Visit bentley priory museum on your trip to stanmore or. At the parade to mark the disbanding of raf fighter command held at raf bentley priory on 30 april 1968, air marshal sir frederick rosier kcb cbe dso adc, the last air officer commander in chief of the command stands with. Do you need to book in advance to visit bentley priory museum. Raf bentley priory hq fighter command aviation classics. May 28, 2011 open day at raf bentley priory,stanmore.
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