MHG38954 - Wick Airport
Summary
Early C20 airfield
Type and Period (1)
- PILLBOX (Undated)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
ND35SE 103 Centred 360 525
See also Redfern, "20th Century fortifications in the UK" vol IV.
A M Fox, Highland Council, 12.12.01.
According to Guy (pers comm, DoBritain Project Conference 24.11.01) there is an unusual Pickett-Hamilton pillbox at Wick airfield.
A M Fox, Highland Council, 26.11.01
J A Guy, 20th Century Defences, (report nos. 1, 8 & 11)
An unusual feature of Wick is that the tower and most technical buildings are made largely of timber.
B Quarrie 1987
RAF Wick was built on land adjoining pre-war civil aerodrome at Hillhead Farm. Traditional grass surface of time rapidly became a quagmire and there was a rush to lay down tarmac runways at the beginning of war. Four massive 'C1' hangars were built, in retrospect a mistake as it made the airfield a very visible target. A decoy airfield was set up on a peat bog at Sarclet to S.
The tower survives as do two dilapidated 'C1' hangars (out of four), which in 1981 were full of steel pipes. Most of station offices and technical buldings are still standing, neglected but yet derelict.
D J Smith 1983
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SHG2221 Text/Publication/Volume: Francis, P. 1996. British military airfields, from airships to the jet age,. 21, 41, 42, 95, 122, 124; 41, 42, 122.
- --- SHG2642 Text/Publication/Volume: Quarrie, B (ed). 1987. Action stations 10: supplement and index. 123.
- --- SHG2816 Text/Publication/Volume: Smith, D J. 1983. Action stations 7: military airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland. 219-23; 219; Plan, 220.
- --- SHG2817 Text/Publication/Volume: Smith, D J. 1989. Britain's military airfields, 1939-45. 70.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 360 524 (10m by 10m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND35SE |
| Civil Parish | WICK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/91619 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.