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Historic England Research Records

Raf Watnall

Hob Uid: 1415339
Location :
Nottinghamshire
Broxtowe
Greasley
Grid Ref : SK5060045400
Summary : The site of the former Second World War military Headquarters at RAF Watnall, later part of the Cold War "ROTOR" programme (Radar and early warning against Soviet attack). RAF Watnall is not an airfield; during the Second World War, including at least part of the Battle of Britain it was home to the control and administration centre for Fighter Command's 12 Group covering the Midlands, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and North Wales. Elements included the officer's Mess, barracks, underground Operations Block and Filter Block (completed 1943). As well as numerous surface buildings including the domestic site, the hub of RAF Watnall consisted of 3 'bunkers', the control centre, the filter block and the communications centre. The filter block was a collecting point for information, duplicate and irrelevant intelligence information being filtered out here before passing on to the control centre. After the Second World War , the headquarters of 12 Group moved to RAF Newton. The operations block closed but the filter block remained in use; in 1950 the site was updated as part of the "ROTOR" programme, it was used for this purpose for much of the 1950s. The station closed in 1961.
More information : AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS. SRF with extra information, sketch location maps and 6 photographs



Kimberley Rifle Club

Fighter Command Group 12 Headquarters

RAF Watnall

Barracks

Officers Mess

Underground Operations Block

Filter Block



Recorder- M. & D. Sibley, and N. Catford. (1)

RAF Watnall was the administrative centre for 12 Group Royal Air Force Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. 12 Group's area included Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Humberside, the Midlands and parts of North Wales (2)

The site of the former Second World War military Headquarters at RAF Watnall. RAF Watnall is not an airfield; during the Second World War, it was home to the control and administration centre for Fighter Command's 12 Group. Elements included the officer's Mess, barracks, underground Operations Block and Filter Block (completed 1943, situated at SK 5064540). As well as numerous surface buildings including the domestic site, the hub of RAF Watnall consisted of 3 'bunkers', the control centre, the filter block and the communications centre. The filter block was a collecting point for information, duplicate and irrelevant intelligence information being filtered out here before passing on to the control centre. After the Second World War , the headquarters of 12 Group moved to RAF Newton. The operations block closed but the filter block remained in use; in 1950 the site was updated as part of the "ROTOR" programme, it was used for this purpose for much of the 1950s. The station closed in 1961. The Subterranea Britannica website includes images of the site. (3)
Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : The two databases developed by the Project can be searched on-line through the Archaeology Data Service at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/dob/index.cfm
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Royal Air Force , Crown Copyright 2005. 'Battle of Britain: 10 Group' <> [Accessed 03-AUG-2010]
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Subterreanea Britannica 1998-2001, 'Subterranea Britannica: site visits: RAF Watnall' <> [Accessed 02-AUG-2010]
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Mid 20th Century
Display Date : Closed 1961
Monument End Date : 1966
Monument Start Date : 1933
Monument Type : Radar Station
Evidence : Documentary Evidence
Monument Period Name : Mid 20th Century
Display Date : Construction began 1938
Monument End Date : 1938
Monument Start Date : 1938
Monument Type : Air Force Headquarters, Military Headquarters
Evidence : Structure, Subterranean Feature
Monument Period Name : Mid 20th Century
Display Date : 1950s Alterations
Monument End Date : 1959
Monument Start Date : 1950
Monument Type : Radar Station
Evidence : Documentary Evidence
Monument Period Name : Second World War
Display Date : Second World War use
Monument End Date : 1945
Monument Start Date : 1940
Monument Type : Air Force Headquarters, Military Headquarters, Operations Block
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Subterranean Feature
Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : DoB Non Anti Invasion Database UID
External Cross Reference Number : 4776
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SK 54 NW 46
External Cross Reference Notes :
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Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-04-01
End Date : 2002-03-01