The Torpedo Shed, Worthy Down Camp, Winchester, Hampshire. National Grid Reference: SU 47006 35535
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Parking
There is plenty of parking at 51°07.090'N, 1°19.562'W just as you enter onto the playing area. This is a fairly busy area for dog walkers, runners etc so you might need to keep your wits about you when visiting both the micro and final cache. |
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Starting this cache
There is a tricky micro cache to start you off with. This can be found at: 51°06.998'N, 1°19.939'W. On your way to the micro you will see the area where the Torpedo Sheds once stood.
Once you have the details from the micro it will take you on a short walk past other remains of the Torpedo Shed buildings.
You should find the final cache without any problems, after which it will be a short walk back to the car park.
The reason for placing this cache:
a. There is a lot of history around this area, in particular the Torpedo Shed (see full details below)
b. There is a great and very well kept play park for the kids.
Introduction to the Torpedo Sheds
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The MOD had been asked by Hampshire Constabulary to take action to prevent
vandalism and unlawful entry to the former Torpedo Shed at Worthy Down Camp. MOD
surveyors had indicated that the building is beyond economic repair and no alternative
use can be found. The structure was to be collapsed in on itself and the rubble buried by
the spoil from the surrounding earth bund banks. This was completed by the end of
March 2000.
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Context One Archaeological Services (COAS) carried out an archaeological building survey at the Torpedo Shed, Worthy Down Camp, Winchester, Hampshire (SU 47006 35535) between 24-25 March 2000.
The historical importance of this building at regional and national level is unknown. However the building is comparatively early in the history of military aviation, being pre- WW2. In addition it does not appear to have been altered and many of the internal fittings survive. It is certainly a building of local importance and therefore it is considered necessary to produce an archival record in advance of its imminent demolition.' |
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Site Location and Topography
The Torpedo Shed occupies gently sloping ground on the northern edge of the former Worthy Down Airfield, just south of South Wonston at NGR SU 47006 35535 (Figure 1). The site is bounded to the north by South Wonston Playing fields; 500m to the south-east is Worthy Down Camp, and Race Course Cottages lie 300m to the west. The Torpedo Shed lies approximately 90m above OS Datum.
The site covers an area of 550 square metres and lies within a network of military storage depots and access routes around the northern perimeter of the former Worthy Down Airfield. To the east of the Torpedo Shed lies a former components shed (AM1817/34), which has now been filled for health and safety reasons, and a former fusing shed which was once linked to the Torpedo Shed by a track (1503/AA1).
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Historical background
In 1917, 480 acres of the Old Winchester racecourse were developed into an airfield as part of the military camp at Worthy Down. Six aeroplane sheds were erected together with a large hangar. The airfield was first used by the Wireless and Observers School in 1918, but the armistice brought their residence to an end. In 1924, the site was re-activated when '58 Squadron' used it as a base for 'Vickers Vimy' aircraft. This squadron was soon joined by 'No. 7 Squadron' with 'Vickers Virginias'. 'No. 7 Squadron' stayed and received the 'Handley Page Heyford' in 1935, before being joined by No. '49 Squadron' and the 'Hawker Hind' bomber. Between 1926 and 1935, there was a gradual build up at the airfield. Married quarters and new administration blocks were erected. In 1936, the airfield was transferred to 'No. 2 Group, Bomber Command'. The bombers left in 1938, and 'Avro Ansons' arrived in their place (Brooks 1996, 143). The airfield was transferred to the Admiralty in 1939, becoming HMS Kestrel.
The Luftwaffe bombed the airfield in August 1940, unaware that it was a training base. It was the only attack the base ever suffered. The airfield became one of the hosts to the 'Supermarine Spitfire' during the Second World War, after its primary base at Eastleigh endured regular enemy bombing raids. Many of the early trials of the 'Seafire' were also carried out at Worthy Down.
HMS Kestrel closed in November 1947, re-opening in June 1952 as HMS Ariel. This ground training establishment closed in 1960 when it was handed over to the Royal Army Pay Corps who still operate the site (Brooks 1996, 11).
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The archive
The archive consists of two copies of this report, colour transparencies, monochrome prints and negatives, and an electronic report with a digital image library on CD-ROM. This has been deposited with;
Winchester Museums Service
Historic Resources Centre
75 Hyde Street
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 7DW
http://www.contextone.co.uk/online_reports/downloads/SBR_TWD_report.pdf
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