real time web analytics
Report - - Draining pump - Tower End, Car Grave Yard - Bittering, RAF Wendling, Norfolk, December 2022 | Other Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Draining pump - Tower End, Car Grave Yard - Bittering, RAF Wendling, Norfolk, December 2022

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Not big enough in their own right, but this trio make a nice little Norfolk pack 'o three!

Props to @Mikeymutt for intel.

1. Draining pump, Tower End, Middleton
Remains of the draining pump to the west of Tower End, outside King’s Lynn. It was constructed in 1877 and was located at a junction with a number of sluices on the Middleton Stop Drain. Originally the site of a wing pump, it was built by Sir Lewis Whincop Jarvis and powered by a 10hp non-condensing vertical steam engine. The pump house closed in 1934 but machinery was not dismantled till 1975.

52726636738_7cf19bd04b_b.jpg


It was a relaxed wander out to this place on a pretty horrible December morn. Big up to @Mikeymutt for giving me the head’s up about this one. It was nice to see the chimney still *intact and the water wheel still in situ.

Approaching from the east:

52657487054_0f02650d40_b.jpg


Graff gangs have reached here:

52602193154_662058829a_b.jpg


The very fine chimney that still remains:

52656718842_ee71c1ff6f_b.jpg


The now collapsed pump house:

52657696828_65a453b1f0_b.jpg


On to the waterwheel:

52657487379_cb4b9342d9_b.jpg


52656719192_ae0417d271_b.jpg


Bit of remaining ironwork:

52657486854_ea72ab2b7b_b.jpg


On to the chimney base:

52601442547_d154a1a808_b.jpg


Chimney up-shot:

52656718557_0b5e2250d8_b.jpg


2. Car Graveyard, Bittering, Dereham
This place is really random. A number of old classic cars rusting away in the woods near Bittering. No info on whose they were, how the got here or how they were left. A number of them look to be Spitfire two-seater sports cars. That’s about it really!

52606035693_a70e771a4e_b.jpg


52605954390_61737e6f5f_b.jpg


52600117842_e42c024f0f_b.jpg


52605533861_dd46522fc0_b.jpg


52601126788_25299ea537_b.jpg


52601031505_90cc8966a1_b.jpg


Some sort of old hut:

52606036178_4eb5064d32_b.jpg


This one looks like a mini:

52605789104_1f3cf9b15d_b.jpg


52605789049_3a8733931b_b.jpg


52605954325_44b7e2e07d_b.jpg


CONTINUED...
 

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
3. RAF Wendling, Dereham
RAF Wendling, also known as Station 118, situated near the Norfolk town of Dereham. It was first opened in 1943 as a bomber airfield originally to be used by the RAF. It was the most northerly of the 8th Air Force heavy bomber fields and was built by Taylor-Woodrow Ltd in 1942 featuring a 1,800m long main runway angled on a NE-SW axis. The domestic sites were near Beeston to the west of the airfield while the bomb dump and ammunition stores were in Honeypot Wood to the south-east.

52739222345_965e3ba3b5_c.jpg


However, after completion, it was handed over the USAAF, who took command of the airfield and build two T2 hangars. 392nd Bombardment Group was stationed there flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the 8th Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.

Post-war it was given back to the RAF and used as a standby airfield by RAF Maintenance Command’s No. 258 Maintenance Unit. It finally closed in 1961, but found a new lease of life when the Americans used it as a radio facility until 1964. It was then returned to agriculture and part of it became a Turkey farm.

Relaxed explore on the way back from an earlier explore. Would have liked to have a look at other parts of the base which are still left, including the bomb store (covered nicely by @Mikeymutt HERE) but was a bit pushed for time so just had time to check out these remaining bits of the domestic site. Nothing spectacular but as nice way to while away half-an-hour or so.

52612653440_325495467a_b.jpg


52612233656_63c8e8b871_b.jpg


The first Nissan hut is empty:

52612495334_df775ae3d4_b.jpg


52611727202_274872005f_b.jpg


52611727272_eb7e6d1eee_b.jpg


52612716838_c877dc05e3_b.jpg


52612653850_990763934b_b.jpg


52612233251_3935386ff6_b.jpg


Some nice colours still remain:

52612233506_cd305895a9_b.jpg


And an old Aga:

52612717108_e2ffcfff50_b.jpg


52611727017_137b7dc459_b.jpg


52612494554_4a2737a1c9_b.jpg


52612653500_6a9171e5cf_b.jpg


Facilities still in situ!

52612233476_ee57611b0d_b.jpg


52602352840_6dfa04d6c8_b.jpg


Looks like this old Nissan hut is still in use as a storage facility:

52612653780_75fb4e5712_b.jpg


52612654395_91d7034418_b.jpg


52602435033_8e973327a8_b.jpg


52611727242_c598ac0c73_b.jpg
 
Last edited:

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
The cars were owned by the guy who built the Porta Maria Shrine on the other side of the woods. He lived there in a caravan and collected those cars before he died.
 

Mikeymutt

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Nice collection mate. I keep meaning to back to Wendling domestic site. There is a building someone owns that has some lovely graffiti in.
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Lovely collection. Damn thats a great chimney. They withstand alot. The like the square build on this one.
 
Top