In November 2021 I was invited to Driffield Camp by the British Army - a permission visit. This report focuses on the old Cook House - a building used as the catering and cooking facility for the troops stationed and visiting the wider site.
This building is unused but part of an active Armed Forces Defence Training Estate, this is an organisation within the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Namely the Defence Training Centre, Driffield Camp, where ALW Research Team had exclusive permission to enter and explore one of the large and unmolested buildings of the former Alamein Barracks of the British Army.
This base was also the Former RAF Eastburn in 1918 and RAF Driffield from 1936-1977, Alamein Barracks of the British Army from 1977 to 1992 and back as RAF Driffield until 1997 when part of the base became the Defence Training Centre – Driffield Camp. The other parts of the former base are private property and now used for live firing, close quarter combat training by HQ Airsoft.
A little more detail: RAF Driffield is a former Royal Air Force station 1.7 miles (2.7 km) south west of Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire.
It was first opened as RAF Eastburn in 1918, before closing in early 1920. In 1935 a new airfield was built for the RAF, first for training bomber crews then taking a very active part in World War Two - on Thursday, 15 August 1940 it was badly damaged by a huge raid by German bombers during the Battle of Britain. The airfield was closed for a while for repairs, but reopened in early 1941, with fighters replacing bombers for a short period as Spitfires and Hurricanes from No.13 Group Fighter Command moved in.
Bomber Command returned in April 1941, with Halifaxes from No.4 Group now taking to the skies on an almost nightly basis to attack mainland Europe, inevitably suffering heavy losses.
After the war, RAF Driffield continued as a training base, even becoming home to Douglas Thor PGM-17 inter continental ballistic missiles aimed at Russia during the height of the Cold War. These were built and owned by the American Government but due to politics the British Royal Air Force maintained and were ready to operate the missiles in the event of war. The missiles were never launched and they were only in use for 4 years.
The base eventually closed in 1977, after which the British Army made use of the old runways as a driving school, with the base becoming known as Alamein Barracks. The Cook house and parts of the base remained in active service with the British Army until 1997 when the base was scaled back further.
To the Cook House:
The Main Entrance finished in Marble and Stone with painted hardwood doors.
Going inside.
We were met with a iron railed staircase with hardwood rail and lino style flooring with steel nose edging. The walls were lined in cloth wallpaper in some areas.
One of the four wings, they were fairly identical with patterned floor.
The extractor hood was fairly intact and light flooded through it.
Dark and light contrast.
A bucket of decay with a warning road cone.
The textured cloth wallpaper.
On the first floor the roof was leaking through the ceiling tiles. The paneled walls reminded my of the 1970's.
A sense of the occupant.
Close Quarter.
On my guard in the gym area.
Out of character graffiti.
An empty sword case. I have seen these used in many military sites for decorative swords. The Ensign of the British Army proudly on display affixed to the wall.
The empty boiler house.
The crew. Harry, Paul, Andy and Dave.
An overview of the site. The HQ building is in the centre, Guardroom to the bottom left, airfield and hangers to the top left. The building in this report is the furthest to the right near the abandoned areas now used for airsoft.
The building in this report is protected by the British Army and it is part of an active site. There are many areas of RAF Driffield that are a 'walk on' however they are used by HQ Airsoft, mainly on weekends. If you want a permission visit give them a google. Otherwise - well you know what to do. I hope you enjoyed this report. We will probably do some more in the future. Thanks to the British Army and the 28DL crew for hosting this thread in your website.
This building is unused but part of an active Armed Forces Defence Training Estate, this is an organisation within the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Namely the Defence Training Centre, Driffield Camp, where ALW Research Team had exclusive permission to enter and explore one of the large and unmolested buildings of the former Alamein Barracks of the British Army.
This base was also the Former RAF Eastburn in 1918 and RAF Driffield from 1936-1977, Alamein Barracks of the British Army from 1977 to 1992 and back as RAF Driffield until 1997 when part of the base became the Defence Training Centre – Driffield Camp. The other parts of the former base are private property and now used for live firing, close quarter combat training by HQ Airsoft.
A little more detail: RAF Driffield is a former Royal Air Force station 1.7 miles (2.7 km) south west of Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire.
It was first opened as RAF Eastburn in 1918, before closing in early 1920. In 1935 a new airfield was built for the RAF, first for training bomber crews then taking a very active part in World War Two - on Thursday, 15 August 1940 it was badly damaged by a huge raid by German bombers during the Battle of Britain. The airfield was closed for a while for repairs, but reopened in early 1941, with fighters replacing bombers for a short period as Spitfires and Hurricanes from No.13 Group Fighter Command moved in.
Bomber Command returned in April 1941, with Halifaxes from No.4 Group now taking to the skies on an almost nightly basis to attack mainland Europe, inevitably suffering heavy losses.
After the war, RAF Driffield continued as a training base, even becoming home to Douglas Thor PGM-17 inter continental ballistic missiles aimed at Russia during the height of the Cold War. These were built and owned by the American Government but due to politics the British Royal Air Force maintained and were ready to operate the missiles in the event of war. The missiles were never launched and they were only in use for 4 years.
The base eventually closed in 1977, after which the British Army made use of the old runways as a driving school, with the base becoming known as Alamein Barracks. The Cook house and parts of the base remained in active service with the British Army until 1997 when the base was scaled back further.
To the Cook House:
The Main Entrance finished in Marble and Stone with painted hardwood doors.
Going inside.
We were met with a iron railed staircase with hardwood rail and lino style flooring with steel nose edging. The walls were lined in cloth wallpaper in some areas.
One of the four wings, they were fairly identical with patterned floor.
The extractor hood was fairly intact and light flooded through it.
Dark and light contrast.
A bucket of decay with a warning road cone.
The textured cloth wallpaper.
On the first floor the roof was leaking through the ceiling tiles. The paneled walls reminded my of the 1970's.
A sense of the occupant.
Close Quarter.
On my guard in the gym area.
Out of character graffiti.
An empty sword case. I have seen these used in many military sites for decorative swords. The Ensign of the British Army proudly on display affixed to the wall.
The empty boiler house.
The crew. Harry, Paul, Andy and Dave.
An overview of the site. The HQ building is in the centre, Guardroom to the bottom left, airfield and hangers to the top left. The building in this report is the furthest to the right near the abandoned areas now used for airsoft.
The building in this report is protected by the British Army and it is part of an active site. There are many areas of RAF Driffield that are a 'walk on' however they are used by HQ Airsoft, mainly on weekends. If you want a permission visit give them a google. Otherwise - well you know what to do. I hope you enjoyed this report. We will probably do some more in the future. Thanks to the British Army and the 28DL crew for hosting this thread in your website.
