St George’s Memorial Chapel, Statement of Significance Prepared for the Borough of July 2015

Alan Baxter

St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance Prepared for the London Borough of Bromley July 2015

Contents 1.0 Introduction ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1

2.0 History �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4

3.0 Significance ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������26

Appendix 1: HER map �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������35

Appendix 2: Statutory List entries �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������37

Alan Baxter

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background to the project 1.2 Purpose of this report The Statement of Significance was researched and written by Alfie Stroud of ABA. All photographs are copyright of ABA unless otherwise The present-day Biggin Hill Airport is substantially the historic Royal LB Bromley has commissioned a team of specialists led by Alan Baxter credited. All drawings and graphic design were produced by Vera Air Force (RAF) aerodrome, RAF Biggin Hill, established by the Royal Limited (ABA) to produce a Statement of Significance for St George’s Fabiankova and Julio Mendoza, also of ABA. Flying (RFC) in 1917 and operational until 1959. Chapel and the dispersal hut at Biggin Hill Airport, and a Condition Survey of the dispersal hut — the latter to include a condition analysis Heritage Impact Assessment The cessation of funding from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the and costed options assessment for repairs, surveys and structural RAF-maintained St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill, announced engineering report. This suite of documents and drawings amounts The suite of documents produced for this inception stage of LB in 2014, coincides with the very end of the viable life of the structure to a foundational statement of the history and heritage significance Bromley’s project concludes with ABA’s Heritage Impact Assessment at Biggin Hill Airport’s former East Camp known as the dispersal hut. of the two structures, an analysis of the condition and conservation (HIA). This is a short strategic report which identifies critical Of all the buildings in the former RAF aerodrome, the Chapel and the requirements of the dispersal hut, and an options appraisal, considerations for conserving the two historic buildings, considering dispersal hut are most closely associated with the , the anticipated impact analysis and heritage strategy for the repair and their fullest history and heritage significance, in anticipation of the defining aerial battle fought in July to October 1940 in resistance to relocation of the hut in the precinct of the Chapel as part of the relocation of the hut and development of the Memorial Museum. It Hitler’s drive to occupy Western Europe. In the Battle, RAF Biggin Hill development of a Memorial Museum. ends with eight modest recommendations which may help to direct played a key role — it was named ‘The Strongest Link’. the next stage of the process. The team comprises ABA Conservation, with Malcolm Fryer Architects, In developing a plan to overcome the threats to the continued Andrew Morton Associates (quantity surveyors), James Brennan existence of the two structures, London Borough of Bromley (LB Associates (chartered surveyors) and ABA’s Structural Engineering Acknowledgements Bromley) has an opportunity to conserve and sustain both of these team. Their work has been completed through site visits, archival Thanks for assistance with the research, consideration and preparation irreplaceable historic buildings for the foreseeable future, on a single research and off-site research, analysis and reporting between April of this work are gratefully given to Breda Daly, Roger J C Thomas site of enhanced heritage significance. and June 2015. and Matthew Cooper, all of Historic , for their help with research and review. The RAF Archive Hendon gave valuable research LB Bromley expects to acquire the Chapel and its precinct from the

assistance. Kristen Alexander and Erik Mannings kindly responded to Introduction 1.0 MoD in 2016/17. The Borough granted the civil airport to Biggin Hill 1.3 Structure and authorship email queries about their relatives who served at Biggin Hill. Laurie Airport Limited (BHAL) in 1974 on a 125-year lease. BHAL owns the Chester, the Custodian of St George’s Memorial Chapel, supported dispersal hut, but has agreed to its relocation by the Council to the our investigation of the Chapel and cares for it knowledgeably and Chapel site. The Treasury has awarded £1m towards LB Bromley’s Statement of Significance diligently. Katy Woolcott and Colin Hitchins of Biggin Hill Airport creation of a Battle of Britain heritage complex at the Chapel site, to This Statement of Significance sets out a concise but wide-ranging Limited also provided invaluable information and support on the comprise the conserved Chapel and a Memorial Museum with visitor history of the Memorial Chapel set in the context of the history and airport site. Dr Howard Tuck of Minerva Specialist Projects and Col Phil centre and facilities. development of RAF Biggin Hill. This is the evidence which informs the Wilson of the were also consulted. Statement of Significance with which this document concludes.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 1 2 1.0 Introduction St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Site Plan Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 100022432. Plotted Scale - 1:6000 location) Dispersal Hut (not original site of Memorial Museum St George’s Chapel precinct; Alan Baxter The Chapel precinct: identification of buildings

N

N

Air Cadets’ Building, former RC Chapel (site of Site of Parachute Packers’ Hut) MG Car park Works

Central Heating North Range boiler-house extension and chimney

St George’s Memorial Chapel Introduction 1.0 St George’s Gate Guardians Room Nave Screen Memorial Garden

Bell tower

OASC building

BIGGIN HILL STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

PLAN Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 3 1711/200

JULY 2015 Alan Baxter 4 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 14 February oldest Biggin History 2.0 led manor runway. stood establishment the of by Airport the situation, Biggin aviation occurred it First John the potential, Biggin revealed The which of Camp Road, to

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Image: National Library of Scotland, http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428869) cottages, where a road to Cudham Lodge joined theA curve1909 OSin mapthe ofWesterham the Biggin Road. Hill area, showing the large fields attached to Cudham Lodge, visible near the top centre, and the Saltbox http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428869 View: XXVIII.NW (includes: .) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952 Alan Baxter 2.1 The Royal Flying Corps Aerodrome and the First World War

Radio With the permission of the Stanhopes, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) — the air arm of the — opened a landing ground at Cudham Lodge Farm in 1914. Early in the First World War, which broke out the same summer, emergency night-time landings were taking place. Experimentation with radio technology followed, with testing stations and training courses established in former houses around the manor.

In 1916, work to establish a more permanent aerodrome complex began on Cudham Lodge lands on the east side of Westerham Road. Aperfield Court was formally acquired by the War Office in 1917 for the installation of a transmitter and to house ground control of aircraft at the developing Biggin Hill Aerodrome. Biggin Hill was inaugurated as a Radio Signals Unit in February 1917, with the RFC’s Wireless Testing Park relocated from aerodrome in .

Air defence 2.0 History 2.0 These developments met with an intensification of the German aerial assault on Britain, which from 1917 involved aeroplanes as well as airships. Britain responded with enhanced defence in the air, and Biggin Hill Aerodrome was established as part of an inner patrol zone in a coordinated London Air Defence Area. No. 141 Squadron had been formed in January 1918 and moved from Rochford to Biggin Hill in February to operate its new flights of Bristol Fighters, each decorated with the squadron motif of a red cockerel. In May 1918, No. 140 Squadron formed at Biggin Hill with more Bristol Fighters. At the Armistice in November 1918, air defence capacity was wound down, and subsequently squadrons passed through Biggin Hill but rarely settled. Image: National Library of Scotland, http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428863 http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428863 Scotland, of Library National Image:

A 1930 OS map of the Biggin Hill area. The map does not show the 1920s development which had already taken place to establish West Camp. It does show, unlabelled, the earlier development connected to the Aerodrome in the area later to become South Camp, near Aperfield and Biggin Hill village, and the properties acquired by the RFC and RAF from the Stanhope estate.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 5

View: Kent XXVIII.NW (includes: Orpington.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952 http://maps.nls.uk/view/101428863 6 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 consequences established view not further His RAF with However, Department Station Hill operational London Oxfordshire, plan RAF 100 existed Sir its raids merged On Offence vs. defence of Biggin Hill as a defensive 2.2station

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its Aerodrome layout and architecture in the early twentieth century generally systematic:withsquadronsroutinelyredeployed to types haduniquereferencenumbers,andtheirlayout was overseen bytheAirMinistryWorksDirectorate.Building Expansion ofRAFstationswasrigorouslyorganised and typical. (EnglishHeritage,2000) aerodrome survivals.ThelistedexamplesatBigginHillare and concreteairfieldstructures,iswidespreadamong1930s mess buildings,complementedbyutilitarianbrick,steel resulting idiomofclean,brickneo-Georgianbarracksand poplar reassuranceandstabilityamidrapidchange;the military infrastructurebutalsotoaddresstheneedfor new architecturedevelopedtoprovideforBritain’s In parallelwiththeseoperationalconsiderations,amodest consistent approachtoaerodromelayout. the needforspeedyscrambling,ledtoamorerationaland Hurricanes andSpitfires,thegrowingnumberofaircraft RAF’s biplanefighterswerereplacedenmassebymodern During intensiverearmamentinthelate1930s,when against thepossibilityofasingleknock-outattack. were dispersedlikeothertechnicalanddomesticstructures, ‘omni-directional’ flyingfield(thatis,withoutrunways).They housed inhangarsscatteredaroundtheperimeterofan approaches adoptedduringtheFirstWorldWar:aircraftwere 1920s, astandardlayoutemergedbasedonthedefensive As theRAFformalisedaerialmilitaryoperationsduring planning. buildings, withlittlesystematicthinkingbehindtheir with hangarsforaircraftstorageandafewoperational The earliestRFCaerodromesweresimplyaflatgrassfield Camp besideCudhamWoods. were scatteredaroundtheaerodromeperimeterand inEast and thesmaller,irregularstructuresassociatedwith dispersal hardstandings andE-shapedblastpensforfighterplanes, where theymightbemistakenforciviliandevelopment.The large permanentstructuresneartheroadsideinWestCamp, development; atBigginHill,itmadesensetogatherthe which couldalertobserversintheairtoconcentrated roads andrailwayswereallrelativelyreflectivestructures Large hangars,regulartile-orslate-roofedbarrackbuildings, 1993) advantage aswellanexpedientcompromise.(Halpenny, prefabricated woodenhuts—mightevidentlybeastrategic lightweight, portablebuildingformsandmaterials—suchas colours. Withthisinmind,thechancetodeploytemporary, composed ofunreflectivesurfaces,anddarkornaturalistic had tobeaccommodatedinstructuresofirregularlayout, of RAFoperationsanditseverlargerfleethangars with thesurroundinglandscape;systematicgrowth for regularityworkedintensionwiththeneedtoblend-in to thewholeofBritishmainland.Themilitaryinstinct 1930s makingclearthethreatfromGermanLuftwaffe increasing rangeofaerialmilitaryoperationsthroughthe of aerodromeplanningaswarapproached,withthe Camouflage strategybecameanimportantinfluence southern outlookoveropencountryifthiswaspossible. — officers’messes,forinstance,weregenerallygivena of thelandscapewasonlyreallyfoundindomesticbuildings their wayaroundthenewsite.Variationandaccommodation new stations,personnelgainedarealadvantageinknowing Alan Baxter West Camp in the 1930s The extensive early 1930s fabric which remains even today at Biggin Hill Airport might seem to belie the late attention to Britain’s capacity for defence in the air during the rearmament process in that decade. The RAF’s first permanent structures had been concentrated in the area later known as South Camp. Indeed, a 1929 Air Ministry Site Plan shows the full extent of West Camp occupied by buildings, between the Salt Box and the road to Cudham Lodge. The work of the 1930s phase of building was to make permanent many of these operational, technical and domestic structures, which were still to be concentrated in West Camp (partly for reasons of camouflage — see the box on Aerodrome layout and architecture in the early twentieth century on p. 6). The five barrack blocks were built in 1930, a first substantial Officers’ Mess (now Building 10, the Airmen’s Institute), Station HQ (now Building 33) and Sergeants’ Mess (now Building 12, the Candidates’ Club) all built by 1932. Neither South Camp nor East Camp is recorded on the pre-war plans located, so these might have been home only to hardstandings and temporary structures. Alternatively, they might not have been developed at all until final mobilisation, after 1938.

Biggin Hill’s early 1930s structures are testament to Trenchard’s consolidation of the RAF’s First World War legacy, and show History 2.0 that Biggin Hill’s strategic importance was accepted and upheld throughout the interwar period. Yet they pale in their scale compared with the last-minute mobilisation efforts for the Second World War: by the summer of 1939 the RAF’s building work alone cost more than three times the entire RAF budget in 1934. Few of these structures now remain at Biggin Hill; indeed, interwar RAF buildings survive generally in greater numbers than those of the 1940s. (RAF, Short History) This makes the wartime and immediate post-war structures that do survive all the more precious.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 7 8 2.0 History

Plan: RAF Archive, Hendon St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 labelled War Department Anti-Aircraft Defence School.An RAF Site Plan of Biggin Hill Aerodrome in 1924 showing semi-permanent RAF development in the area of the modern West Camp. The RFC’s earliest Station at South Camp is at least partly Alan Baxter 2.0 History 2.0 Plan: RAF Archive, Hendon Archive, RAF Plan:

An RAF Site Plan dated 1929 again showing the extent of semi-permanent development at West Camp before the 1930s building works. As in the 1924 plan, the site of the present-day Chapel is occupied by an aeroplane shed

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 9 10 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Square. domestic were capacity. prompted German establishment’s minds move realisation 75 permitted techniques radio In Preparation for war the underlying state-of-the-art satellite in TOPHAT, Tangmere. Sector Hill divided and zones; Mainland four of critical On was

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at covered Friston was in aeroplanes,

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Kenley,

at

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the

World

on fighters

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for

was

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to defence prefabricated the

technologies,

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Beachey

into

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RAF Control and rapidly

potentially judged

a Hill by skies

1939. War, and of

4,800ft

four

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Northolt,

was the right Fighter,

Czechoslovakia

from had

gained

the of C of

Gravesend. over the RAF

between embed

Head Room,

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USA structures to London. a war.

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use aircraft

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be in

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British.

devastating

based

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new

in The RAF 1938.

of

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RAF

replaced

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well

England

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and

and — RAF

as or Alan Baxter 2.3 Biggin Hill and the Battle of Britain

After the Nazi invasion of Poland and the declaration of war in September 1939, a period of ‘Phoney War’ ensued, which gave Britain breathing space for rearmament. In May 1940, Hitler put his much- postponed strategy for occupation of Western Europe into effect, with an advance through the Low Countries into northern France. At Biggin Hill, 32, 79, 213, 229, 242 Squadrons all operated in the early ground war over Northern Europe and provided cover for the evacuations at Dunkirk. Paris fell on 14 June 1940 and four days later in London, Winston Churchill, newly appointed Prime Minister, told the House of Commons: ‘the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin’.

Hitler planned to invade Britain, but intended first to gain superiority over the RAF by crippling it from the air, in order to give his ground forces cover. That the Battle of Britain began and ended in the air was down to the extraordinary victory of the RAF over the larger Nazi air force. In 1940 the had slightly fewer than 2,000 aircraft while the RAF had only 825 fighters including 520 Hurricanes and 258 Spitfires. Hitler’s assault on Britain began on 26 June with probing attacks on RAF and port infrastructure targets in south-east England, reaching further into Britain into August. 2.0 History 2.0 Photo: © IWM (HU 54519A) (HU IWM © Photo: Hendon Archive, RAF Plan:

Two Mk Is of No. 32 Squadron coming in to land for An RAF Site Plan of Biggin Hill dated 1945. The Plan shows the Aerodrome at its fullest extent as a flying station. refuelling and rearming at Biggin Hill, watched by an airman standing with a signalling flag in the foreground, August 1940.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 11 12 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 as daylight From Biggin 19 Kent protected aerodrome 32, concrete At The Strongest Link telephone the attacks direct On Squadron awarded Mortimer took hit, Biggin water officers, and 6 in operated In Station. and Hill heavy

pm

raids the

night Biggin

July

141 Friday with during defence

the then

a

Regiment

devastated

late

mains

hit month,

attacks direct Hill

Hill

alone, followed

on

and

The

runway and

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the runway on

to

by Hill, and

August 30

arrived the

were — Sunday lines, the

itself

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operations lines

a

sergeants,

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deep 10 32 on shelter,

Helen base

consequences first

protected

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a Squadrons against members Three

Group

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and the nearby

during in

Station’s 1940, at raid

1

direct

while air early Saturday

Biggin September

Turner,

Medal aerodrome. after

as 610

and

hit,

by Approximately WAAF raid

messes

office 11’s

the yet

RAF

the a

RAF

1940.

nine

attacks 74 Squadrons

storerooms,

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35 manor morning of

and

heaviest

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Hill

Luftwaffe were for undamaged.

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and

raid.

men

airfields

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more 31, Kenley, operators since was 141

undetected

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the

Corporal

when

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Hill it The

deeply house

from Squadron displaced

operations

suffered

were the

were raids

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bravery Spitfires.

severely the

from

Day’ left in but

transport

were 40 hangars,

all aerodrome the

south-east — of

from

start

injured

involved,

which personnel the built

The

effective

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Elspeth was

attack

Junker losses

Sergeants Auxiliary

Queen’s

conducting

left

to in

were teleprinter

aerodrome,

damaged, the of 90th

block

along

18 continuing

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it

the in shop

by during

old August,

little bombers Henderson

lost

though defence the AA was

England,

armoury

were

Own Battle Air paratroopers.

suffered was

with operations

Stanhope Elisabeth

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Force

large-scale network

with

the the

destroyed action

killed

Royal

and a a which

to of

the

Sector at of 2,370ft Further hangar

village, Battle. as and

operate

Britain, gas a

— (WAAF) 72 around Biggin

direct

in well

West estate.

from Later

at

were

saw both

and a

On

and ‘Operation RAF’s victory, night-time September, British of down of the 600th enemy aircraft. 1940, outside a dispersal hut at Biggin Hill, on JCMthe Parkoccasion & HM ofStephen the shooting of 74 Squadron receiving the DFC on 27 August The total waging its to Strongest Sector

two have essential

RAF

of

defence

fighter Station to

51 historians ended Blitzkrieg

was

every

Link’, aircrew

Blitz Sealion’,

objective the

winning

production

of in on

one which raids Luftwaffe

the Britain

against

have 31 had

British his

Outer October, that

from the

was been

invasion established

had

British air was would turned

fighter later London establishing

forced lost battle:

outstripping after

incorporated

of civilian from last

its

lost.

Britain.

Hitler ring that, which Luftwaffe

attention

into

Biggin

Moreover,

supremacy and earned

by

May to

date The

that

mid-September,

indefinitely infrastructure

Hill.

into losses 1941. to

Battle

the

it of

London,

Its mobilisation the

the the

Luftwaffe over

Since solid were

of nickname

Station’s Axis

Britain postpone

the

service

beginning in the

targets. Powers.

the RAF the

shifted

Allied

meant is

crest.

‘The order

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In a artist who served at Biggin Hill and recorded her ‘Anexperiences Operations there. Room’, painted by Elva Blacker, a WAAF sergeant and Alan Baxter The later War Wartime Life at RAF Biggin Hill RAF Biggin Hill and Group 11’s war was far from over, however. Typically only 20 per cent of the personnel resident at an RAF intercept the incoming enemy from further away, instead of Between 18 August 1940 and 7 January 1941, there were 12 direct Station were flying aircrew. Many more were RAF and WAAF constant air patrolling. attacks on Biggin Hill Aerodrome. persisted into May ground personnel operating radar and communications 1941, before Hitler turned his attention to the Eastern Front. From equipment, engineers maintaining the fleet and buildings, Each fighter squadron commanded by an officer with the rank 1942, Biggin Hill’s fighters provided cover for Bomber Command’s officers’ servants and caterers for the aircrew. The Married of Squadron Leader, was made up of two flights, A and B, each offensives over the Continent and engaged in other operations. In Quarters at Biggin Hill were evacuated at the outbreak of commanded by a Flight Lieutenant. Each Flight had three 1944, Balloon Command operated barrage balloons from Biggin Hill, hostilities, as officers’ wives left the aerodrome and aircrew sections, Red, Green and Yellow, and each section had three and Transport Command took up residence to operate services to took up residence without their families. aircraft, One, Two and Three. So while three squadrons were liberated parts of the Continent. in service at Biggin Hill there might have been up to 54 fighter Aircrew spent long shifts beginning at dawn at ‘dispersals’, planes flying sorties. to which they were driven from barracks in West Camp every morning. They passed the time, ate and drank in ‘readiness’, Instructions to ‘Scramble, Scramble’ were broadcast over the which might mean waiting in a dispersal hut, or simply tannoy from the Operations Room. Pilots’ intercom carried in deckchairs or tents around the airfield — but always information about the enemy. Once in flight, the objective was somewhere within sprinting distance of their fighter planes. to draw away and pick off the German fighters in order to get Sections rotated, relieving one another for breaks at breakfast, to the bombers. lunch and dinner. The sortie returned, a headcount established casualties, and What made proximity so essential was precisely the system the pilot filed a combat report . While daytime raids were the of radar which had been developed, in part at Biggin Hill, norm, duties would be stepped down at nightfall and pilots between the Wars. It enabled controllers to order scrambles to might find a chance to go to a pub in the village before retiring to barracks. (Halpenny 1984; RAF Museum) 2.0 History 2.0 Image: BBC, Britain’s Greatest Generation - Their Finest Hour, June 2015 June Hour, Finest Their - Generation Greatest Britain’s BBC, Image: IWM © Photo: Geoffrey Welham (92 Squadron), pilot of one of the St George’s A dispersal hut at Hornchurch Aerodrome, May 1942. Chapel aircraft, in dispersals at Biggin Hill.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 13 14 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 on Aerodrome A The first St George’s Memorial Chapel reredos service Sunday hangars and Wireless South together iron the the memorial by 1943,

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An aerial view of Biggin Hill Airport in c. 1950; St George’s Chapel has not yet been begun where the parade ground still exists, apparently occupied by aircraft.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 15 16 2.0 History

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a trusses, but softened by the light red brickwork in Flemish bond. It had kneelers, consistent sills and a continuous brick offset plinth. The architects added subtle brickwork detailing, such as the tympanum in herringbone brick to the half-brick arch with casement window. Viewed from the west end, the lower, narrower gable of the narthex echoes the larger span across the nave. The off-centre tower, with the clock to its west face added later in the 1950s, echoes the brick chimney of the 1930s-40s Station boiler-house building to its east.

The architects gave the nave and sanctuary six bays, each with rectangular windows destined to receive memorial stained-glass compositions by the glass artist Hugh Easton (1906–1965, see box on p. 24 for biographical details), who had in 1947 created the Battle of Britain Memorial Window in . The badges and seraphim he used in that composition were progenitors to the striking designs he created for St George’s Chapel, in each of which the winged spirit of a young pilot bears the stylised emblem of a Squadron of the Station. The west end of the Chapel, with the narthex (St George’s Room) to the fore, and the bell tower. The Chapel’s interior fittings were well-finished and simple, variously modern or traditional, in dark hardwoods to complement the saved 1943 reredos. Otherwise, materials and designs were more modern and unusual, as in the interesting font in stainless steel composed of a shallow basin on a Y-shaped base, which seems to recall the History 2.0 forms of aircraft or missiles. A change to the interior depicted in the watercolour of the earlier chapel is the insertion of a ceiling, of narrow fibreboard panels spanning between crosspieces, gently cambers across the nave and carries elegant original ceiling lights of emphatically mid-century style. In contrast, the reredos is set on a wooden platform, behind the simple wooden rail, setting apart a simple sanctuary which struck a more traditional tone. Somewhere between these styles, the notable parquet floor is said to be composed of blocks made out of the laminated propeller blades of decommissioned planes. With all of these original features still extant, it is possible to say that the design achieved a spacious but comforting atmosphere in the nave, its eclectic furnishings striking a characterful balance between the modern and the traditional.

The west elevation of the 1980s extension, which was built in matching style and materials.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 17 18 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Hugh Easton’s memorial windows, in sequence from south-west, to north-west. Each badge commemorating a Squadron that served at RAF Biggin Hill. Alan Baxter 2.0 History 2.0

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 19 20 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Alan Baxter The Chapel’s new site had been the Station’s parade ground at the Context of the new Chapel’s design construction in the 1940s — was widely revered, and in 1951 he began end of the War. The Chapel’s foundation stone was laid by Air Chief work on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede. Though the latter In the mid-century RAF, taste (as it had between the Wars) tended Marshall Hugh, by then Lord, Dowding, on 25 July 1951, as recorded work was a stone-clad piece of monumental neo-Classicism, its use towards the architecturally conservative and reassuring. In fact, this was by the stone set beneath the window in the west wall. Building was of rounded arches, arcading and narrow windows made reference not far removed from wider church-building tastes in England around complete by November for dedication by the Bishop of Rochester. to medieval ecclesiastical architecture. It also demonstrates Maufe’s the mid-point of the century. Rebuilding of damaged churches and deep affection for contemporary Scandinavian religious architecture, the construction of new churches was given impetus by the Church which he regarded as having found an eloquent modern language of Commissioners, formed by a merger in 1948. The new work frequently austere simplicity for buildings in very traditional forms. If not all these incorporated ever-more up-to-date materials and construction influences were at the forefront of Todd’s mind in designing the new techniques. However, cladding, detailing and decoration, the popular Chapel at Biggin Hill, his treatment of its exterior in particular was a fine idioms of the early century — Arts and Crafts, neo-Gothic or neo- reflection of the balanced, eclectic idiom of the time, most expertly Georgian — continued to prevail, albeit gradually paved down under applied by Maufe. the influence of Modernism. Important church-building was also planned at a nearby site. In A new round of post-war memorialisation was also underway, 1951, Reverend Vivian Symons became Perpetual Curate of Biggin influenced by the same idioms. Sir Edward Maufe (1882–1974) Hill, a parish whose church had, since 1904, been the temporary was perhaps the leading figure in these trends: his modern neo- corrugated-iron church of St Mark. Symons later recalled that his Gothic design for Guildford Cathedral in the late 1920s — still under first arrival in Biggin Hill took him past the large, unusually light- brick Memorial Chapel still under construction. He launched into the project of constructing a permanent church for the village, identifying the abandoned neo-Gothic All Saints, North Peckham as a source of the necessary materials. In just over three years, he deconstructed the older church and recycled its bricks, stones and timbers to build 2.0 History 2.0 Image: LB Bromley LB Image: St Mark’s at Biggin Hill, apparently scarcely relying on the hands of St George’s Chapel under construction in summer 1951. others. Like St George’s Chapel, St Mark’s applied modern detailing to traditional forms, with simple, sometimes textured brick elevations, a solid rectangular bell tower, clean rooflines and a steeply pitched roof. During the building of the ‘Moving Church’, Symons served as the first Chaplain of St George’s Memorial Chapel. (Lewis, acc. 2015)

Sir Edward Maufe’s Guildford Cathedral. Photos: Wikicommons Photos:

The inscribed foundation stone. The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, also by Maufe. St Mark’s, Biggin Hill – ‘TheMoving Church’.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 21 22 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 replicas, were surrounded from ‘Gate A Landscaping and the Gate Guardians 2.5 the guard the the and had photograph, north; time immediately the around terrace around stood or and photograph was show and The Squadron before

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Photo: IWM Photo: Bromley Local Studies Library The Chapel and Gate Guardians in a planted landscape, c.1960. The Chapel and Gate Guardians freshly arranged, c.1953. business non-ticketed 2001 which between operating controlling sale 1964, In airport Biggin Whitehall, officer flights From The Chapel at the civil airport airport, During London Biggin Hill Airport disguised separation Chapel and Chapel station

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civil from the To the north of the Chapel, two single-storey brick buildings stand at Chapel alterations right angles, linked by a covered walkway. Site plans and designation In the 1980s, the Chapel was extended at the linking corridor to the reports record that these were a parachute store and pilots’ locker original north vestry by the addition of a small chapel and additional room, the latter also referred to as ‘MG Works’ in the Conservation vestry rooms. This growth reflected the great use still made of the Area documentation. The parachute store was later used as a Roman Chapel — for services, weddings, funerals and other occasions, Catholic Chapel. After the closure of the RAF Station, Catholic services especially in connection with veterans of the Battle of Britain, many were rehoused in St George’s Chapel, and the two linked buildings to by then in their 70s. The extension was built in a style matching that the north have been used by the local Air Cadets branch. of the main chapel, in light brown brick, with a continuous plinth, The Chapel itself continued to be treasured by local residents and matching kneelers, and straight eaves to the tiled, gabled roof. Its west veterans from farther afield, above all for memorialisation of The elevation was given a subtly more complex treatment which stressed Few — precisely the permanent shrine that Churchill and others had a possible Lombardic inspiration, with the addition of projecting envisaged in the late 1940s. Around the south vestry, a Garden of panels to either side suggesting pilasters and capitals, and receding Remembrance was laid out for the burial of ashes of RAF personnel courses beneath the gable, over an oculus above the west door. The and their close relatives, and for the placement of private memorials. west door itself matched that of the main chapel, with a rounded arch A bed of roses lies beside the Chapel, and the covered walkway which and three plain receding orders. formerly connected to the adjacent OASC building was adapted Some changes were made inside the Chapel too. The long-established by the addition of benches and trellises to become a place for stained glass firm Goddard & Gibbs decorated St George’s Room with contemplation. new windows: the west window in St George’s Room space, showing St George and the Dragon, was installed to commemorate a 40th

Anniversary ceremony which took place on 21 September 1980; four History 2.0 other windows were installed in 1985 to replace the casements in each of the bays of the same narthex structure, each commemorating the roles played by ground support.

The Garden of Remembrance, with repurposed walkway. Biggin Hill Airport’s ‘Dispersal Hut’ in its location from the 1970s to 2015. St George and the Dragon, by Goddard & Gibbs, 1980.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 23 24 2.0 History St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015

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A detail from one of Hugh Easton’s windows, in the location where others carry private inscriptions.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 25 26 3.0 Significance St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Annex the Policy here matters and it Memorial historic Statutory significance. be be identifies enhance to a identification it absolutely Assessing 3.1 Significance 3.0 of

thorough is is

a

develop acceptable considered, physical presence, but also from its setting. artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of

concept necessary essential

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Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance

planning evidential, interest in other human creative skill, like sculpture. decoration of buildings and structures of all types. Artistic interest is an in the art or science of the design, construction, craftsmanship and asset has evolved. More specifically, architectural interest is an interest arise from conscious design or fortuitously from the way the heritage interests in the design and general aesthetics of a place. They can Architectural and Artistic Interest [‘aesthetic value’]: These are the evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them. interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and investigation at some point. Heritage assets with archaeological potentially may hold, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert There will be archaeological interest in a heritage asset if it holds, or

following

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2

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place

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archaeological

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their Heritage)

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also Local

applications, set broadly interest relate

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the

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[‘evidential aligned

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Biggin St

cultural identity [‘communal value’]. experience of a place and can symbolise wider values such as faith and emotional meaning for communities derived from their collective a material record of our nation’s history, but can also provide an with them. Heritage assets with historic interest not only provide (including pre-historic). Heritage assets can illustrate or be associated Historic Interest [‘historical value’]: An interest in past lives and events protecting. archaeological investigation to reveal more about our past that need historic interest . . . because it is the prospects for a future expert Archaeological interest, as defined in the NPPF, differs from has

assessment the

assessment George’s to

Section sought

the

significance

significance and varies

have interests, Hill

to

next.

the

of historic in in

Good

Memorial

been

by to 3.4 the Decision-Taking section

thematic of of

What

clarify area,

describes

significance and whole significance

Practice

considered. of of interest

the

is 3.2. before its the

Chapel the

important

definitions site component

Chapel’s

A balance

distinction how

Advice summary that

relative section

begins

is follows (published

This

the NPPF usually

relationship is between In

of

significance

is

3.5 to

to

Planning with parts. statement

heritage in achieved between intends.

demonstrate comparable

expands

an section

a 27

amalgam

review them

March

with Note interest Para

archaeological by 3.3, of of

this

will

the the Alan Baxter of assessing

its

16 elaborated places, 2015) 2:

that to of designations

vary neighbours.

Chapel

significance Managing described of

consider these

HE’s all

begins:

from

and

these

the

and Historic

with

the

one views

its 16 3.2 Designations Grade II listed

The Chapel is a Grade-II listed building — a ‘designated heritage St George’s Memorial Chapel 1 asset’. The rationale for its listing is not recorded in the list description, (1951) but this does give a detailed description and concise history of the 2 Building 33 (1931) building (see Appendix 2). The Chapel is one of six listed buildings in (Former Station HQ) the former RAF Station’s West Camp, with two listed groups of barrack 8 3 Former Officers’ Mess (c. 1935) blocks and married quarters, all indicated in the plans included here. These listings were mostly the result of a thematic survey of airfield Building 12 (1932) Candidate’s 4 Club structures by English Heritage. (Former Sergeants’ Mess) 7 5 Building 15 (1934) (Hawkinge English Heritage (and now Historic England) has historically Block) considered buildings for listing as part of thematic typologies; in 6 Building 10 (1930) Airmen’s these terms St George’s Memorial Chapel is a hybrid building. A suite Institute (Former Officers’ Mess) 6 of Designation Listing Selection Guides published in 2011 treated 7 Buildings 1-5 (1930) (Airmens’ Military Structures and Places of Worship in separate volumes. Both Barrack Blocks) of these categorisations have been considered in the assessment of 8 Vincent Square Married Quarters 5 4 (26 surviving 1929) significance which follows. 9 Armory Annexe 9 (rejected for listing) LB Bromley designated a Biggin Hill Conservation Area that 10 encompasses all of the listed buildings, but also protects the 11 12 10 Armory (rejected for listing) 13 undesignated buildings between them around West Camp as part 14 15 of an area of particularly valuable character or appearance. A special 11 Inflammable materials store 3.0 Significance 3.0 property of conservation area designation is that all trees receive 1 12 Fuel sheds (rejected for listing) special protection, being subject to particular rules about local 3 authority oversight of work done to them. 13 Pilots’ locker room (rejected for listing) 14 Parachute store (rejected for listing) 2 15 Former Roman Catholic chapel

Passenger Terminal (incl. 1950s 16 control tower, rejected for listing)

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 27 28 3.0 Significance St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 eucharist Biggin Liverpool reimaginings particularly its on and Biggin contemporary Churchill. Second The memorialisation. memorial Chapel it of conservative This mean precinct, creators, surroundings. not antecedents traditional Being materials Architecturally, contemporary because in St 3.3 St Architectural and Artistic Interest was

to

summary George’s George’s Wemyss

daily worship.

derive

most

worship unusual a context

specially it attributable

Hill Hill

was

World use. Summary and thematic significance marks

of except and

and into architecturally RC Itslocation to

was as special

church

its Wylton

special.

Memorial Memorial established

Buildings for

It

is

those

in and the

Cathedral

RAF a beyond

of

decoration

special

the

is Its

War.

a

also

debates sensibility, site not

interesting trying its its

church step

in its

Chapel’s

architectural to

tastes

centre architectural

forms,

elegant restrained

to

so lost of really Todd

unique the

Its the

celebrates

forward

the

military far historic

to that

Chapel Chapel like creation

in foundation

physically in

forms materials

by in

replicate

as interesting and

of intentionally

which work

the which

and ecclesiology social

Coventry

its architecture

balance strand

historic public

the the

design

Kazik relation aerial and

is has in aviation.

for

calm interest

of

creative was

interest congregation.

designated

the incorporates the and richly

several

modernity,

high in and the donations embodied architectural

interest of Zakrzewski-Rucinski of

defence

symmetry supported

particular Cathedral gradual

the post-war communal is

its

to shape traditional

aesthetics

evokes

innovative

a extends architectural

As and

generally,

from

role

story clean the huge

architects,

a

which social place

as

of

surrounding of development set

to

attempts the while clever

of

church

its

role

historic and a St

could

with Britain

AMWD

by interest.

to be

by listed value Second

forms particular of George’s other

of perspectives in and makes

its Sir

and a modern

the

others

its

a

reference the commemoration form,

interest, lasting

be

setting

Winston palette

building

during building

is aerodrome interest; the

architects

prefabricated to history works with

radical

Chapel connects in World

the

RAF move

although

involvement

such Chapel

evidence of

context.

use national

within

Chapel of

the fairly

of

Station.

to of

reflects

War

the

of does as

the its

local RAF

at

a

it in exploited Even 1943 raised same unarticulated typical huts ancient own

which

way

if memorial space

on

its airfield

plainness

the a simplicity by

simple had

as

its post-war

east

building befitted

reredos. architects constituted

in

but wall,

is its

typical

traditional

reformist

calm

the forms the

for

contemporary

nave its

symmetry

of

stylistic such

destroyed

RAF

mood and

sanctuary

as

Chapels,

effect, chancel hangars.

in and

predecessor church

mood,

austerity

platform, allowing

this technically

Its

building

but characteristic altar

reminiscent

actually it exalting

and

sits to

part

reflect

by

against evoke

evoking

both of

the

was

the in

of

an

its

a modest parochial where context on create church forms The St Nicholas, Saltdean (Sir Edward Maufe, 1964) Interior of the Chapel, looking east the Lombardic

the

Chapel’s powerful

was

religious the

St building

for but

George’s events

simple a

Early-Christian the

elegant

core effect

effect

Chapel,

atmosphere,

in

in conviction

and

the Chapel.

as the

of piece

a

adaptable such same

same place but

of church.

His

his modernist

of period.

architecture. and small of

Air St Sir

contemplation

form

Nicholas,

was

Forces Edward Simplicity

space

Maufe

in

required sensibilities

this

Memorial as

Maufe’s

Saltdean used

worship

way and

and to

austere

calm at

accommodate

leading

applied

was

Alan Baxter least commemoration.

is is

a are provided

an closer

simplicity an

essential

important work to

influence

historic

parallel,

in in

to a

to The architectural interest of St George’s Chapel is compounded by its material palette, chosen with attention to internal texture, deliberately mixing natural and synthetic materials. The Chapel’s inception and its architects and designers bring it historic interest through association with stories of war, and this historic interest is compounded by their choices of materials; architecture and history inform and celebrate one another. The parquet floor composed of laminated timber strips cut from propeller blades; the striking missile-like font; the rude and not at all churchlike materials of fibreboard panels and metal strips which, with elegant lamps, create an attractive ceiling evocative of aviation. The choice of humble and salvaged materials may also have been due to rationing; restrictions on the supply and use of building materials, so desperately needed for house construction, continued until 1954. In these circumstances, the determination of the Chapel’s makers to provide a robust and dignified building, is all the more impressive. These design choices are part of the Chapel’s architectural interest and underline its historic interest too.

The Chapel’s artistic interest is high for such a small building. The exceptional collection of stained glass — above all the beautiful sequence of memorial windows by Hugh Easton, but also those in St George’s Room celebrating the service ground personnel — is a traditional form applied with great success to a modern building and the particular historic and religious context of a Battle of Britain memorial chapel. Other beautiful items in the Chapel’s collection Significance 3.0 were designed for the building in remarkable materials, or in many cases are donations or bequests given in memory of individuals or units, these appearing often to be fittings brought from churches or chapels elsewhere. The fine carved eagle lectern, for instance, was a gift from the Belgian Air Force and was not designed for the Chapel. The pews seem also to have arrived from another place of worship. A multitude of other items — commemorative plaques, the Book of Remembrance, the knitted pew cushions, paintings and photographs, and more — have artistic interest of their own. In some cases, their provenance or dedications give them historic interest, described further below. Where they were designed for the Chapel these pieces have special artistic interest, which compounds the architectural interest of the space; the architects of other twentieth-century churches frequently designed or commissioned contemporary art and craft specifically for their buildings. But all the pieces of the collection together, regardless of provenance, are part of the Chapel’s total architectural and artistic interest, as a space with a certain form and function, designed to be furnished with reference to both tradition Details of interior fittings and furnishings and its specific context.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 29 30 3.0 Significance St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 the and As memorial intention aviation RAF interest a The Historic interest described to changing

typical

commemoration with

times

Chapel’s development Biggin The Biggin Hill scramble bell.

any

has

and new

of in

fortunes to in

Hill

historic two which

its

the section in

historic place

various and particular

main Battle

of

it of

through of

building,

and

2

existed. St

interest Britain’s

worship strands: of

and of

George’s

worship this

the Britain

eminent

it

This report. Battle is the

military in

first, of

much

and the

Chapel

during details the Chapel

its of

founders The

history

those

1950s.

greater

place air Britain;

of the in first

capacity, is

its the who linked

of in The twentieth

strand

than and context that

the the construction,

fought Chapel’s

specifically

second,

development RAF it and it

of

should would

can

the

century, and with

it.

historic

tell Chapel’s the

military

be be attitudes

materials

with us

for a

as

of about

the each its the recruits great those The interior of St George’s Room, with RAF memorabilia on the walls. Informally Social interest and communal value its interest. Objects of transcends story The are showed interest interest of great historic

loss those commemorative decisive

another

Chapel. Chapel

of

of

social figures interested

and

Easton’s interest visiting

the

figures is

such in The not

redoubled

the

its

scale

air

exhibited

excels Battle The interest

rich

individually

Chapel

of as cause.

battle Chapel

as

Biggin the

the also

Chapel’s

associative memorial of in

historically of in

service the

neighbouring scramble

function.

over

Todd, has gains

Britain. and historic

in documents

has

Hill’s

history the

a

commemorated. the social of

long leading

from the Zakrzewski-Rucinski windows

Chapel’s the

strand. past, A

interest, decades

significant Personal bell

visit of Chapel

functioned

interest Second the

RAF as

and

are OASC role

tells

Chapel’s well

are case

however, speak Biggin

of photographs

expresses

in dedications

this is

World

collectively must its as as

Britain’s

because strongly

This

as

Sir the existence:

history eloquently

Hill. association

a

have Winston War

associative

service visitor’s in and

is This

commemoration interpreting

of associated

its as

in such

paid alone; the a

the

essential a role a weighty many

and

way Churchill whole.

centre of Great

as

tribute with particular

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has the historic

those sacrifice

that new

historic

with all

Escape

accreted

weight for source the quality.

at

the

RAF in

of Force blue. Hand-stitched hassock covers of uniform design on a background of Air historic standing social of the Biggin still the it wider St mark remember and at communities different Considering of Biggin is fought, they Social

remains

remote,

the George’s communal Remembrance

Chapel, work

move by

too

ceremonies

purpose community Chapel, Club

Hill Hill

its will site.

have strand as of

widespread Roman

or as

and Battle

loved

revolve have

Chapel and the a

Many

the not a

focal –

value,

a ministered

‘living

too its

notably

Chapel’s

special

in in

Chapel’s

formally of special ones

marks of

Catholic history,

of

acts

its its

for point

does around Britain

further personal

Friends

memorial’ significance, precinct.

those community

whose

of

regard the

the

regard Custodian. not for

commemoration communal by recorded. and

pastor. Supporters’

the worshippers

explored

their gratitude

much its helps have

significance

ashes

with

for

For

history

Chaplain, for as

commemoration

the

Many

a as

well instance,

of

more to the the

‘parish’ Several are Their

the

value groups below.

care

Chapel. of

and

Club Chapel, Battle

as interred

more

who remote the living

the

involvement a which for

suggests life

are

‘permanent

in groups a and

Dutch The

with

Vicar of

the attend

stone the visitors

of

focal noted even

Britain

at

the from

took

Chapel the

Chapel, an normal

the

of

at Air

including Alan Baxter

set

point

Biggin

another

if regular

interest airfield,

Biggin

on

a attend

place its

their

Chapel Force.

aims wherever renowned

in shrine’.

serves objects building

supporting

sense the of

Hill association

there.

to Hill,

services

several to and

slightly in

the Garden

or

ensure

Airport a

RAF A but

within

to

it

so by

was Archaeological interest 3.5 Significant views and relationships its celebration of their achievement. It is interesting to compare this view today with the photograph of the Chapel from the same The whole site of the historic aerodrome has potential for archaeology St George’s Memorial Chapel was built within and as an addition to perspective, taken in about 1960, which shows how the landscape has of great interest. Mainly this relates to its history as an aerodrome, a working RAF base, and its architecture and setting cannot be fully subtly matured and developed, but the Chapel’s setting is in essence above all in times of conflict when many past structures were understood without this context. preserved. This view from the west is significant. abruptly lost without record. In certain places, structures of older provenance such as Cudham Lodge may have left archaeology too, Certain views of the Chapel — and views from the vicinity of In contrast, the view onto the Chapel’s rear (east) elevation is less but these locations are generally distant from either the dispersal the Chapel — are important to the appreciation of its heritage significant. This elevation of the Chapel was designed with even less hut in East Camp or the Chapel precinct in West Camp. Both sorts of significance, and these have changed during the Chapel’s lifetime. The decorative architectural detail or articulation than its west side. It is archaeological interest may merit future investigation – the former Chapel’s close neighbours have not much changed in 60 years, but viewed from functional areas of the former West Camp which lie to its potentially having particular interest in relation to the Chapel. they do not all relate to it with equal worth for its heritage significance. north and east. It is screened from the airfield by the blockwork screen However, the Chapel and precinct as presently constituted and The significance plan on p. 33 graphically expresses the significance of of uncertain date which was probably erected to screen the Chapel and understood, do not have archaeological interest which contribute to the Chapel building and its key views and neighbour relationships. Memorial Garden a little from the noise and exposure of the working significance. airfield. This view from the east has some significance, nonetheless, Significance of views being a little-altered perspective on the Chapel’s original fabric. 3.4 Significance by area The Chapel was designed as a symmetrical composition, and though the addition of the northern extension in the 1980s has changed The Chapel’s significance is essentially inseparable from the this original balance, planting around the Chapel and the careful experience of the whole building and its precinct as a designed shrine consideration of the scale and form of the extension mean that the on a historic site. No element could be lost without taking from the view onto the Chapel’s west elevation is still the most important one significance of the whole. That said, certain of the building’s elements for appreciating its architectural significance. It is framed meaningfully have always played a greater role in preserving and presenting and evocatively by the Gate Guardians and the ornamental gates its various forms of significance: above all this applies to the nave and railings in Air Force blue with their RAF-insignia design. This view and St George’s Room. They are highly significant because of their onto the main road is the Chapel’s public face and reveals its creators’ Significance 3.0 centrality, literally, in the Chapel’s arrangement, and figuratively in intention that it should serve as a place where the RAF’s institutional its commemorative, interpretative and religious functions, as well as commemoration of opens to share with civilian Britain in because of the care and interest of their design. In this latter regard, the bell tower too is a highly significant part of the architectural composition. The more functional spaces of the two vestries and the north extension, which does not currently serve as an additional chapel space, are of lower design status and are less central to what is special about the building. Nonetheless they are significant, since they are truly indispensable to the function of the building as a whole and essential to the architectural composition. The extension was a carefully-considered and well-executed evolution of the building. In much the same way, the Chapel’s precinct contributes to the significance of the site both in its function — providing a dignified approach to the Chapel and a Garden of Remembrance for quiet contemplation — and the contribution it makes to the experience of worshipers and other visitors. Photo: IWM Photo:

The Chapel and Gate Guardians viewed from the west today and in c.1960.

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 31 32 3.0 Significance St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 views wider from seems by interesting the hangars. the The Views onto the rear elevation of the Chapel from its east.

the

enclosure airfield only

exposure

of airport.

ambiguously perforations

aircraft Inconveniently, significant

— elements

The largely a

while

glimpsed it

affords view

in

view to

also of screened

the

screen

is the

this

from

significant can trying view blockwork

Chapel,

view evocatively

the

the to from

to

the

Chapel’s

is Chapel’s maintain

a

because architecturally- available

wall

situation south-east

to enhance

contemplative precinct

the a

the

visual only

that

Chapel’s

through sounds,

from the is

and connection is

acknowledged

that experience

an historically-

east, breezes trees

spaces

onto area

which

and

of to

and

of the The view to the airfield from the east of the Chapel precinct. was brown-brick rear building’s buildings The Significance of relationships visiting facility George’s Cadet another chapel, To significant of visual obviously the modern that special as

the

the the

situation

Chapel built elevations, the

echo Chapel’s

branch, ‘central

north

at

interest, a the

visual that chimney

single-storey

Chapel. the in

in functional working

relationship.

Chapel, of

relates the

visual

boiler-house

of stands of former

the heating since context

situation the

its have 1930s early

As

was

two bell

terms,

in

context. Chapel

and

at Catholic

a

Station,

building no views heritage

former

a or

towers, right-angles station’. tower. brick of

consideration meaningfully

significance.

on

1940s,

but this

building

stands

of

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linking

services

also

place building working

Furthermore,

close the significance serves

Though

and

in completed the views

and

to of to

was the historic

to with are

worship

remind Station’s it.

the in fighter and

chimney a

stress

community

It onto

labelled the

now functional

Chapel, is pitched

to its

the

now and design

its

Chapel

base. the modest Chapel the accommodated

and

former existence

neighbouring functional

to

on used

building’s

historic

emphasised

roof

as the

They

of building to the

strongly visitors

another

but

the Roman

by

its Chapel’s linked

1945

have

of

a

history significance interestingly Chapel

local ways.

such side

of of

site

to suggest

public Catholic a

in by

the little

east Air

and

St an

The

plan and the The former RC chapel to the north, now in use by the Air Cadets. paid in use Unfortunately standing architectural part Biggin in Selection To commemoration deserves utilitarian park RC The of value through of selection element

relation brick, the the

the chapel

is

significance

of between tribute

and expected. main Chapel

south Hill the

purpose-built

the

of

some as days

Centre

fencing.

historic is

to from

Chapel’s neutral

Chapel. a

to somewhat activities

of interest,

the

reminder

and

them

the —

their

interpretation

St

the

Although

relationship building,

Chapel at in

George’s

significance especially building

The significance.

1960s. Biggin context, its forbears and

and of

by current historic

of compromised

the the —

the

the somewhat

for

a As

Hill

is Chapel generations

large

Air

way the

but

at between

abandoned RAF

its such, post-war wherever

which condition is role

the Cadets,

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is described. they

E-shaped for

an

stands of Chapel the

its

significantly greater

office the

are by the

functions building

the

the recruitment of

function

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and building

crudely

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Chapel Garden, compromises new while

building modernist history building

existence historic

dilapidated, Officer

recruits

is

visiting

of

it

separated

complements and

not

as

and of

has Alan Baxter RAF

has functions

of

interest an

and worship

an the office

of

some some so would

RC Biggin communal

the

the

original the Aircrew

is former and

chapel

at by OASC block

setting

for interest modest car

and at have best

no Hill.

that

new

for

an N N

Significance Highly signifi cant Highly signifi cant

Signifi cant Signifi cant

N Signifi cant gardenSignifi cant garden

Some signifi cance Some signifi cance

Neutral Neutral

Negative Negative

Signifi cant view Signifi cant view

Signifi cant relationshipSignifi cant relationship

Neutral relationshipNeutral relationship

View of some signifi canceView of some signifi cance 3.0 Significance 3.0

BIGGIN HILL BIGGIN HILL STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCESTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

SIGNIFICANCE SIGNIFICANCE

1711/200 1711/200

JULY 2015 JULYAlan 2015 Baxter Alan Baxter Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 33

Appendix 1 HER map

The map overleaf summarises the full Historic Environment Record dataset for Biggin Hill Dispersal Hut & RAF Chapel, held by Historic England, licensed to Alan Baxter Limited, and issued separately as an attachment to this report to LB Bromley.

It is subject to the following statement of copyright and provenance:

© Historic England [2015]. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right [2015]

The Dataset contained in this material was obtained on [27 April 2015]. Appendices

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 35 160500 161000 161500 36 Bromley

Appendices ± St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 541000 541000 541500 541500 542000 542000 542500 542500

160500 161000 161500 27 April 2015 27April n acaooia pirt ae() hw o ti mp xrc are extract and advisors map archaeological this England Historic on the by used those shown area(s) priority archaeological Any the of extent full the is or listing(s). curtilage extract the indicate map to attempt and this not building(s) does listed on the of location shown the indicate to solely information provided Building Listed Any Notes: to TP0024. and 000394 reserved) numbers Licence rights lead (all Ltd Group Information may Landmark and © Crown Copyright right database 100019088. and and © Mapping: England. OS Historic Historic England. Copyright Historic Unauthorised proceedings. civil Copyright. Crown or prosecution Crown the infringes © with Her Office. reproduction material of Controller Stationery the Survey of behalf Majesty's Ordnance on Survey upon Ordnance of based permission is map This Scale (at (at Scale A4): RAF Chapel & Dispersal Hut Dispersal & Chapel RAF " 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, 138-142 Square, 1 Waterhouse !e XY ë ( ^_ Tel: 3001 Fax:7973 3000 020 7973 020 Alan Baxter GLHER Report 11714 Report GLHER PotterySites Rivers ModernBoroughs www.HistoricEngland.org.uk Biggin Hll Airport Hll Biggin TQ41714 60982 TQ41714 Maritime Archaeology Maritime Building Registered ParksGardens Registered & Event Location (Archaeology) Location Event GLSMR database) GLSMR the on recorded fully (Not Location Event Area Priority Archaeological Sites Heritage World Monuments Ancient Scheduled Spot Find Archaeological Archaeology Requested Search Area Search Requested TDP & TAS & TDP 900m radius London EC1N 2ST London EC1N 1:10,000 8 Listed Building Listed Appendix 2 Statutory List entries Appendices

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 37 38 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391588&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 St George’s Memorial Chapel UID: System: Legacy from system. this have of The contents a been generated data record legacy Information System Legacy amendment: recent of most Date first listed: Date Grade: National Park: County: one authority. than within more boundary of the lie may The building A233 CHAPEL, MEMORIAL Location Number: List Entry Name: or historic architectural its interest. special for amended listed the This is under Areas) Buildings building Planning (Listed Act Conservation and 1990 as Summary Entry List District: Parish: Type: District 495981 MEMORIAL CHAPEL MEMORIAL Greater London Authority London Greater Bromley II London Borough London Not applicable Not to this List entry. 01-Dec-2005 LBS 1391588 Not applicable Not to this List entry. [14/07/2015 14:41:27] http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391588&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry broad recessed blind panel to tiled sill. The large chapel to the N is detailed in a in W complex way; more the N is detailed to the to The large chapel broad sill. tiled recessed to blind panel W, and a and with as kneelers the to verge with E steel each end, side, casements blank and oblong the chapel. The nave is a rectangle later 5 with plain the gabled tall doorway, to acting as now a link corridor and triple arched light including unit, is a flat-roofed and S main similar sides. gable W the Left of the brick triple with steel to piers on casements vestry, flat-roofed is the tower the of right boarded To doors. the is an main arched entrance face; clock the opening a recessed three to in framed pair orders of diagonally has an face open The W main roof. the roof parallel with gabled and the rear, ridge of arched the front to sides, and the to stage, containing a rectangular each top opening, face louvred to a with set-back brickwork, plain is in CMG'. The returns The tower GCVO have each two as side nave. casements, tall for the detailed GCB laid 1951 Dowding was by July Marshal on Air Chief stone 25th Lord and 'This inscribed: flush, set is a kneelers. main panel panel flush Below the stone carried to moulded out eaves, a to close-cut brought a to recessed set Roof blind are bottom. tiles all arched the a brick, panel, with sill tile across herring-bone tympanum with in a under with arch is gabled, road, casement tall facing a the half-brick end, plinth. The W brick in tiles, with is neatly sills and detailed The whole a with brick building EXTERIOR: continuous offset build. later and chapel, of a formerly vestry, large gabled back set link, a roofed side flat (N) opposite the sacristy. On lobby, and this entrance beyond is a flat-roofed small the campanile over is an oblong (S) attached right a nave To the at level. higher the gabled, these narthex, both or a A ante-room through wide slightly PLAN: entered unaisled narrower nave sanctuary with roof on Roman tile clay steel trusses. bond, Flemish brickwork in Wylton Red ARIBA. Todd W architect WWII. Consecrated from in airmen II 1951, flying to Hill lost Memorial Biggin GV chapel whilst Memorial Chapel 785/0/10082 HILL RAF (WEST SIDE) 01-DEC-05 FORMER A233 BIGGIN Details List be Details. the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - History List be Details. the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Designation for Reasons List be Details. the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - of Summary Building Description Entry List for information. later added are but record official the part of not Groupings are Asset List Grouping. comprise This entry does an not part of Asset Groupings Asset [14/07/2015 14:41:27] Alan Baxter List Entry

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details

List Entry is an arched doorway in recessed brick orders to half brick voussoirs and a pair of diagonally boarded doors, Map within a recessed panel including splayed jambs, taken to elaborate kneelers and eaves in three brick-on- edge courses. In the gable is an oculus with double half-brick voussoirs. The returned side has blank recessed panels with a small vertical light. The E end has a sunk panel with elaborate quoins and to a National Grid Reference: TQ 41076 60603 weathered plinth, and a complex 'frieze' with prominent lead dressings. The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale INTERIOR: The ante-room or narthex has a plain parquet floor, unpainted walls in three bays with internal map, please see the attached PDF - 1391588.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for the brick piers, and a fibre-boarded ceiling. This links through wide doors to the 6-bay nave, also in unpainted download to complete. brick with internal piers, the floor in square laminated wood blocks, made from aircraft propellers, and with a near-flat ceiling in three facets. At the E end, in the simple sanctuary, is a broad memorial record panel; Squadron losses include Polish, East Indies, French, Dutch, RCAF and RZNA names.

FITTINGS: In addition to the memorial reredos, there is a fine lectern, a stainless steel font with Y-shaped base, and simple benches. Windows each side of the nave all contain memorial stained glass.

HISTORY: This is an elegant little building, a simple and relatively austere version of a Lombardic Early Christian church, that stands as a memorial to those who lost their lives serving from Biggin Hill.

Following the destruction by fire of a memorial chapel (converted from a hut in 1943 and dedicated to St George) in 1946, and consideration of whether to convert the bomb-damaged operations room into a chapel, architects from the Air Ministry Works Directorate (A Beasley, WS Harper and GA Williams) were commissioned to design a simple building in brick and tile, funded through a public appeal for (in Churchill's words) 'a permanent shrine of remembrance') backed by Churchill himself as well as friends and relatives of aircrew who had died in action. The chapel was constructed on the site of one of the hangars destroyed in 1940: Lord Dowding laid the foundation stone in July 1951, and it was opened and dedicated on 10 November 1951. Hugh Easton, the designer of the RAF Memorial Window in Westminster Abbey, designed twelve stained glass windows for the chapel, each with the winged spirit of a young pilot embracing in his arms a badge. The west window was installed in 1981 and four other windows in St George's Room installed by Goddard and Gibbs in 1985 to commemmorate the role of ground support. The memorial tablet records the names of airmen lost from Biggin Hill, and illustrates the large number of nations whose pilots used the base. Appendices

Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through its associations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom and independence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing a critical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in the © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Second World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greater 100024900. resonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore the © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. brunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the whole fighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice Marshall from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle, This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 02:40:35. with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden and Hornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6 September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets.

For further details of the history of the site, see description for Station Headquarters.

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391588&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 14:41:27] ListSelected Entry Sources

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=Legacy Record - This information may be1391588&showMap=1&showText=1 included in the List Entry[14/07/2015 Details 14:41:27]

Map

National Grid Reference: TQ 41076 60603 St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 39 AlanThe below Baxter map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1391588.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for the download to complete.

© Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 02:40:35.

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391588&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 14:41:27] 40 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391587&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 Building 33 (former Station Headquarters) UID: System: Legacy from system. this have of The contents a been generated data record legacy Information System Legacy amendment: recent of most Date first listed: Date Grade: National Park: County: one authority. than within more boundary of the lie may The building A233 BUILDING 33 (STATION HEADQUARTERS), Location Number: List Entry Name: or historic architectural its interest. special for amended listed the This is under Areas) Buildings building Planning (Listed Act Conservation and 1990 as Summary Entry List District: Parish: Type: District 495980 BUILDING 33 (STATION HEADQUARTERS) BUILDING 33 Greater London Authority London Greater Bromley II London Borough London Not applicable Not to this List entry. 01-Dec-2005 LBS 1391587 Not applicable Not to this List entry. [14/07/2015 15:48:18] http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391587&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry storey range has four 12-pane to the long sides. long the to storey range has four 12-pane a up a single- of to square left brick taken The double capping. the stack to light wall has small rear a central right, and left; a each level, the at sash light plain with lower 4-pane, and small above door light replacement bay has a single only. ground light The flat-roofed floor the to 12-pane; right first pane the at floor, and to 12- are left the to those section; flat-roofed projecting has the rear 1 3 of and each the side windows over sash, plain with lower windows 2 all in The end returns bays, are 1931'. 'AD is dated brackets the between frieze the and modelled edge; a and moulded bases, to brackets top heavy block plain flat to cornice to fine architrave, with on plain moulded 2 is framed pilasters surround a doors in steps Portland stone 3-panel pair of first have bay ground in been 9, inserted floor. A 4, floor, and central bay, later 12-pane full but upper, plain with bottom mainly Windows sash are and 6-pane eaves-line. continuous above the taken parapet 3 forward, and voussoir subsills. brought a heads and with central concrete 9 has in The brick front, the bays, brick to reveals, slight sash to set glazing-bar timber Windows front. are 9-window 2 EXTERIOR: storeys; waiting and orderly section, and room library. rooms, accounts lecture also and clerks, office Officer, engineer accommodation Commanding included for Original the valley. unit a to central hipped one a in storey with continued double roof, flat with rear to T-arm range short central with hipped rectangular each 2-storey floor. A to symmetrical offices and double-banked corridor to Central hall PLAN: and staircase section. flat to leadwork slate cavity roof, bond to walls, stretcher brickwork in Red no 1329/27. drawing Works of Directorate Air Ministry II to Office building. Dated GV 1931, block, headquarters formerly station Headquarters) (Station HILL Building BIGGIN 33 RAF SIDE) FORMER 01-DEC-05 785/0/10087 (EAST CAMP, A233 WEST Details List be Details. the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - History List be Details. the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Designation for Reasons List be Details. the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - of Summary Building Description Entry List for information. later added are but record official the part of not Groupings are Asset List Grouping. comprise This entry does an not part of Asset Groupings Asset [14/07/2015 15:48:18] Alan Baxter List Entry

to the barracks, WAAF quarters, workshops, stores and an 'F-type' Admiralty hangar. On the following day the Sector Operations Room took a direct hit and other hangars were badly damaged; on the 6th of September - after further raids had rendered much of the base unusable - the last surviving hangar was List Entry destroyed on orders of the base commander. With attacks switched to London throughout the autumn Blitz, there was some respite, but there was a prolonged daylight attack on the morning of October 2, and 4 days A fascia with ogee gutter on a small soffit to a bed-mould is carried completely round the main block. Centred later another raid demolished three of the barracks blocks: Tangmere Block (Building 1) retains evidence of to the ridge is a square wooden turret with louvred sides and flat square leaded cupola; above the entrance that period, when its left wing was damaged and reduced from two storeys to one. Several units of the is a short flat-staff, rising from the gutter level and braced to the parapet. married housing in Vincent Square were also destroyed. INTERIOR: Original joinery with panelled doors. Dogleg staircase with steel balustrade. Biggin Hill's location south of London guaranteed its front-line involvement in fighter operations throughout the Second World War, from the Battle of France to the support of daylight raids by Bomber Command. In HISTORY: The building is located at the S end of the domestic site in West Camp, opposite the former addition to sharing 'with Hornchurch the distinction of being the most bombed aerodrome in Fighter Officers' Mess (qv). It is a characteristic example of early Expansion Period architecture and is externally Command' (Ramsey, 67), it was regarded as Britain's principal fighter station. More enemy aircraft (1,400, almost unchanged, except for a small number of replacement sashes. It was the first building to be including the first thousand by 1943) had been destroyed by squadrons based at Biggin Hill than any other reoccupied after the devastation of the West Camp in the Battle of Britain. airfield, and its 'aces' - including Michael Crossley, 'Sailor' Malan, Mungo park, A.C. Deere, Max Aitken and Brian Kingcome - became national figures, as well as the volunteers of the Free French and U.S. Eagle Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through its squadrons. 453 aircrew were killed while operating from Biggin Hill. associations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom and independence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing a Biggin Hill's satellites were West Malling and Manston, with the former customs airport at Lympne serving as critical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in the a landing strip. Like Kenley, it was sited within the balloon barrage erected around London as part of Second World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greater 'Operation Diver' between spring and October 1944. The main runway was then extended in 1957 for resonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore the jets. The RAF ceased flying in 1959, after which the runways were transferred to civil control, brunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the whole and withdrew from the site in 1992. It was subsequent to this, and fears concerning the future of the site, that fighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice Marshall Bromley Borough Council, with the strong support of English Heritage and veterans' associations, designated Keith Park from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle, the technical site and the former married quarters as a conservation area. The technical site is now mostly in with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden and the ownership of Formula One, and the married quarters - the best-preserved group of their type noted in the Hornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6 thematic survey - have now been sensitively developed for private housing. The former flying field is now September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets. It relates to used by Bromley Civil Airport. The RAF ceased flying in 1959, after which the runways were transferred to historic sites and fabric stretching from those used by the RAF to those used by or built especially for the civil control (Bromley Civil Airport). Luftwaffe, including the now-protected sites at Paris Le Bourget and Deelen in the Netherlands. Wallace G, RAF Biggin Hill, 1957; Halliday P, 'Biggin Hill', in W.G. Ramsey (ed), The Battle of Britain Then Biggin Hill opened as a military landing ground in February 1914. From 1917 it functioned as a Radio Signals and Now (5th edition, London, 1989), pp. 62-70; Operations Record Book, PRO AIR20/28/64; Churchill, W. Unit and from February 1918 as a 'Home Defence Aerodrome' as part of London's air defence system. The The Second World War. Volume II: Their Finest Hour (London, 1949); Lake, J. and Schofield, J., first substantial group was erected on South Camp in 1917, when 80 acres were acquired from the Earl of 'Conservation and the Battle of Britain'. In The Burning Blue. A New History of the Battle of Britain, Addison, Stanhope's estate. Only fragmentary remains date from this period, the significant surviving buildings -

P. and Crang, J. (eds), 229-242 (London, 2000); Wood, D. and Dempster, D. The Narrow Margin (London, Appendices mostly of 1930/31 - being located further north, in West Camp, and situated on each side of the main 1969) Bromley to Westerham road (the A 233). Work on rebuilding the station in permanent fabric begun in 1929, several buildings bearing datestones of 1930 and 1931 and the Air Estimates for 1933-4 showing that ? 190,000 had been allotted for this purpose. The surviving buildings are mostly representative of the type designs associated with Trenchard's Home Defence Expansion Scheme of 1923 onwards, the principal exception to this being the officers' mess. Biggin Hill had been the subject of pioneering air-to-air and ground-to-air experiments in radio communication and, crucially, how radar was to be integrated into an Selected Sources operationally-successful fighter defence system. During the critical Biggin Hill Experiment of 1938 the station was used as a laboratory for creating the Fighter Direction organisation, linking radar to defending aircraft. Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details The 1930s also saw Biggin Hill functioning as both a weather-reporting station on the Croydon-Le Bourget route, and a relief airport for Croydon. The runways, perimeter track and 12 blast pens were constructed on an enlarged airfield as part of Dowding's drive to provide dispersed and servicable flying fields on Fighter Command's front-line bases in 1939 (the runways completed in March 1940) , of which one intact and two Map partially-surviving blast pens survive in the north half of the site. Some pillboxes and an hydraulically- operated Pickett Hamilton fort have survived. The runways - which were augmented by a 1700-yard runway National Grid Reference: TQ 41077 60496 extending to the north and begun in March 1942 - form a 'V' instead of the more typical plan, in part due to the constricted nature of the site.

Few buildings have been demolished on the technical site since 1945, and the existing lacunae date from http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391587&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 15:48:18] the raids on the site which caused such damage and loss of life during the Battle of Britain. The raid of the 30th of August resulted in considerable loss of life (39 dead and 26 wounded) in addition to severe damage

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391587&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 15:48:18]

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 41 42 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391587&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 download to complete. to download This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 03:47:16. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right 1391587.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 15:48:18] Alan Baxter ListBuilding Entry 15 (Hawkinge Block)

List Entry List Entry Summary Asset Groupings

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official amended for its special architectural or historic interest. record but are added later for information.

Name: BUILDING 15, HAWKINGE BLOCK, WEST CAMP

List Entry Number: 1391604 List Entry Description

Location Summary of Building

BUILDING 15, HAWKINGE BLOCK, WEST CAMP, A233 Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. History County: Greater London Authority District: Bromley Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. District Type: London Borough Parish: Details

National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. 785/0/10108 A233 01-DEC-05 Former RAF Biggin Hill, Westerham (East side) Building 15, Hawkinge Block, Grade: II West Camp

Date first listed: 01-Dec-2005 GV II Barrack block. Dated 1934. By the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings. Dark red Appendices brickwork in stretcher bond, hipped (originally slate) concrete tile roof.

Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. PLAN: Dormitory rooms on each side of central entrance and staircase.

EXTERIOR: Single-storey. Three 12-pane sashes each side of central entrance, flanking a central pair of 3- panel doors in a cast stone heavy pilaster surround with moulded flat cornice Windows set to brick voussoirs, Legacy System Information and with stooled sills. Roofs are all slightly swept to the box eaves with deep soffits. Six sashes to rear elevation. Smaller 8-pane sash to small service annexe to left of front. The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. INTERIOR: retains original doors and joinery. Legacy System: LBS HISTORY: This barracks block, constructed to designs established during the post-1923 expansion of the UID: 495996 RAF, has been externally little-altered since the Second World War. Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through its associations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom and independence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing a critical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in the Second World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greater http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391604&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 15:51:05] resonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore the

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391604&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 15:51:05]

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 43 44 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391604&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 download to complete. to download map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected for and see Station description site, advice Headquarters. the of history the of For details further aircraft targets. became and Luftwaffe's factories later the airfields prime these when September 24 between August battle, especially and most the 6 attacks sustained of the of Hornchurch taking some and Weald, Debden Hill, Biggin Tangmere, North Northolt, at sector stations centre' its with 'nerve line Park this Keith in front from battle, RAF at the underground which his Uxbridge, headquarters occupied Air Force this at our moment fighting power of depended'. It 11 Marshall was by Group, Air Vice commanded whole the and combination 'on organisation whose words, Churchill's in Luftwaffe and, the onslaught of brunt TQ 41140 60760 TQ 1391604.pdf - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 15:51:05] http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391604&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391604&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 03:50:38. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This download to complete. to download map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected for and see Station description site, advice Headquarters. the of history the of For details further aircraft targets. became and Luftwaffe's factories later the airfields prime these when September 24 between August battle, especially and most the 6 attacks sustained of the of Hornchurch taking some and Weald, Debden Hill, Biggin Tangmere, North Northolt, at sector stations centre' its with 'nerve line Park this Keith in front from battle, RAF at the underground which his Uxbridge, headquarters occupied Air Force this at our moment fighting power of depended'. It 11 Marshall was by Group, Air Vice commanded whole the and combination 'on organisation whose words, Churchill's in Luftwaffe and, the onslaught of brunt © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right TQ 41140 60760 TQ 1391604.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 15:51:05] [14/07/2015 15:51:05] Alan Baxter ListBuilding Entry 12 (Candidates’ Club, former Sergeants’ Mess)

List Entry List Entry Summary Asset Groupings

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official amended for its special architectural or historic interest. record but are added later for information.

Name: BUILDING 12 (CANDIDATES CLUB, FORMER SERGEANTS MESS), WEST CAMP List Entry Description List Entry Number: 1391606 Summary of Building Location Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. BUILDING 12 (CANDIDATES CLUB, FORMER SERGEANTS MESS), WEST CAMP, A233 Reasons for Designation

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. History

County: Greater London Authority Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. District: Bromley District Type: London Borough Details Parish:

National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. 785/0/10109 A233 01-DEC-05 Former RAF Biggin Hill, Westerham (East side) Building 12 (Candidate's Club, Former Sergeant's' Mess), West Camp Grade: II GV II Sergeants' Mess. 1932. By the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings. Drawing No 191/24 Appendices and 2897/35. Stretcher bond cavity red brick walls, slate roof on timber trusses. Date first listed: 01-Dec-2005 PLAN: A single-storey building with entrance off-centre, right, and with gabled wing projecting forward to Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. right. The layout had the billiard room to the right of the entrance and the mess, with external eaves stack, to the left; kitchen and services to rear.

EXTERIOR: Windows are generally timber-bar sashes to stone sills and with brick voussoir heads. On the S, Legacy System Information entrance front, the projecting gable has a 8:12:8-pane triple sash to flat voussoir heads, under a flush semicircular arch containing a flush tympanum in herring-bone brickwork. Above these is a small ventilation The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. slit, then the shouldered gable with stone copings. The inner returns have a small sash, then the set-back long front has a central square bay with tall 8:12:8-pane sash to brick mullions, and a small 8-pane on the Legacy System: LBS returns, the bay taken up to a coped parapet above eaves level. To its left is the external eaves stack, taken up to a bold brick capping, flanked by tall 8-pane sashes, and with two 12-pane sashes to left. To the right is a pair of panelled doors, the top panel glazed, in a cast stone heavy pilaster surround with simple architrave UID: 495998 flat cornice, again flanked by tall sashes.

The left return has 12-pane sashes, and the rear gable is as to the front; the right return has a part-hipped outer end under a louvred half-gable, then a lower, set-back wing to a hipped end, connected to a wall bounding the service yard, and a hipped wing to rear left. Small 1970s additional bay to left of front. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/...owText=1http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391606&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:06:45]

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/...owText=1http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391606&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:06:45]

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 45 46 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/ List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 download to complete. to download map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected for and see Station description site, advice Headquarters. the of history the of For details further aircraft targets. became and Luftwaffe's factories later the airfields prime these when September 24 between August battle, especially and most the 6 attacks sustained of the of Hornchurch taking some and Weald, Debden Hill, Biggin Tangmere, North Northolt, at sector stations centre' its with 'nerve line Park this Keith in front from battle, RAF at the underground which his Uxbridge, headquarters occupied Air Force this at our moment fighting power of depended'. It 11 Marshall was by Group, Air Vice commanded whole the and combination 'on organisation whose words, Churchill's in Luftwaffe and, the onslaught of brunt the which Groups within bore these sector airfields the of those imagination popular than resonance the in sites World War. the Second which Of became all involved The Battle in Britain, of none have greater air a role defence the the in that critical development played of based on - system role - the radar in critical period, playing a It developed air was power. as through independence inter-war a the in key station fighter that a history nation Battle in had first retained Britain, the time of with the its freedom associations and its world, through primarily the in as station a most fighter famous acquired the reputation Hill Biggin World War. a Second the key played in role military in aviation airmen of a that to rank World and relates War Second the since has RAF, little-altered been externally expansion the of established post-1923 the mess, during designs constructed sergeants' to HISTORY: This INTERIOR: inspected. not ...owText=1http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391606&showMap=1&showText=1 TQ 41176 60757 TQ 1391606.pdf - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 16:06:45] http://list.historicengland.org.uk/ List Entry http://list.historicengland.org.uk/ List Entry This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 04:06:17. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This download to complete. to download For further details of the history of the site, see advice and description for and see Station description site, advice Headquarters. the of history the of For details further aircraft targets. became and Luftwaffe's factories later the airfields prime these when September 24 between August battle, especially and most the 6 attacks sustained of the of Hornchurch taking some and Weald, Debden Hill, Biggin Tangmere, North Northolt, at sector stations centre' its with 'nerve line Park this Keith in front from battle, RAF at the underground which his Uxbridge, headquarters occupied Air Force this at our moment fighting power of depended'. It 11 Marshall was by Group, Air Vice commanded whole the and combination 'on organisation whose words, Churchill's in Luftwaffe and, the onslaught of brunt the which Groups within bore these sector airfields the of those imagination popular than resonance the in sites World War. the Second which Of became all involved The Battle in Britain, of none have greater air a role defence the the in that critical development played of based on - system role - the radar in critical period, playing a It developed air was power. as through independence inter-war a the in key station fighter that a history nation Battle in had first retained Britain, the time of with the its freedom associations and its world, through primarily the in as station a most fighter famous acquired the reputation Hill Biggin World War. a Second the key played in role military in aviation airmen of a that to rank World and relates War Second the since has RAF, little-altered been externally expansion the of established post-1923 the mess, during designs constructed sergeants' to HISTORY: This INTERIOR: inspected. not map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right ...owText=1http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391606&showMap=1&showText=1 ...owText=1http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391606&showMap=1&showText=1 TQ 41176 60757 TQ 1391606.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes Alan Baxter [14/07/2015 16:06:45] [14/07/2015 16:06:45] ListBuilding Entry 10 (Junior Ranks’ Mess, former Airmen’s Institute)

List Entry List Entry Summary Summary of Building Airmen's Institute and recreation centre, with dining room. c1926 design, built 1930. By the Air Ministry's This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as Directorate of Works and Buildings. Brick with gabled slate roofs and brick stacks. amended for its special architectural or historic interest. PLAN: Rectangular main block, with dining room, card, writing and games rooms, the kitchen and ancillary Name: BUILDING 10 (Junior Ranks Mess, former Airmen's Institute) rooms linked to the rear.

List Entry Number: 1416723 EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. Gauged brick flat arches over all window openings, replacement windows to front and steel-framed windows to rear. Front has 3-window outer wings, the gable ends of which are expressed as Location broken pediments and the ground floors with panelled double doors with overlights set in rendered architraves with bracketed flat hoods. The central 8-window range has two inserted ground-floor doorways, Building 10 (Junior Ranks Mess, former Airmen's Institute), West Camp, Former RAF Biggin Hill, A233 (East the second bays in being heightened to break the eaves line with small hipped roofs. 4-window return Side) elevations. The rear service ranges with various casements at both levels. INTERIOR: Little original detail survives later remodelling; dog leg stairs.

Reasons for Designation

The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. Legacy Record – This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Greater London Authority County: History District: Bromley District Type: London Borough HISTORY: This institute building, constructed in 1930 to designs established during the post-1923 expansion Parish: Non Civil Parish of the RAF, was one of the principal barracks buildings at this internationally renowned historic fighter base, complementing the Officers' Mess which lay across the main road that passes through the site. National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. Details Grade: II

Biggin Hill acquired a reputation as the most famous fighter station in the world, primarily through its Appendices associations with the Battle of Britain, the first time in history that a nation had retained its freedom and Date first listed: 01-Dec-2005 independence through air power. It was developed as a key fighter station in the inter-war period, playing a critical role in the development of the air defence system - based on radar - that played a critical role in the Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. Second World War. Of all the sites which became involved in The Battle of Britain, none have greater resonance in the popular imagination than those of the sector airfields within these Groups which bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe onslaught and, in Churchill's words, 'on whose organisation and combination the whole fighting power of our Air Force at this moment depended'. It was 11 Group, commanded by Air Vice Marshall Asset Groupings Keith Park from his underground headquarters at RAF Uxbridge, which occupied the front line in this battle, with its 'nerve centre' sector stations at Northolt, North Weald, Biggin Hill, Tangmere, Debden and Hornchurch taking some of the most sustained attacks of the battle, especially between 24 August and 6 This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official September when these airfields and later aircraft factories became the Luftwaffe's prime targets. record but are added later for information. For further details of the history of the site, see advice and description for Station Headquarters. List Entry Description Selected Sources

None. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1416723&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:10:13]

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1416723&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:10:13]

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 47 48 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1416723&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 download to complete. to download This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 04:09:42. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right TQ4119960816 1416723.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 16:10:13] Alan Baxter ListBuildings Entry 1 to 5 (Airmen’s Barrack Blocks)

List Entry List Entry Summary Asset Groupings

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official amended for its special architectural or historic interest. record but are added later for information.

Name: BUILDINGS 1 TO 5 (AIRMENS BARRACK BLOCKS)

List Entry Number: 1391589 List Entry Description

Location Summary of Building

BUILDINGS 1 TO 5 (AIRMENS BARRACK BLOCKS), A233 Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. History County: Greater London Authority District: Bromley Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. District Type: London Borough Parish: Details

National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. 785/0/10084 WEST CAMP, A233 (EAST SIDE) FORMER RAF 01-DEC-05 BIGGIN HILL Buildings 1 to 5 Grade: II (Airmen's barrack blo cks)

Date first listed: 01-Dec-2005 GV II Group of five airmen's barracks blocks. 1930, to Air Ministry Directorate of Works drawings 99-109/23. Appendices Red brickwork in stretcher and Flemish bond to cavity walls, slate roofs.

Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. PLAN: Two rows of gabled two-storey long frontage buildings with central pediment and entry, with a short T-arm central to the rear, at slightly lower eaves and ridge level, and to hipped outer end. Central lobby and staircase flanked by small rooms for NCO's, then dormitories for 64 airmen; the rear wing with ablutions and Legacy System Information services. Building 04 (Croydon) is larger, accommodating 80 airmen. EXTERIOR: Buildings were originally identical (except for 04); the most fully retained externally being The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Building 05 (Manston). Windows are generally wooden glazing-bar sashes set in slight reveals, with brick voussoir heads and concrete sub-sills. The long front has a 3-bay centre slightly stepped forward to an open Legacy System: LBS pediment. A central feature in painted concrete has a part-glazed panelled door with 5-pane overlight, on two steps, with pilasters to a simple architrave and cornice; above this a 12-pane sash in flat architrave surround UID: 495982 flared out and on a blocking-course below, and to a central keystone. To each side are 8-pane sashes at each level, in brick panels brought forward from the central panel, and the eaves/pediment mould broken to the centre. A small ventilation slit in the head of the gable. To each side are 4 bays of 12-pane sashes, grouped 1:2:1. Small brick stacks flank the centre unit. The gabled returns are also treated as open pediments with short returns of the eaves moulding, with a single 12-pane to each floor, and ventilation slit at the head of the gable. The rear has four 12-pane and one 8-pane to each floor, on either side of the wing which has two broad 4-pane and a narrow 8-pane on one side, a paired sash and a similar opening faced http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391589&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:13:07] with glass block to leave level, and an 8-pane above a blocked door to the other. The outer end has two

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391589&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:13:07]

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 49 50 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391589&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 41321 60862, TQ 41337 60895 TQ 41321 60862, Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected see for Station site, description Headquarters. the of history the of For details further aircraft targets. became and Luftwaffe's factories later the airfields prime these when September 24 between August battle, especially and most the 6 attacks sustained of the of Hornchurch taking some and Weald, Debden Hill, Biggin Tangmere, North Northolt, at sector stations centre' its with 'nerve line Park this Keith in front from battle, RAF at the underground which his Uxbridge, headquarters occupied Air Force this at our moment fighting power of depended'. It 11 Marshall was by Group, Air Vice commanded whole the and combination 'on organisation whose words, Churchill's in Luftwaffe and, the onslaught of brunt the which Groups within bore these sector airfields the of those imagination popular than resonance the in sites World War. the Second which Of became all involved The Battle in Britain, of none have greater air a role defence the the in that critical development played of based on - system role - the radar in critical period, playing a It developed air was power. as through independence inter-war a the in key station fighter that a history nation Battle in had first retained Britain, the time of with the its freedom associations and its world, through primarily the in as station a most fighter famous acquired the reputation Hill Biggin 1938. after 'H'-plan the introduction of the and variations until extensions minor Trenchard the Home during Defence years, and developed 1923, with in devised was format barracks This Tangmere part of an block, to of upper that loss however, period. of the floor is a retained; reminder poignant surprisingly well are buildings Battle Britain, the of in these especially attacks sustained base, on the many the of view In road. the in curve public the highway (A two following in set parallel rows, 233), the to adjacent and immediately site, domestic the end north of the located at are HISTORY: The buildings steel balustrades. simple with staircases leg Dog doors. panelled including INTERIORS: original joinery end. outer the sashes to 6-pane retains but ground floor. The service the wing to flank light has centre each a side, slit windows replacements blocked by is replaced a sash bay steel front ground to 1 casement, the floor return and at left steel on the the but sashes, Building has 04 5 returned ends 8-pane (Croydon) in centre, bays of each 3-bay with side (with louvres) brick. in door has plain rear above been the blocked casements, window the and to the sashes rebuilt jambs bays in in 8 11 and - upper bays 1 floor, 3 front - upper floor, rear. The service wing has has rear openings two and the fill. Building and blocked no block 1940, 02 glass (Kenley) has smaller plain in bombing aerial of Building VARIATIONS: centre, result 01 of the (Tangmere) left has to one storey only mould is carried round whole. the box A small eaves on louvres. a or bed- over-light sashes above one small and 4-pane a with flush door TQ 41269 60861, TQ 41288 60833, TQ 41307 60914, TQ 41307 60914, TQ 41288 60833, TQ 41269 60861, TQ [14/07/2015 16:13:07] http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391589&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391589&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry For further details of the history of the site, see for Station site, description Headquarters. the of history the of For details further aircraft targets. became and Luftwaffe's factories later the airfields prime these when September 24 between August battle, especially and most the 6 attacks sustained of the of Hornchurch taking some and Weald, Debden Hill, Biggin Tangmere, North Northolt, at sector stations centre' its with 'nerve line Park this Keith in front from battle, RAF at the underground which his Uxbridge, headquarters occupied Air Force this at our moment fighting power of depended'. It 11 Marshall was by Group, Air Vice commanded whole the and combination 'on organisation whose words, Churchill's in Luftwaffe and, the onslaught of brunt the which Groups within bore these sector airfields the of those imagination popular than resonance the in sites World War. the Second which Of became all involved The Battle in Britain, of none have greater air a role defence the the in that critical development played of based on - system role - the radar in critical period, playing a It developed air was power. as through independence inter-war a the in key station fighter that a history nation Battle in had first retained Britain, the time of with the its freedom associations and its world, through primarily the in as station a most fighter famous acquired the reputation Hill Biggin 1938. after 'H'-plan the introduction of the and variations until extensions minor Trenchard the Home during Defence years, and developed 1923, with in devised was format barracks This Tangmere part of an block, to of upper that loss however, period. of the floor is a retained; reminder poignant surprisingly well are buildings Battle Britain, the of in these especially attacks sustained base, on the many the of view In road. the in curve public the highway (A two following in set parallel rows, 233), the to adjacent and immediately site, domestic the end north of the located at are HISTORY: The buildings steel balustrades. simple with staircases leg Dog doors. panelled including INTERIORS: original joinery end. outer the sashes to 6-pane retains but ground floor. The service the wing to flank light has centre each a side, slit windows replacements blocked by is replaced a sash bay steel front ground to 1 casement, the floor return and at left steel on the the but sashes, Building has 04 5 returned ends 8-pane (Croydon) in centre, bays of each 3-bay with side (with louvres) brick. in door has plain rear above been the blocked casements, window the and to the sashes rebuilt jambs bays in in 8 11 and - upper bays 1 floor, 3 front - upper floor, rear. The service wing has has rear openings two and the fill. Building and blocked no block 1940, 02 glass (Kenley) has smaller plain in bombing aerial of Building VARIATIONS: centre, result 01 of the (Tangmere) left has to one storey only mould is carried round whole. the box A small eaves on louvres. a or bed- over-light sashes above one small and 4-pane a with flush door 41321 60862, TQ 41337 60895 TQ 41321 60862, Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 04:12:45. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This download to complete. to download map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right TQ 41269 60861, TQ 41288 60833, TQ 41307 60914, TQ 41307 60914, TQ 41288 60833, TQ 41269 60861, TQ 1391589.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 16:13:07] [14/07/2015 16:13:07] Alan Baxter List6, Entry 7 and 8 Vincent Square (Married Quarters)

List Entry List Entry Summary Asset Groupings

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official amended for its special architectural or historic interest. record but are added later for information.

Name: 9-12 VINCENT SQUARE AT FORMER RAF BIGGIN HILL

List Entry Number: 1391596 List Entry Description

Location Summary of Building

9-12 VINCENT SQUARE AT FORMER RAF BIGGIN HILL, A 233 Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. History County: Greater London Authority District: Bromley Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. District Type: London Borough Parish: Details

WESTERHAM National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. 771/0/10082 A 233 01-DEC-05 (West side) 9-12 Vincent Square at Former RAF Bigg in Hill Grade: II GV II Terrace of four houses, part of group of 26. Dated 1929, by the Air Ministry's Directorate of Worlds and Date first listed: 01-Dec-2005 Buildings. Painted brickwork, cavity walls, slate roofs, lead to bay windows. Appendices PLAN: A short straight terrace in two storeys, hipped roof to right and gable to the left. Each dwelling entered Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. to the right, with living, dining and kitchen ground floor, and three bedrooms; originally with four open fireplaces, two to each floor, on party wall to left. Terrace lies to W side of the Square near the N end.

EXTERIOR: Windows generally plain wooden sash, in half-brick reveals and to concrete sub-sills. At first Legacy System Information floor four windows, separated by narrow brick piers, and the outer lights narrower than the centre; below these a canted flat-roofed bay, with brick mullions, large central and smaller side-lights. To the right, on two The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. steps a flush panelled door with square glazed top panel, under a flat concrete hood with roll-mould edge, and on concrete brackets. Large ridge stacks, to the left of each house, and end stack to the left; the stacks Legacy System: LBS have deep stepped cappings.

UID: 495989 End returns are plain, and the back has a double sash with brick mullion to the first floor, above a large replacement casement, a door L and a small side light. Datestone with carved date '1929'. Simple eaves to three sides and clipped gable verge to left.

INTERIOR: Not inspected; the houses restored by a Housing Association as part of the renovation of the whole Square. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391596&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:16:30] HISTORY: This forms part of the best preserved group of married quarters, typically designed on Garden

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391596&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:16:30]

Alan Baxter St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 51 52 Appendices http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391596&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 download to complete. to download map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - Sources Selected quarters had been married purchased 1923-5. in new for the presenting a still group raids 26 but of planned as square an elongated around grassed a Land area. central 1940 the been demolished following houses having the six of 1929, dated They are site. historic aviation a RAF to nationally important the and of relate Expansion Period post-1934 the that predate City principles, http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1391596&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 04:16:07. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right TQ 41099 60946 TQ 1391596.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 16:16:30] [14/07/2015 16:16:30] Alan Baxter ListFormer Entry Officers’ Mess

List Entry List Entry Summary Asset Groupings

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official amended for its special architectural or historic interest. record but are added later for information.

Name: FORMER OFFICERS MESS, RAF BIGGIN HILL

List Entry Number: 1186840 List Entry Description

Location Summary of Building

FORMER OFFICERS MESS, RAF BIGGIN HILL, MAIN ROAD Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. History County: Greater London Authority District: Bromley Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. District Type: London Borough Parish: Details

The following building shall be added: National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. WESTERHAM MAIN ROAD TQ 46 SW (west side) 785-/12/10003 former officers' mess, RAF Biggin Hill Grade: II II Date first listed: 21-Mar-1994 Appendices Officers' mess, circa 1935, possibly designed by S Bullock FRIBA who designed several Air Ministry buildings, including a smaller but comparable mess dated 1934. Neo-Baroque style. Built of red brick with Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. stone dressings and hipped slate roof with brick chimneystacks. Comprises a three-storey centre block with two-storey end blocks. Central block has projecting central three bays with sash windows, band below second floor and stone semi-circular entrance porch with Tuscan columns and stone balustrading. Flanking parts of 5 bays each with mainly glazing bar sashes and pedimented projection with oculus through ground Legacy System Information and first floor attached to ground floor flat-roofed portion attached to projecting two-storey wings. Rear elevation has projecting three-storey, nine-bay central section with band below second floor, 12-pane The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. sashes and central first floor round-headed staircase window over pilastered doorcase. Two storey 5 bay wings on either side. Large flat-roofed later C20 extension on right hand side. Interior has central well Legacy System: LBS staircase with turned balusters, some round-headed alcoves, oak panelling and 6-panelled doors. One of the largest and most elaborate RAF officers' messes, and the building with most architectural merit at RAF UID: 358671 Biggin Hill, the most famous of the Battle of Britain airfields. Listing NGR: TQ4098660614

ListSelected Entry Sources http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1186840&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:20:12] Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1186840&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:20:12] Map

National Grid Reference: TQ 40986 60614

The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale Alan Baxter map, please see the attached PDF - 1186840.pdf St George’s Memorial- Please Chapel,be aware Biggin that Hill it may Statement take a of few Significance minutes for/ July the 2015 53 download to complete.

© Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 04:19:52.

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1186840&showMap=1&showText=1[14/07/2015 16:20:12] 54 Appendices St George’s Memorial Chapel, Biggin Hill Statement of Significance / July 2015 http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle_print.aspx?uid=1186840&showMap=1&showText=1 List Entry This copy shows the entry on 14-Jul-2015 at 04:19:52. at entry on 14-Jul-2015 copy the shows This download to complete. to download map, please see the attached PDF attached see - the map, please be scale. to For not reference purposes is for and quick may The below only scale a full map copy the of Reference: National Grid Map List be Details the Entry included in may information This Legacy Record - © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. number and reserved. SeaZone © Licence All Crown British rights Solutions Limited 2015. © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Survey reserved. Licence Ordnance All rights 2015. and Copyright database © Crown right TQ 40986 60614 TQ 1186840.pdf 100024900. - Please - be a aware that it for take the few may minutes [14/07/2015 16:20:12] Alan Baxter

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Prepared by Alfie Stroud and Kit Wedd Reviewed by Vicky Simon Draft issued June 2015 Final issued July 2015

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