RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

4. 4.5 4.
Control Tower AL 15/42 & 566/42 & AL 10 10-11/50 10
11/50 (16)
(16)
Designed in 1942 by MC Broad of the Civil Engineer in Chief’s Department of the Admiralty, the
control tower at Lee-on-Solent was far superior to contemporary RAF watch office designs. The
original idea was to a have single multifunctional two-storey building with a ground floor
containing airfield services such as ambulance and crash tender garages and duty crew room.
The first floor was made up of office accommodation for the meteorological officer and
Commander Flying, a further two floors were provided in the form of a central tower for the
offices of air traffic control. In this form the elevations resemble the demolished RAF watch office
with tower, suggesting perhaps that the architect was influenced by the earlier building.
After 1943, the structure at second floor level was redesigned to include a larger ATC office.
This was achieved by building above the roof space so that the second floor was now the same
width as the floors below. The air watch office above remained in its original form. Another
extension took place in 1950-1, against a side elevation, designed to include a large single-storey
meteorological office.
Unfortunately in recent times, balconies have been removed and the complete structure has
been clad in ribbed plastic sheeting. The visual character of the building has now been lost.
� NGR: SU 5575 0154 (16)
4. 4.6 4.
Whytecro Whytecroft Whytecro Whytecroft
ft ft House House House House Staff Quarters (NHTU) and and Annexe Annexe (22)
This is a large detached house requisitioned in c.1917 as a staff quarters block. It faces onto
Marine Parade West. In more recent times it has been used by staff of the Naval Hovercraft
Trials Unit and is currently being used by the Coast Guard.
� NGR: SU 5571 0124 (22)
4. 4.7 4.
Admiralty Admiralty Type Type ‘J’ ‘J’ ‘J’ Aeroplane Aeroplane Aeroplane Sheds Sheds (31,35 & & 37)
Located at the head of the main slipway that faces onto Marine Parade West are three coupled
end-opening sheds, each half having a span of 48ft and built with lattice stanchions spaced at
12ft. centres (five bays) supporting steel trusses. Steelwork supplied by the Frodingham Iron and
Steel Co. Ltd. Cladding was originally of ribbed asbestos sheeting.
Type ‘J’ seaplane sheds are thought to be unique to Lee-on-Solent as Lee was the only seaplane
station (apart from Calshot) which was still under development by the Admiralty in 1918. By the
time the sheds were brought to the site, the RAF had formed and at that point there was no
longer any requirement for small seaplane sheds.
� Admiralty Type ‘J’ seaplane shed (NHTU hangar) NGR: SU 5575 0121 (31)
� Admiralty Type ‘J’ seaplane shed (MT hangar) NGR: SU 5581 0114 (35)
� Admiralty Type ‘J’ seaplane shed (MT hangar) NGR: SU 5585 0113 (37)
34