RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

4. 4.41 4.
41 Bath Bath Bath House House 1460/18 1460/18 (Fire Fire Store Store and and Office Office) Office (123)
Construction is the same as for the men’s dormitories described below but with similar internal
arrangement to drawing number 1460/18 for bath, ablutions, washing and drying rooms. It was
built to the designs of Lieutenant JGN Clifts, Royal Engineers of the Air Ministry, Works and
Bricks Department. It is adjacent to building 121 between Eagle Road and the barrack square.
The building is divided into a two main areas consisting of shower cubicles in one half and
individual bath cubicles in the other. The boiler room chimney stack and water tower have been
removed. The original top-light window sashes are still in-situ as are the louvered air-vents
above the doors.
� NGR: SU 5601 0116 (123)
4. 4.42 4.
Men’s Men’s Dormitory Dormitory Dormitory Blocks Blocks (124 (124-126) (124
126)
Thought to be constructed of cement rendered 4.5in brick with 24ft span steel roof trusses
spaced at 10ft centres. These were built to the designs of Lieutenant JGN Clifts, Royal
Engineers of the Air Ministry Works and Bricks Department. Other examples were built in 1918
with concrete slabs at Calshot to drawing No. 1357/18.
Building 125 was extended c.1944 with three bays of 24ft span Air Ministry Standard hutting.
They are located between buildings 97 and 137.
The exact construction of these huts has not yet been established - further research is required.
Those at Lee comprise the following:-
� Men’s dormitory (RC Church) NGR: SU 5597 0120 (124)
� Men’s dormitory (CE Church) NGR: SU 5599 0119 (125)
� Men’s dormitory (Church of Scotland) NGR: SU 5601 0119 (126)
4. 4.43 4.
Institute Institute 2200/34 2200/34 AL AL 127/44 127/44 (Eagle Eagle Club Club) Club (128) (128)
The plan-form of building 128 is typical of an early two-storey RAF institute and the later
combined dining room and institute designs of the RAF Expansion Period. The architectural
treatment of the front elevation is similar to the type ‘E’ barrack blocks. In its original form it was
designed to accommodate a maximum of 350 airmen, 60 Corporals and 30 civilians. It is located
close to the main entrance and facing onto Eagle Road.
The internal arrangement is as follows: there are two projecting entrance halls with stairs to the
floor above and a lavatory. The main room on the ground floor is a 56ft long supper room but at
one end is a folding partition and when open for special functions, it provided an additional 12ft of
space while a stage is located at the opposite end. Another two restaurants are provided, one
for corporals and a smaller version for civilians. The servey, kitchens, scullery and food stores
are positioned behind the supper room.
The first floor has a barber’s shop and a large airmen’s games room with another for Corporals
as well as a reading and writing room. Also at this level but separated from the main block, is the
staff quarters. This section has its own hipped-shaped roof.
In 1935, when the building was new, the most distinctive feature was the two projecting
entrances, each capped with a hipped-shaped roof that cut the main roof. After 1944 however, a
flat roofed two-storey extension to the building was constructed in the gap between the projecting
entrances. The window line at first floor level was retained, but the treatment to the brickwork
was changed to that of cement rendering. In more recent times, the ground floor window line has
been further altered and a new entrance lobby built. These changes to the front elevation have
rather spoilt the visual impact of this building.
� NGR: SU 5603 0113 (128)
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