RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

4.5 4.59 4.5
Instructional Cinema (220)
The Instructional cinema had actually been demolished at the time of the 1996 survey but the
exterior was recorded in 1994 and so I have included it here.
It consisted of a Romney shed of standard length with a brick-built two-storey height projection
room. It was located on the eastern side of the Vernon Block complex of East Camp. Built
c.1943, it was a 12-bay arched shape shed with an internal span of 35ft and a length of 96ft and
constructed of a series of 2.5 inch diameter tubular steel ribs, lined on the inside and clad with
corrugated iron on the exterior. At the rear was a link-detached 16ft span changing room annexe.
Two small brick emergency exits were located along both side walls.
� NGR: SU 5655 0129
4. 4.60 4.
60 Drill Drill Shed Shed (221 221 221) 221
The Drill shed is a long narrow single-storey steel-framed building used for the indoor practice of
marching drill. Normally the front elevations of drill sheds are without walls, only having exposed
stanchions but this one is fully enclosed with corrugated sheeting.
� NGR: SU 5660 0127 (221)
4. 4.61 4.
61 61 Kingsland Kingsland Kingsland Kingsland House House House House Stables (Ground Ground Staff Staff Office Office & & & Store Store) Store (273)
Kingland House stables is a part of the curtilage of Kingsland House and is a two-storey brickbuilt
stable or garage block. Other details unknown.
� NGR: SU 5627 0147 (273)
4. 4.62 4.
62 Nissen Nissen Huts Huts (Ground Ground Staff Staff Stores Stores) Stores (274 & & 275) 275)
The Nissen hut was invented in 1915 by American-born, Major Peter Nissen. His earliest
buildings were known as the Nissen bow and Nissen hospital huts and were used on the Western
Front from 1916. Colonel (as he became) Nissen set up a company - Nissen Buildings Ltd.- with
a factory set up in 1922 at Hoddesdon, Herts.
From 1941, the Air Ministry purchased Nissen huts in bulk from the manufacturers for erection on
aerodromes. They were used as the main alternative to temporary brick construction and soon
became one of the standard forms of temporary buildings for all types of accommodation.
All Nissen huts were semi-circular in section and could be built to any desired length in multiplies
of six feet bays. The frame consisted of steel “Tee” ribs in three sections, spaced at six feet
centres. Internal sheeting - where required - was in the form of corrugated iron lining sheets,
with horizontal corrugations and held in place by the ribs and stiffened by straining wires.
External sheeting with vertical corrugations were attached to timber purlins fixed to the ribs. End
walls could either be prefabricated timber framed window and door units, or brick construction.
Nissen huts were available in three spans: 16ft, 24ft and 30ft. Construction was the same for all
three except the two larger spans could have any number of prefabricated window and door
cheeks, along the side elevations.
The two huts at Lee-on-Solent are examples of the 16ft span hut, they are located just off Albion
Road.
� Nissen Hut NGR: SU 5626 0149 (274)
� Nissen Hut NGR: SU 5626 0150 (275)
76