Description

DUXFORD

1767/0/10041 SOUTH CAMP, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM (FORME
01-DEC-05 R RAF DUXFORD)
Building 62 (Guardhouse)

GV II
Guardhouse with cells, fire-party and fire-tender house. 1932, west wing and part of north elevation extended 1936. By the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings. Drawing Nos 12266/32 and 448/36. Stretcher bond brickwork, slate roof.

PLAN: A complex of small single-storey linked units; the guardroom block to the front has an open verandah covered by a flat roof, the remainder are hipped roofs. The guardroom, orderly room, detention and NCO's rooms to the front are linked to the L-shaped rear unit with the fire tender garage and fire-party accommodation.

EXTERIOR: Windows are generally 12-pane wooden sash to brick voussoir heads and stooled concrete sills. The entrance front has 5 wide-spaced brick piers, with chamfered corners, on high painted brick bases and plinths, with square cappings bearing a tripartite wooden fascia, all set to a concrete terrace, behind which the main wall has 2 doors, towards the left, one with overlight, two 12-pane, one paired 12-pane sashes and a large composite 3-light with transom to bay 3. The short L-plan return to the left has three 12-pane, and the right return close-grilled light set high. A set-back inks to the 3-bay fire-tender house, which has a small door and a large pair of main doors to the E. To its right, set back, is an arched opening to a deep-set door, then three 12-pane sashes. There are two stacks with brick cappings, and the whole building has a deep soffit with plain fascia and gutter.

INTERIOR: retains original joinery and doors, including cell doors.

HISTORY: Duxford is the finest and best-preserved example of a fighter base representative of the period up to 1945 in Britain, with a uniquely complete group of First World War technical buildings in addition to technical and domestic buildings typical of both inter-war Expansion Periods of the RAF. It also has important associations with the Battle of Britain and the American fighter support for the Eighth Air Force. See descriptions of the aircraft hangars for further historical details.

This building stands opposite the Station Offices (Building 61) at the main entrance to the base, and comprises an unusually complete and little-altered example of a typical guardhouse characteristic of the first phase of the inter-war expansion of the RAF, that commenced from 1923 under the leadership of Sir Hugh Trenchard., with original materials and detailing; the verandah formation comprises an ingenious version of a classical peristyle. The pale yellow brick was also used in the contemporary Station Offices (Building 62, qv) immediately opposite. See descriptions of the aircraft hangars for further historical details.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26670966

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
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  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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