RAF Bentley Priory March-April 2008

Phantex · Apr 2, 2010

RAF Bentley Priory officially closed on 30th May 2008. These photographs were taken march-April of that year, as the RAF started to leave; I am not sure what has happened to the non- Sir John Soane's buildings but as developers are to build flats on the site, I don't think all of them will survive. Some may have gone already.

Inside the Checkpoint

The Guardroom

The Entrance Hall to the Sir John Soane's part of the buildings.

The Stair Hall

The roof of the Stair Hall

The Adelaide Room

The Rotunda

The Anteroom

The Abercorn Room

The Downstairs Bar

Dowding's Room

Above the Rotunda

Estates Management Flight building

MT Section

MT Section Crew Room

Pics of the Cold War Bunker to follow seperately, along with anything I missed out here that needs an airing!

the_historian · Apr 3, 2010

Absolutely brilliant. WW2 history at it's best!

You can just visualise "Stuffy" Dowding prowling those corridors...

stevejd · Apr 4, 2010

what a place, a place of legends. What has happened to the place since the RAFs departure, it would be a shame to see that end up as a chav spray sketchpad

Foxylady · Apr 6, 2010

Wow, what an incredible place. The interior of the main building is amazing. I once went for a job interview at Dartmouth RN Officers Training College, and was given a tour around. Like RAF Bentley, it's main building is a stately home which has been upkept. I thought it was pretty much a one-off, but I'm wondering now how many more stately homes have been utilized like this.
Fantastic report.

smileysal · Apr 6, 2010

Oh my! I though i loved seeing the bunker, but the main house building is something else. I'm so glad the RAF kept the building in this condition, the inside is beautiful. Everything kept in a perfect state from the looks of the photos. CHeers for showing us the inside of both the bunker buildings and these.

excellent work mate, i love this building especially.

Sal

Phantex · Apr 7, 2010

The Bentley Priory Trust, tasked with what happens to the building now, are passionate about what they do. It's good to know that the main building will continue to be preserved in the manner befitting somewhere of this importance to RAF history.