Photos from 1989 show what was left of the buildings on the Ridgewell base. Click on any photo to see a larger view.
The following are photos taken around Ridgewell as it existed in the late 80’s. Photos and descriptions are by Hugh Fiske.
This first batch is of a group of two buildings some distance from the actual airfield – if you have a copy of “Airfields of the Eighth, Then and Now” by Roger Freeman, the site is almost off the bottom of the map on p. 199, the opposite side of the lane from the property called “Meadowend”. Click here for a larger map of Ridgewell. The building was, I think, the base cinema; it certainly has openings in the end wall for the projector, and one of the pictures shows the interior of the projector room. I am sure I read somewhere that the building doubled as the base hospital, but it is hard to see how they could use it for both. My guess is that they were located near Site 14 on the map.
This second batch is of the other building mentioned, it’s original use is not clear. It has very high ceilings, and also in one room a very strong looking platform attached high on one wall, with a support running down from the ceiling. This can be seen, although not very clearly, in the picture containing the cart.
Another 2 taken at the same location as the previous ones – one is another (rather blurred) view of the shelf I mentioned – could it have held a water cistern? The other is hard to make out but is in fact a very overgrown blast shelter, situated adjacent to the two buildings.
This set comprises two of the site of the control tower, now just an overgrown rubbish tip. The second one also gives quite a nice view across the southern side of the airfield – the farm buildings in the background are in the 534th BS area.
This set of two shows a very decrepit Nissen hut in the 532 BS area, between the northern hangar (visible in the background) and Ashen village.
These are two shots of the northern hangar before it was demolished.. I couldn’t get any closer in because of the fence, and the next time I went the whole thing had gone…
The last two shots are the most poignant.. I managed to get in through the wire to capture these shots of the southern hangar on a Sunday morning – I had driven round and found demolition work in progress (although it had halted for the weekend) and fortunately had my camera with me. I went back a few days later and found demolition work on both hangars complete. It was an upsetting experience as I had become absorbed in the history of the 381st and was reading anything I could find on the subject. We moved away after these pictures were taken in the late 1980’s; the next time I am passing I will see if anything is left to photograph.
