RAF Bentley Priory (14 September 2008)
RAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying RAF station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow. It was famous as the headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and WW2. Originally built in 1766, Bentley Priory was significantly extended in 1788, by Sir John Soane, for the First Marquis of Abercorn. The priory was the final home of the Dowager Queen Adelaide, queen consort of William IV, before her death there in 1849. It subsequently served as a hotel and girls' school before being acquired by the Royal Air Force in 1926.
Given its strategic importance, the Priory itself surprisingly suffered very little damage from enemy action during the war; two small bombs destroyed a wooden hut near the married quarters, a blast from a flying bomb broke a few windows, and the windows in the Officers' Mess were shattered by the blast of a V2 rocket. Ironically, it was an aircraft of Bomber Command that came closest to destroying the Priory. A Wellington bomber of No 311 (Czech) Sqn returning to its base attempted to land on the lawns in front of the Priory. It narrowly missed the Priory and crashed outside the Sergeants' Mess.
The Royal Air Force station role ceased on 30 May 2008 following the relocation of units to their new accommodation at RAF Northolt. The site has been handed over to Defence Estates, who in turn will pass it to the prime plus contractor for Project MoDEL, VSM Estates, a company formed by developers Vinci and St Modwen who are responsible for developing proposals and the subsequent the disposal of the site to developers who will realise the scheme. Under Supplementary planning guidance agreed in 2007 by London Borough of Harrow the site will include a museum open to the public in the main rooms of the house, recording and interpreting the history of the site and in particular the Battle of Britain and Cold War heritage.
Maxwell and I visited RAF Bentley Priory on 14 September 2008, as part of the Open Days organised by Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust, Harrow Civic Trust and English Heritage. The Operations Room with its famous gallery and plotting table was relocated from the building to a nearby underground bunker, but sadly no longer exists. Nevertheless, Bentley Priory is a truly historic building and deserves a visit.
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| Entrance from A4140 | ||
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| Hurricane gate guardian | Spitfire gate guardian | |
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| Still from Battle of Britain film | Present day | |
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| Still of the Italian Garden from final scene of the Battle of Britain film | ||
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| Present day view from upper floor towards the Italian Garden, Harrow & Greater London | Fountain in Italian Garden, present day | |
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| Stained glass windows commemorating Fighter Command and the Battle of Britain. | ||
Last edited 14/09/2008 22:36