heritage project
The story so far.....
2010
Geoff Burton - the Founder organised an Exhibition about RAF Ingham Airfield at Fillingham Village Hall.
From these beginnings a group of local people formed RAF Ingham Heritage Group.
2011
Work commenced on site – with over 40 self-seeded trees and 70 years of nature being cleared from around the buildings.
2012
A 25-year lease for the buildings and land was secured.
A new access road and car park were created thanks to 12 (Air Support) Group, Royal Engineers.
We held our first 2-day Exhibition at Ingham Village Hall, which attracted 400 visitors that weekend.
2013
Renovations continued with the creation of a network of new concrete pathways and the planting of hawthorn and blackthorn hedging around the Site.
2014
Parts of an original Nissen Hut from Polish Families Resettlement Camp on the former No.9 Site on Stow Lane were salvaged and reconstructed on-site, to create an example of a Polish Families Resettlement Hut.
2015
Our major utilities project was undertaken. Works included a water treatment system, electrical cables, the mains water supply and further service ducting onto the site.
2016
The first half of the year saw the design, creation and opening of the new Memorial, Memorial Gardens and the Airmen Silhouettes. Remembering those personnel who served at RAF Ingham and those of the Polish Bomber Squadrons.
2017
Work commenced on the internal walls of the Nissen Hut, and the creation of a late 1940s Nissen Hut garden, with a combination of a vegetable patch and flower beds.
December saw the arrival of the iconic RAF Swinderby Hangar Doors.
2018
Further groundworks and landscaping took place, with the aim of creating a continuous same-level concrete path around the entire Site, providing full access to those with reduced mobility.
2019
This was a year of changes and challenges. We welcomed some very special veterans and descendants; and said goodbye to some of the long-standing volunteers.
We also witnessed some major infrastructure changes on Site.
2020
Despite COVID dramatically changing life in Britain and the way we did business, both on and off-site, we adapted and modified our infrastructure schedule to maximise our opportunities through the autumn and up to the end of the year, whilst still adhering to distancing and safety protocols.
2021
Thanks to some incredible grant funding from
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we were able to procure a new roof, 40+ new Crittall windows; and four new external doors for the MEC.
This was a truly a game-changing moment for our restoration project.
We were then against the clock to demolish the old roofs of both wings through the winter.
2022
The biggest significant changes to the building had taken place, since it was built in 1941.
Starting with the construction of the new Entrance Porch and Cinema; followed by the installation of lighting and power. Internal walls were painted, and external walls were rendered.
And finally, the Installation of our new roof, windows and doors.
2023
Tempo on-Site again ratcheted-up several notches, with multiple works projects underway, including: - Cinema fitting-out; constructing Reception Office; rendering; painting; installing drainage systems; building pathways; the installation of the Underfloor Heating system; moving cabins and clearing and levelling the area to the front the Centre, to create the new Remembrance Garden.
2024
The final big push to complete all outstanding works by the beginning of April.
And finally, the installation of our incredible Exhibition.
PROJECT UPDATES
The Focus of Our Efforts
RAF Swinderby Hangar Doors
The project to preserve and display the centre pieces of the two iconic Hangar Doors from No.2 Hangar at RAF Swinderby is well underway.
The doors were dismantled and are now inside the Centre, awaiting restoration work and reassembly.
Restoration of AEC Airfield Refueller
The AEC 6x6 O854 airfield refueller is now located in our Workshops.
The Renovation Project will be undertaken by a dedicated team of volunteers and will be starting in the autumn, with the intention of bringing the Matador back to full working order.
The Project is expected to last 3-4 years.
Remembrance Garden
A new Remembrance Garden is being created on a piece of land in front of the main Centre.
A flagpole has already been installed, which will fly the RAF & PAF ensigns.
The Garden itself will be designed to represent the Polish Chequerboard, with a variety of red and white roses and flowers filling each quadrant. Once completed, the Garden will have a path around its complete perimeter, of which 75% has already been completed. The area around the inside of the pathways will eventually be filled with engraved plaques, remembering personnel of both RAF and PAF.