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It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

HER Number:TQ 85 NW 130
Type of record:Monument
Name:Detling military airfield

Summary

Detling airfield originated as an air defence landing ground in 1915 and was particularly active during the German bomber offensive in the spring of 1918. It was abandoned in December 1919 and became farmland. The site returned to use as a military airfield during the great Expansion Period in the later 1930s against the emerging German threat. The airfield was raided during the Battle of Britain in 1940 when its buildings received considerable damage. The airfield continued in use throughout the Second World War and, with other sites, had a part to play in anti-DIVER patrols during the V1 offensive in 1944. From 1946-55/6 the airfield was mainly used for glider training. The site was derequisitioned in 1959.


Grid Reference:TQ 81239 59493
Map Sheet:TQ85NW
Parish:DETLING, MAIDSTONE, KENT
THURNHAM, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Monument Types

  • MILITARY AIRFIELD (Modern - 1915 AD to 1956 AD)

Full description

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The site is on the west side of the A249. It originated as an air defence landing ground in 1915, temporary canvas hangars and tented accommodation being provided. The airfield was particularly active during the German bomber offensive in the spring of 1918. It was abandoned in December 1919 and became farmland.

The site returned to use as a military airfield during the great Expansion Period in the later 1930s against the emerging German threat. It gained a prepared grass runway and the standard form of technical and domestic site at the north end of the airfield adjacent to Binbury Manor. The airfield was provided with perimeter defences against the threat of a paratroop attack as part of an invasion as well as anti-aircraft guns. The airfield was raided during the Battle of Britain in 1940 when its buildings received considerable damage, resulting in the demolition of many of the brick structures which originally formed the technical and domestic part of the site and their replacement with temporary huts. The hangars were variously on the south side of the technical site and to the NE of the latter, near which was the Direction Finding element of the site. Around the western perimeter were bomb stores connected by a concrete way. There were also dispersed sites for aircraft on the east side of the A249. A dispersed accommodation site was formed around the vicarage in Detling village.

The airfield continued in use throughout the Second World War and, with other sites, had a part to play in anti-DIVER patrols during the V1 offensive in 1944. From 1946-55/6 the airfield was mainly used for glider training. The site was derequisitioned in 1959 and the Kent County Council purchased its southern part to establish the County Agricultural Ground (now the Kent Show ground). The centre of the airfield became pastureland but gained an Airways VOR/DME transmitter, while the northern part of the airfield centred on the technical and domestic area was incorporated into an industrial estate.

The airfield consists of the grassed landing area west of the A249 with perimeter pillboxes and the residue of the technical and domestic area at the north end of the site.

The southern part of the airfield remains largely an open area of fields with some buildings added for the use of the Kent Show Ground. The south central area is largely intact minus some of its features such as the bomb stores. Most change at the airfield has been through the use of the technical and domestic part of the site as an industrial estate.

Around the perimeter are at least 5 large hexagonal pillboxes. These have conventional infantry loopholes in their sides and a central pit with a vertically set pipe intended for the mounting of an anti-aircraft machine gun. The pillboxes are of concrete construction, with brick faces to the internal roofed corridor which runs round the gun pit to which it gives access. The loopholes are externally stepped and internally splayed, with a steel frame in their throats fitted with an upper and lower pivot for a machine gun, a slotted lower sill and a lunette shaped brick base with concrete capping under.

There are said to be three Pickett-Hamilton retractable pillboxes within the area in the lowered position with their tops flush with the ground.

Airfield defences on and close to Binbury Castle are described in the report on that site. (1)


<1> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<2> Air Ministry., 1945?, Detling Record Site plan: airfield site and dispersed sites (Map). SKE32060.

<3> Nicola Bannister, 2009, Whitehorse Wood Country Park Nr Thurnham, Kent. Historic Environment Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE16394.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage.
<2>Map: Air Ministry.. 1945?. Detling Record Site plan: airfield site and dispersed sites.
<3>Unpublished document: Nicola Bannister. 2009. Whitehorse Wood Country Park Nr Thurnham, Kent. Historic Environment Assessment.

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