Wild and Windy in Wing

On Sunday 15th November, 2015 our Community Archaeologist headed West to the limits of our project area to train interested volunteers in the skills of Archaeological Building Recording and the Archaeology of Airfields.

The morning was spent learning how to conduct a building survey, followed by an afternoon session where our participants got to test their new recording skills and explore airfield buildings nearby.

Our intrepid archaeologists braved gusts of wind of up to 40mph, and heaps of pig manure, to put their new skills to the test; recording the Gymnasium building and airfields Main Stores and Workshop buildings at Wing airfield, Buckinghamshire. The buildings were measured and photographed and information including their OS coordinates, construction materials and current state of repair were all noted.

The volunteers were then given the opportunity to discuss their findings and ask any questions they might have about filling in the forms,  or how this information is then transferred to the public-access County Council Historic Environment Record.

Volunteers from the Wing Heritage Group, Cheddington History Society and Berkhamsted and District Archaeological Society are now hoping to record the 8th USAAF airfields of Cheddington & Bovingdon airfields in Hertfordshire and the RAF airfield at Wing, Buckinghamshire in the hope that we will be able to get a better idea of what buildings survive and their current condition.

A huge thank you to our hosts at the Cublington Cricket Club and the landowners of the airfield structures as we couldn’t have delivered the events without the invaluable assistance of these people.

Here’s what some of our volunteers enjoyed about the day:

The lovely smell of pig manure but mainly the very interesting subject matter”

Practical elements of the exercise and enthusiasm of attendees”

The opportunity to enhance my building recording skills in a practical setting”

Getting outside and having a go”

Learning a little more about WW2 military architecture”

Camaraderie and Martins engaging personality”

And here’s a few pics

And if you would like to come to a future training day, or host one of these great sessions at your museum,  please email [email protected] 

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