Post on 01-May-2023
Watching Brief at the Stop Butts, MOD
Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire
5-7 May 2015
For
Boscombe Down Conservation Group
BDCG 2015-5-1
July 2015
Bob Clarke
2 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Summary
A watching brief was carried out during the groundwork for the installation of a new electricity cable
at the Stop Butts, MoD Boscombe Down. The area has a complex history especially in the latter
phases of the Second World War and immediate few years afterwards. The cable trench skirted the
edge of a number of structures dating to that period, specifically two purpose-built gun testing
facilities and a Blister Hangar. In this instance no archaeological features were noted, however a
record was made of the structures in the immediate area.
3 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Contents
Summary
List of Illustrations
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Site Location
National Grid Reference
Geology
Environs
Methodology
Aims and Objectives
Archive
Results
Image Locations
The Stop Butts Structures
Blister Hangar Building 269
Firing Point Buildings 309 & 310
Stop Butts Rounds Pits
Discussion
Finds
Discussion & Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendix A: Additional images of B269
Appendix B: Additional images of B309 internal layout
Appendix C: MoD Blister plan (extract from Technical Bulletin 02/02 2002).
4 BDCG 2015 -5-1
List of Illustrations
Figure 1. Site location and section codes. Excavation indicated by the blue line. Produced with the
permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc.
Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.
Figure 2. Location of sections noted in results. Produced with the permission of The Controller of Her
Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc. Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence
number 100042019.
Figure 3. Locations and directions of images generated during watching brief. Produced with the
permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc.
Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.
Figure 4. Trench A-A View looking east. (Image IMG_0005 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).
Figure 5. Trench B-B View looking south/west. (Image IMG_0007 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).
Figure 6. Trench C-C View looking north/east. (Image IMG_0010 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).
Figure 7. Trench D-D View looking south/east. (Image IMG_0011 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).
Figure 8. Stop Butts c.1971 Building 269, B309 & B310 are to the top left of the image (inside red
box). The single span Blister (lower centre of image) has since been removed (10aNcs-F ©Ministry of
Defence).
Figure 9. Double vertical support at the point where two structures are adjoined. Note only surface
corrosion is evident. The horizontal bearers are supported on a brick plinth. Image IMG_9989
created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 10. Rails cut into the floor of B269. (IMG_0076 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 11. Rail detail cut into floor of B269. (IMG_ created 6 May ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 12. State of internal finish of B269. (IMG_9992 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 13. External condition of B269. (IMG_0067 created 6 May ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 14. Building 310 showing the front elevation. Note poor state of rendering around doors and
windows. (IMG_0054 created 6 May 2015©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 15. Building 309 showing the front elevation. Note porch, ramp and vegetation
encroachment. (IMG_0052 created 6 May 2015©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 16. Hinge point for heavy door. Now painted but showed no sign of wear. (IMG_0023 created
6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 17. The Stop Butts complex c.1944. The rounds pits and B309 & 310 are at the centre left of
the image. (©Ministry of Defence)
5 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 18. The Stop Butts rounds pits in 2015. Note the whole complex is substantially overgrown.
(IMG_0059 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 19. South-western rounds pit. Note behind the growth is the actual round pit. The structure is
timber covered to slow the ricochets from rounds missing the pits. (IMG_0060 created 06 May 2015
©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 20. Detail showing the state of the brickwork on the north-west facing wall of the rounds pit.
(IMG_8176 created 06 July 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Appendix Figures
Figure A1. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support Units. (IMG_9986 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ
plc)
Figure A2. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support Unit single detail, scale 1 m. (IMG_9982 created 6
May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B1. Double doors and holdfasts in B309. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0025 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ
plc)
Figure B2. Rear doors and elevation in B309. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0025 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ
plc)
Figure B3. Holdfast arrangement in B309. Extant red circles, removed yellow stars. Scale 1 m.
(IMG_0019 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B4. Workbench in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on the
left of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0033 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B5. Sink and trestle in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on
the right of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0037 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B6. Small porch on front elevation of B309. (IMG_0045 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B7. Small porch on front elevation of B309. (IMG_0046 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
6 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Introduction
A watching brief was carried out during the groundwork for the installation of a new electricity cable
at the Stop Butts, MoD Boscombe Down. The area has a complex history especially in the latter
phases of the Second World War and immediate few years afterwards. The cable trench skirted the
edge of a number of structures dating to that period, specifically two purpose-built gun testing
facilities (Buildings 309 & 310) and a Blister Hangar (Building 269). A photographic assessment of the
area failed to produce any recognisable archaeological features. It is however, Boscombe Down
Conservation’s intention to monitor all ground works on site, irrespective of potential. In this
instance no archaeological features were noted, however a record was made of the structures in the
immediate area.
The watching brief was carried out on 5-7 May 2015, by Bob Clarke.
Acknowledgements
Thanks go to the Facilities Management Team at Boscombe Down for their continued help and co-
operation in this and other works. Kevin Turner for access to the site during the groundwork phase
and some interesting insights into the history of the site. And Emma Elton for reading the report. Site
plan derived from Ordnance Survey Landline digital data produced with the permission of The
Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc., Farnborough,
Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.
Report prepared by Bob Clarke rclarke1@qinetiq.com
Boscombe Conservation Archaeologist, Building 45, MoD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JF.
7 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Site Location
The Stop Butts are located in the western sector of the MoD airfield, Boscombe Down. The current
work originated at a small electricity plinth on the eastern side of a small access road. It then crossed
the road via an extant subterranean ducting channel, before running up the side of Building 269 and
then on to a transformer.
National Grid Reference
A-A. SU 17448/39675 – 17408/39679
B-B. SU 17407/39661 – 17395/39650
C-C. SU 17395/39650 – 17373/39647
D-D.SU 17373/39647 – 17348/39667
Figure 1. Site location and section codes. Excavation indicated by the blue line. Produced with the
permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc.
Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.
A-A
B-B
C-C
D-D
8 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Geology
The underlying geology of the area comprises Upper Chalk of the Cretaceous Period (Geological
Survey of Great Britain, 1:50,000 Solid and Drift Series, Sheet number 298).
Environs
The proposed development is in an area of low archaeological potential. The area in which the Stop
Butts stand has seen substantial modification since 1940. Many of the operations and buildings in
this area are the subject of classified marking and subsequently will not appear in this work.
However three structures, now redundant, can be reported here. Immediately to the east is COB
West, part of the 1979-1981 airfield upgrade (Clarke 2014; Clarke 2015). A list of archaeological sites
in the immediate area is noted below.
Site Type Protection NGR HER Ref. Reference
Undated
Ditch
SU 1751
3982
MWI10594 -
SU13NE682
Clarke, B., 1999. Interim Report on New Fire
Station Site at the Establishment of DERA
Boscombe Down, Publisher: Defence Evaluation
and Research Agency, Wiltshire Council
Catalogue Number: 1999.055
Linear
Feature
SU 1777
4007
MWI12032 -
SU14SE359
Wessex Archaeology, 2008. Boscombe Down Airfield New Accommodation Block (OP Tamarin), Amesbury, Publisher: Wessex Archaeology, Unit Report number: 66982.02, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 2008.097
Site of
levelled
Barrow
SU 1736
3990
MWI10514 -
SU13NE602
Valentin, J., Robinson, S. + Laidlaw, M., 2001. Boscombe Down FSTA, Publisher: AC Archaeology, Unit Report number: 1001/2/0, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 2001.088
Undated
Square
Enclosure
SU 1720
3992
MWI10531 -
SU13NE619
Fieldwork – Ordnance Survey, 1972. Ordnance Survey Fieldwork 1972
Undated
Parallel
Ditches
SU 1728
4020
MWI12264 -
SU14SE749
Kirby, C. + Clarke, B., 2001. Watching Brief and Section Through Monument SU14SE749 at SU17174029 DERA, Boscombe Down, Amesbury, Publisher: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Volume: Number 7, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 2001.039
9 BDCG 2015 -5-1
A major Iron Age and Romano-British settlement, first noted in 1948 through ground works in
preparation for the construction of a second runway (Richardson 1951), lies 1 km to the east of the
current excavation. To date, the western edge of this settlement is yet to be determined. Recent
work in advance of a Fire Fighting Water Main has produced evidence of prehistoric activity across
the site (Wessex Archaeology 2000; Manning et al 2010). A number of burial mounds have been
recorded running from north-east / south-west across the airfield; four are extant (Clarke & Kirby
2003). Associated with these early Bronze Age features are a number of linear ditches of similar age.
Clearly the airfield landscape has much archaeological potential.
10 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Methodology
A trench 300 mm wide and approx. 500 mm deep was cut using a toothless bucket. All features were
recorded photographically and six location points were obtained using a Garmin Etrex handheld GPS,
deviation on the day 4/3m.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the watching brief was to record the location of any archaeological deposits, features and
their relationship/chronology, where possible with any known features or landscapes.
Archive
The archive will be retained at the Information Warehouse, MoD Boscombe Down. An Electronic
copy will be available for dissemination.
The work is also recorded through OASIS.
11 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Results
The excavation falls into four distinct sections: the section running along the access road into the
facility (A-A); a section running alongside Building 296 to a point where the natural topography has
been truncated and lowered by around one metre (B-B) and two sections in machine stripped
natural (C-C) & (D-D). No archaeological features were noted along the entire length of the cable
trench, although a number of earlier service trenches were evident.
Figure 2. Location of sections noted in results. Produced with the permission of The Controller of Her
Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc. Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence
number 100042019.
Section A-A
Section A-A ran for 40m alongside the access road to the facility. The topsoil was a fairly uniform
150mm in depth, comprised a mid-brown loam with <30% flint gravel inclusions interspersed with
<10% chalk <10mm. Below this the trench cut through a number of modern services, ballast for the
road and several fragments of CMB. The trench terminated at a purpose-built underground conduit
that ran under the road.
A-A
B-B
C-C
D-D
12 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Section B-B
Section B-B ran from the point the conduit appeared from under the road and alongside Building 269
for 14m. It cut through a concrete path and then the levelling gravel ballast. Only disturbance
related to the construction of the concrete path was evident.
Section C-C
Section C-C ran for 24m across an area of apparently undisturbed ground. The topsoil ranged 150-
200mm. The topsoil had a diffused boundary with the underlying chalk. It comprised a dark-brown
loam <15% sub rounded chalk <20mm, and <5% rounded red/orange flints. Below this the chalk was
a loose, frost broken matrix. A number of services were discovered in this trench.
Section D-D
Section D-D ran down a small slope, probably indicating the point at which the machine grading of
this area stopped, and then on for a further 41m. The topsoil was 120mm along the entire section
through which the trench ran and had a very clear horizon with the underlying chalk. Towards the
end of the trench a number of services were encountered. The topsoil was a very pale-brown, 10%
sub-rounded chalk.
13 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Image Locations
A digital photographic archive was created of the work. While no archaeological features were
noted, a series of images are presented here for future reference.
Figure 3. Image direction and location of images generated during watching brief. Produced with the
permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc.
Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.
Figure.5
Figure.6
Figure.8
Figure.7
14 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 4. Trench A-A View looking east.
(Image IMG_0005 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).
15 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 5. Trench B-B View looking south/west.
(Image IMG_0007 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
16 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 6. Trench C-C View looking north/east.
(Image IMG_0010 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
17 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 7. Trench D-D View looking south/east.
(Image IMG_0011 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
18 BDCG 2015 -5-1
The Stop Butts Structures
Introduction
The following narrative covers the range of buildings associated with the Stop Butts complex close to
the trenching work. It focusses on Buildings 269, 309, 310 and the rounds pits (fig 8). Other
structures in the area are omitted due to operational considerations. Each building is described and
a condition survey offered.
Figure 8. Stop Butts c.1971 Building 269, B309 & B310 are to the top left of the image (inside red
box). The single span Blister (lower centre of image) has since been removed (10aNcs-F ©Ministry of
Defence).
Blister Hangar Building 269
The Blister Hangar is a type of portable aircraft hangar utilised, but not exclusively, on airfields
across the United Kingdom, and later in Northern Europe. It was designed by the Scottish architect
Graham R Dawbarn. Dawbarn also designed the Art Deco Brooklands Aero Clubhouse, opened in
1932, and had an input in the design of the recently closed Television Centre in London. The original
hangar design, patented in 1939 by engineering firm Miskins and Sons, incorporated wooden ribs
supporting corrugated, profiled, steel sheets. By 1940 this had given way to steel lattice supports
and formers, still clad by corrugated sheet. The erecting of blister hangars was a fairly quick
19 BDCG 2015 -5-1
operation. The structure required little in the way of foundations, often simply pinned to the ground
by long stakes, although the majority were eventually provided with concrete foundation blocks
(Technical Bulletin 02/02, 2002, World War II Hangars Guide to Hangar Identification Defence
Estates, Ministry of Defence). By the end of the Second World War Blister Hangars could be seen in
every European theatre, including Reykjavik Aerodrome, Iceland and Safi Airfield, Malta (Betts 1995).
Blisters at Boscombe Down
The double blister hangar (B269) at the Stop Butts is the only extant example of the structural type
currently at MoD Boscombe Down. The examination of the site aerial record demonstrates that,
throughout the Second World War a number of blisters had been erected around the airfield, all
single span. The double blister hangar located within the Stop Butts facility appears on aerial
photographs from 1947 suggesting it was either a new build at that time or had been moved from
another station to the current location. Other buildings on site had been used elsewhere before
arriving at Boscombe Down. This includes hangar B413, a structure brought from the Spitfire
Assembly site at High Post, Salisbury and re-erected sometime between 1945-48.
Figure 9. Double vertical support at the point where
two structures are adjoined. Note only surface
corrosion is evident. The horizontal bearers are
supported on a brick plinth. Image IMG_9989 created
6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Building 269
Building 269 is noted in the Ministry of Defence Technical Bulletin 02/02, 2002 as a ‘Miskins Blister
Hangar Enlarged Overtype’. The example at Boscombe Down has a height of 6.646m, 0.448m higher
than standard measurements for the type. The additional distance is accounted for by the fact the
support structure is raised off the ground by concrete blocks and brick plinths (fig 9). The entire
covered space has a concrete floor. Two pairs of rails, manufactured using steel angle iron, are let
into the floor. The first pair 5.20m from the south-west end of the blister, the second a further
2.10m further north-east. Each pair comprise a 12.2m long section of angle, each leg 50mm wide (fig
20 BDCG 2015 -5-1
11). The concrete floor was a feature prior to the construction of the blister hangar, the rails are
clearly a later edition (fig 10), whether this was before or after the erecting of B269 was not possible
to ascertain.
Figure 10. Rails cut into the
floor of B269. (IMG_0076
created 6 May 2015
©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 11. Rail detail cut into
floor of B269. (IMG_0073
created 6 May ©QinetiQ plc)
Building 269 on 6 May 2015
Currently B269 is used as a store for groundwork contractor’s equipment and materials. Internally
the structure appears sound. All horizontal bearer units and vertical support units are in good
condition (fig 9), only displaying slight surface corrosion. Internally the corrugated block sheeting
appears sound, paint is peeling away (fig 12) but little evidence of corrosion was noted. The concrete
floor is in good order with little evidence of undermining or cracking. Externally the block sheeting
has lost the majority of the black paint originally covering the outer surface (fig 13). The entire
external area is now covered in surface corrosion. No evidence of holes caused by corrosion were
noted, however areas around the windows will, in time, need re-protecting.
21 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 12. State of internal
finish of B269. (IMG_9992
created 6 May 2015
©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 13. External condition
of B269. (IMG_0067 created
6 May ©QinetiQ plc)
Firing Point Buildings 309 & 310
External
Buildings 309 & 310 predate the construction of the blister hangar. The structures are essentially
mirror images of one another. Both stand on raised concrete platforms with steps to a door at the
rear and a ramp into the firing area (fig 14 & 15). The buildings are double brick skinned with
concrete lintels above and below windows and above doors. The windows are the typical Crittal
style. Access to the structures is via a pair of wooden sliding doors at the front elevation (facing the
butts) and a single, inward opening door at the rear. Both buildings have a roof sloping towards the
rear of the structure, front height 3100mm, rear height 2360mm, comprises both asbestos and tin
corrugated sheet. Above the double doors is a form of porch comprising a triangular frame covered
with corrugated sheet, later a light has been fitted to the wall under this. The external walls are
22 BDCG 2015 -5-1
rendered, however this is in a poor state of repair and patches have fallen away due to weather
action.
Figure 14. Building 310
showing the front elevation.
Note poor state of
rendering around doors and
windows. (IMG_0054
created 6 May
2015©QinetiQ plc)
Figure 15. Building 309
showing the front elevation.
Note porch, ramp and
vegetation encroachment.
(IMG_0052 created 6 May
2015©QinetiQ plc)
Internal
Internally both structures are divided by a single brick partition with a single door aperture. All doors
are not original. Investigation demonstrated all three doors having additional hinge points extant
close to each door aperture. The hinge points (45mm x 16mm) suggest that the doors were originally
much heavier that the current wooden ones, furthermore all hinge points are covered with paint
and rendering suggesting they were either not used, or the doors were replaced early in the
structures life (fig 16). The internal dimensions are 5529mm by 7787mm (sub-divided by the internal
wall into 3300mm by 4487mm). The smaller of the two compartments contained a galvanised sink
23 BDCG 2015 -5-1
unit with single water feed. In the larger compartment a series of holdfast points were recorded just
behind the double doors facing the butts.
Figure 16. Hinge point for heavy door. Now
painted but showed no sign of wear. (IMG_0023
created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Building 309 & 310 on 6 May 2015
Both structures appear to have been abandoned although racking and trestles found inside suggest
they are being utilised in some stores capacity. Windows are showing signs of deep corrosion, once
this reaches a certain point the pressure caused by the delamination of the frame structure breaks
the glass panes, further accelerating the decay to the building fabric. All painted internal surfaces are
now in a poor condition and whilst water is not actually getting inside, the general damp conditions
are corroding fittings and fixtures. Externally, the render and paint finish is generally poor, water and
frost action will continue to remove rendering at an accelerated rate (fig 14), whilst surface decay in
the double doors structure is likely to reach a critical point in the next few years if untreated.
Vegetation has started to encroach on the building footprint; externally, overgrowth in the south-
east corner of B309 is damaging the external surface of the structure (fig 15), moreover this has
started to undermine one of the window frames with briers now penetrating inside the building.
Stop Butts Rounds Pits
The Stop Butts for this particular facility does not have a building number, although the name is used
for the complex of buildings describe here. Probably from Old French but, of unknown origin;
perhaps influenced by French butte 'rising ground', the butt in weaponry terminology indicates an
earthen bank that targets are set in front of. Most RAF stations had some form of aircraft firing
range – often a substantial block house structure, roofed to stop ricochets with a large sand box
below to absorb the energy from fired rounds. The Stop Butts at Boscombe Down comprises a
number of phases. The back of the Butts is surrounded by an earthen bank c.5m high. In front of that
a brick sand-box was constructed originally with a roof (fig 17) – this was removed c.1970 and
replaced with a brick wall at the rear fronted by a sharp sand rounds pit. At either end of the Butts a
24 BDCG 2015 -5-1
further substantial rounds pit was built. These structures are contemporary with the original
construction of the site in the Second World War period (fig 17) and were retained during the
modification to the facility c.1970. Each are 3m wide, 3.5m deep and 4.25m high, brick built
structures faced with railway sleepers (fig 19). The lower half of the elevation facing building 309
and 310 is open and filled with sand to absorb the energy of fired rounds. The sleepers are used to
stop the chance of ricochets from rounds that missed the pit aperture.
Figure 17.. The Stop Butts
complex c.1944. The rounds
pits and B309 & 310 are at the
centre left of the image.
(©Ministry of Defence)
Stop Butts on 6 May 2015
The Stop Butts are in an advanced state of decay. The central area is substantially overgrown,
making access difficult (fig 18). The two rounds pits are also substantially damage, the majority of
the brickwork has lost external surfaces (fig 20), presumably due to the process of under firing
bricks, an energy-saving technique prevalent during the early 1940s (Kohan 1952, 163). Moreover
both are partially overgrown by ivy, this will accelerate the decay of the structures if left unchecked.
Figure 18. The Stop Butts
rounds pits in 2015. Note the
whole complex is
substantially overgrown.
(IMG_0059 created 6 May
2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
25 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure 19. South-western rounds pit. Note
behind the growth is the actual round pit.
The structure is timber covered to slow the
ricochets from rounds missing the pits.
(IMG_0060 created 06 May 2015 ©QinetiQ
plc)
Figure 20. Detail showing the state of the brickwork on the north-west facing wall of the rounds pit.
(IMG_8176 created 06 July 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
26 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Discussion covering Stop Butts Structures
Buildings 309 & 310 and the two rounds pits are part of the original Stop Butts complex. It is not
possible to say whether B309 & 310 were originally furnished with steel doors fitted as evidence has
been obscured by later rendering. The holdfasts, located just behind the double doors and directly in
line with the rounds pits, suggest, through their arrangement that a number of different types of
equipment have been mounted in that spot for testing. The porches projects out towards the rounds
pits, a number of interpretations are likely. Either the porch is a weather cover protecting a hot gun
barrel from the elements or, more likely, any weapons testing at the facility is less likely to be visible
from above. If the second assumption is correct there is a possibility of phasing the addition.
Certainly the modifications do not appear to be fitted when the vertical image (figure 8) was taken
c.1971. The addition of the blister hangar in the late 1940s provides the facility with an ‘all weather’
capability. It is likely that the hangar was erected over an existing concrete floor, if this is the case
then the two rails recorded laid in the floor may demonstrate an additional phase between the
laying of the floor and the erection of the blister hangar.
Currently the site is underutilised, and certainly appears not to have been used for its intended
purpose in the last decade or so. Blister hangars were once a numerous landscape feature
connected with many aviation sites. Since the drawdown of American servicemen and reductions in
the Royal Air Force’s capability (Clarke 2009, 203) the survivability of such temporary structures has
become more precarious. Indeed it is possible that the blister hangar at the Stop Butts may be one
of, if not, the only unaltered example of a blister hangar extant in the county.
27 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Finds
No finds were located during the watching brief.
Discussion & Recommendations
The investigation of the Boscombe Down airfield ‘footprint’ continues to complement the stations
conservation and heritage management profile. While no archaeological features were noted during
this watching brief, it does appear that the immediate area around section C-C has not been
disturbed during the various construction episodes at the Stop Butts. For this reason it is
recommended that any further intrusive work required at the Stop Butts be conducted under
archaeological supervision, at least until a higher level of confidence can be achieved. The recording
of structures in the immediate vicinity of the work has meant that an increasingly rare set of
buildings have now been placed on the record.
28 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Bibliography
Betts, A. 1995, The Royal Air Force Airfield Construction Service 1939-46, Airfield Research
Publishing, Ware.
Clarke, B. 1999. Interim Report on New Fire Station Site at the Establishment of DERA Boscombe
Down, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 1999.055.
Clarke, B. 2009, The Archaeology of Airfields, Stroud: History Press.
Clarke, B. 2014, Watching Brief at COB West, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, Boscombe
Down Conservation Group, Unpublished client report no. BDCG 2014-10-(1).
Clarke, B. 2015, Watching Brief at COB West, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire 23-26
March 2015, Boscombe Down Conservation Group, Unpublished client report no. BDCG 2015-3-1.
Clarke, B., Kirby, C. 2003, A Newly Discovered Round Barrow and Proposed Linear Cemetery at
Boscombe Down West, Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, 96, 215-218.
Kohan, C.M. 1952, Works and Buildings, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, and Longmans, Green and
Co.
Manning, A., McKinley, J.I., & Barclay, A., 2010, Early Bronze Age Burial Remains from Boscombe
Down Airfield, Amesbury, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, 103, 309-
312.
Ministry of Defence. 2002, Technical Bulletin 02/02, 2002, World War II Hangars Guide to Hangar
Identification Defence Estates, Ministry of Defence
Richardson, K. M., 1951, The Excavations of Iron Age Villages on Boscombe Down West, Wiltshire
Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, 54(195), pp 123-68.
Wessex Archaeology, 2000, DERA Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, Fire Fighting Water Mains:
Archaeological Watching Brief, Salisbury, Wessex Archaeology unpublished client report no.
47647.1.
29 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Appendix A: Additional Images of B269
Figure A1. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support
Units. (IMG_9986 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure A2. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support Unit
single detail, scale 1 m. (IMG_9986 created 6 May
2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
30 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Appendix B: Additional images of B309 internal layout
Figure B1. Double doors and holdfasts in B309. Scale 1 m.
(IMG_0025 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B2. Rear doors and elevation in B309. Scale 1 m.
(IMG_0025 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
31 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure B3. Holdfast arrangement in B309. Extant red circles, removed yellow stars. Scale 1 m.
(IMG_0019 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
32 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure B4. Workbench in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on the
left of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0033 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B5. Sink and trestle in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on
the right of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0037 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
33 BDCG 2015 -5-1
Figure B6. Small porch on front elevation of B309.
(IMG_0045 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)
Figure B7. Small porch on front elevation of B309. (IMG_0046 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)