WELCOME TO WOODLODGE PAST

Established in 1987 we are now the largest pottery distribution company to the trade in the UK.

 

The airfield at Babdown Farm was planned in 1939 as a Relief Landing Ground for 9th FTS at RAF Hullavington and the first planes to use it were their Audaxes and Harts in mid 1940.

In 1941 Hurricanes and Masters used Babdown for training and night flying.		 Audax photo
Babdown was redeveloped in March 1942 as a full Relief Landing Ground by laying two and then a third tracking runways. By June more blister hangars were placed around the perimeter track and reopened in August with 3 Flying Instructors School using Oxfords and Masters.

Three T1 hangars still remain to this day and one Blister Hangar (now converted), originally built in 1943 for use with smaller aircraft and now varying from almost original to being totally re-clad in condition (T1 hangars were mainly used on fighter and training airfields where smaller aircraft were used).

The Spitfires of 52OTU arrived soon after and then 15(P)AFU towards the end of the year. After a wet winter in 1944/45 damaged the runways so that the airfield was only partially serviceable, but the closure of Long Newton increased the load on Babdown. Not for long though as training ceased on 28th May 1945 and the last aircraft left on 20th June 1945.
Babdown Tower photo
 The airfield went into care and maintenance but in July 7MU Quedgley took over using it mainly as a storage site up until January 1948 when it became inactive and was derequisitioned.

The old tower pictured left in the 1970's, was unfortunately demolished. There are some parts of original buildings left around the site though and the firing range is still in use to this day by a local gun club.

 

c. 1996

Taken not long after expanding from a single T1 warehouse and small yard into our second warehouse on the site.		   1996 babdown yard photo

 

2000 babdown yard photo
  

June 2000

The steady expansion of Woodlodge across Babdown site continues, another warehouse and another yard area!


c. 2004

Further expansion with another yard area built and soon filled!		   2004 babdown yard photo

 

2008 babdown yard photo
  

c. 2008-2009

Work starting on clearing some more land for an extension to be added and a fifth warehouse.
Additional yard space and a truck and trailer wash area will also be built.

(These works were completed by mid 2010 with more planned for the not too distant future!)

 

Thanks for some images and historical info:

: cotswoldsteel.co.uk : www.fleetairarmarchive.net : www.airfieldinformationexchange.org : www.atlantikwall.co.uk :