RAF Chenies R8 GCI ROTOR Radar Station - Hertfordshire - May 08

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Urban Mole

Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
617
Reaction score
71
Location
Underground, mostly.
Well on our way upto the Paddock tour, we had some spare time, so me, Simon, Dan and Jules decided to stop and have a look at this site, RAF Chenies R8 ROTOR site.

Flashearth link ---> http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.68868&lon=-0.531624&z=17.3&r=0&src=msl

Quick history;
Subbrit said:
RAF Chenies was an R8 Ground Control Intercept (GCI) radar station (code HAM) built in the 1950's as part of the post war ROTOR Programme. While most post war GCI stations utilised an existing WW2 site, Chenies was a green field site. Originally sited at Heathrow, it was known by this name until it was changed to Down Barns and on 5.9.1950 the name was changed again to Chenies.

Chenies was built as part of the first stage of the ROTOR Programme which was itself divided into four phases. Phase 1 was the re-establishment of 28 WW2 Chain Home radar stations. 13 were brought up to a fully operational state while the remaining 15 were brought up to a 'readiness' state. These stations would have required some notice before they were fully operational.

Lots more info at Nicks usual site ---> http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/c/chenies/index.html

Heres a plan of the site(taken from above link);

chenies_plan.gif



Youll have to excuse some of the pics, this place is pretty trashed, and nearly if not all the copper has been extracted from here.
Ok, on with the pics;

chenies01.jpg

As you can see, first impressions show this place is a mess.

chenies02.jpg



chenies03.jpg



chenies04.jpg

Stairs up to the Tote balcony

chenies05.jpg

Looking down into the Operations room.

chenies06.jpg

And again.

chenies07.jpg



chenies08.jpg

First aid dressing from 1942.

chenies09.jpg

Looking into the radar office/workshop.

chenies10.jpg

Supervisor room.

chenies11.jpg

Power control for the R8.

chenies12.jpg

Inside the Strike Command communications building.

chenies13.jpg

And agan.

chenies14.jpg

Still lots of paperwork.

chenies15.jpg

Classic old phone.

chenies16.jpg

Hold your breath.

chenies17.jpg

Outside tables made from old cable reels.

chenies18.jpg

Rear of the buildings with the access ramp.

chenies19.jpg

High voltage switch house.

chenies20.jpg

Close up of gauges.

chenies21.jpg

Standby set house on the left.

chenies22.jpg

Standby generator.

chenies23.jpg



chenies24.jpg

Standby generator.

chenies25.jpg

Standby generator.

chenies26.jpg

More guages.

chenies27.jpg

More buttons.

chenies28.jpg

Rev counter.

chenies29.jpg

Generator controls.

chenies30.jpg

Standby set house.

chenies31.jpg

Diesel fuel tank.

chenies32.jpg

Vehicle maintenance area with pit.

chenies33.jpg

Mast anchor.

chenies34.jpg



chenies35.jpg

Dan sat on a radar plinth.

chenies36.jpg

Radar plinth and mast in the background.

chenies37.jpg




So there you go, another mainland explore ticked off :mrgreen:

Comments and suggestions welcome as usual :p
 
Last edited:
Great photo's mole, nice to see some of the original features are still there. Love the outside shots was there any access to the golf ball tower.
 
Cheers for that mole. Looking at the link it appears they are going to be building one not far from where me and Daddybear have been finding the pillboxes on the Stockton to Sunderland stop line.
 
Blimey, there's loads of stuff remaining. Some really interesting and unexpected stuff too.
Love the make-shift tables outside. :mrgreen:
The blue paint in the Supervisor's Office...that's exactly the colour I've been trying to get for my hall and kitchen! You didn't happen to bring a flake of it back with you, did you? :lol:
 
Brilliant shots

Very well documented report there Mole with excellant pics to back it up.

Stu
 
Good one. I meant to take in this place on the day I went to Chesham hospital but it was absolutely pissing down.
 
Last edited:
Few additional pics from this visit,

3 from genny room:

1.jpg


2.jpg


4.jpg


1 of the water storage tanks dotted about the grounds

3.jpg


Radar tower from an elevated advantage ;)

5.jpg
 
Nice one mole - I was in the vicinity of this on Saturday night but didn't have my camera (Blast, you formal dinner occasion) A good job, on a really important site. Nice stuff!!!!
 
missed this thread until now.

I had a quick look around this place last year (only pretty poor pics taken) and was wondering what it was, nice one for the post.:)
 

Latest posts

Back
Top