Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/13/090

Address :
Ulster Flying Club Ltd. Portaferry Road Newtownards Co. Down BT23 3NN

Townland:
Newtownards (Commons)

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
World War II Structures

Former Use
World War II Structures

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
Partially

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OS Map No:
148/4

IG Ref:
J4940 7300

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

No.1 Main Hanger Set to the west of the runway this 1940’s barrel vaulted aircraft hanger is c24M wide x 58M long x7M high. To the NW are two large hanger doors . The main structure is clad with curved corrugated iron sheeting with two lines of translucent panel located along the main axis close to the top of the curve of the roof. To the SE is a gabled shorter portion, which has one long, centrally positioned, high level, horizontal slot window with smaller low level steel window to each side. The NE side of the rear section is blank however the SW side had a small pass door. This rear section is clad with an asbestos like sheeting. No.2 Pill Box Small observation post is situated the west of the main hanger. The building is six sided with a flat roof and constructed in concrete and faced in concrete slabs. The W face of the building is much broader than the other faces and has two small window slots (which once had steel shutters) and a low central doorway (which once had a steel door). All the other faces have similar window slots. No.3 Pill Box Small observation post as per No. 2 but located to the East of the runway, on top of the sea wall. The roof of the structure is partly covered with grass covered earth. Located also on the roof is a strange circa 4M high post which was used up until recently for flying the wind sock. The writers were informed that this was a surviving portion of (a wing strut) an aircraft which crashed during take-off in the 1950’s. The aircraft was apparently transporting a bull to the Isle of Man when the animal broke free within the hold section. This caused the aircraft to crash. The fate of the crew and the bull are not known. No.4 Brick Enclosure Small brick enclosure without a roof. c 4M wide x 6M long x 2.5M high. There still remains of an unidentified piece of machinery within the enclosure. This enclosures function is not known. No.5 Slit Trench Small ‘Slit trench with a two ‘barrel vaulted’ concrete bunkers attached. The ceiling height of the bunkers was approximately 1.2M. The O.S. map shows similar structures to the west of the runway but no evidence of these could be found. No 6 Gun Range 4/5mM high brick wall with earth banked up to either side. The writers were informed that this structure was used to test the guns (canons) of aircraft. No.7 Munitions Store Large brick,(now roofless) single cell structure with three reducing brick buttresses to each of the long walls and two buttresses to the south short wall. The North short wall is now missing but to East and West are tall flanking walls. The remains of the steel roof beams are still in evidence, however all trace of the roof covering is now gone. Behind the S flanking wall is the roofless remains of a small brick built room with the remains of a single door and window opening. The block work walls to the NW side may have been built some time in the 1960’s for some unidentified purpose. There are high level steel (?blast) doors to the W & E facades and one low level similar door to the W facade. These undoubtedly relate to the original use as a munitions store. No.8 Air Raid Shelter Brick and concrete air raid shelter partly buried with in the sea wall. The extent of the structure was difficult to discern since the door and much of the structure were covered with earth. Other such structures are recorded on the O.S. map but due to undergrowth were not discovered.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

‘The Ards Airport’ was opened on the 31st of August 1934. Its establishment owed much to the then Lord Londonderry, a keen aviator, and former Secretary of State for Air, who made part of his estate available for the purpose. Commercial services ran from the Airport until 1938 when they were transferred to Sydenham Airport. The Northern Ireland Aero Club gained a permanent home at the airfield. and is still thriving there (now known as the Ulster Flying Club) Its activities were interrupted only by the Second World War. During WWII structures were constructed around the airfield as part of the defences of Northern Ireland, and the air field was used for training pilots. Its use reverted to recreational shortly after 1945. Secondary Sources 1 Guy Warner & Jack Woods 'In The Heart of The City: The History of Belfast’s City Airport 1938-1998' (Belfast 1998).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Comprehensive set of WWII defence structures designed to protect Newtownards airfield.

General Comments

Date of Survey

23 September 1998