Bentley Priory- Work in progress (2 Viewers)

[Rob]

Today I was lucky enough to join a group of ten people who were given a tour of Bentley Priory the stately home and former HQ of Figther Command and operational hub of the Battle of Britain as it undergoes rebuilding to become a new Battle of Britain museum opening next September. The group of us was very small because the building is one very large building site and pretty dangerous at the moment as it has holes in the floor and scaffolding everywhere inside and out. As a result the builders are very wary of health and safety laws and visitors are few and far between.

The first pictures show the outside of the building swathed in scaffolding and the replica Spitfire and Hurricane outside. There was an original Spitfire but it was removed and returned to flying condition, these are made of fibre glass. (photos taken with iphone)

 

[Rob]

Inside it has some beautiful ceilings and features;

 

[Rob]

Here are the Battle of Britain stained glass windows installed in 1990 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain

 

[Rob]

You may find this hard to believe, but you are looking at Hugh Dowdings office!. Being totally refurbished, it has a wonderful view of the countryside and towards London and you really can see a long way, in fact on the day Dowding and his team arrived at BP he walked into the room , looked out through the window and said ' This will do, I can see Germany from here'!

 

[Rob]

This huge house is gutted and the builders were clearly uneasy at having us there

 

[Rob]

Finally, you knew I couldn't resist it, but for those of you that like me love the film The Battle of Britain, I am standing on the spot of the final scene in which Dowding walks out of Bentley Priory into the gardens and looks up at the sky..I walked in Dowdings footsteps!^&grin

Then we have the balcony from the Gardens

This is going to be a superb museum with rooms packed with info and memorabilia from the Battle, I will return for more pics on the day it opens next September

Rob

 

[Denver]

All that history makes a lasting impression.
Thanks for these pictures.
Please, post more with the progress.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Great photos, Rob! ^&cool When I finally get to London, I hope I can join you on visits to some of these historical sites.:smile2:

 

[Rob]

Great photos, Rob! ^&cool When I finally get to London, I hope I can join you on visits to some of these historical sites.:smile2:

Thanks Louis, that would be great mate.:smile2:

Rob

 

[Rob]

All that history makes a lasting impression.
Thanks for these pictures.
Please, post more with the progress.

Will do!

Rob

 

[Mitch]

Rob....

Great pics and superb thread. I have donated to the trust through the website (which everyone should do IMO and glad the lottery is funding such a vital project) and have been lucky to visit a few times with my brother. I am glad you took pics of the windows absolutely stunning. It gave me goosebumps on my neck when I first went thinking what was done and executed there. I will definately be there for the opening and you were rather lucky to have been there with all the work being done
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Rob....

Great pics and superb thread. I have donated to the trust through the website (which everyone should do IMO and glad the lottery is funding such a vital project) and have been lucky to visit a few times with my brother. I am glad you took pics of the windows absolutely stunning. It gave me goosebumps on my neck when I first went thinking what was done and executed there. I will definately be there for the opening and you were rather lucky to have been there with all the work being done
Mitch

Thanks Mitch. I too donated today and was overjoyed to see that the Lottery has given around 18million to turn this wonderful place into a museum to tell the story of that Historic victory. In fact I was shocked and pleased to learn that BP would have been lost to the nation after the War had it not been for one woman, none other than our late Queen Mother who having visited BP many times during the B.O.B with the King to see how the Battle was panning out. (she had Balls the Queen mum and was not going to leave Britain for Canada-she even learnt to fire a handgun in Buck House Gardens!) She felt very attached to the place and helped raise millions to stop it being sold off. Its so good its going to be another museum. It really does bring a lump to the throat when you stand on that Balcony look up at the Sky and think of the young men fighting for our country up there. Its also sobering to imagine Churchill, The King and Queen and Dowding in the ops room watching the Battle unfold before their eyes. The fate of our nation in the balance as they stood and watched. Wonderful stuff, Louis has said it many times, that generation were made of strong stuff.

Rob

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for sharing those photos, Rob! It's great to see such a historic site getting the care it needs.

Makes me think that some of those scenes would make nice backdrop pieces, in polystone or foam....


Prost!
Brad

 

[Mitch]

Rob...

Totally agree and, you know my opinions on the battle and what it did for the world. It annoys me sometimes when people mock the royal family when they do things like this which, often go overlooked or not seen as great big news.

Makes me proud to be English and, the trust seem determined to make it a special place to not only remember the truly amazing deeds done by the entire RAF staff not just the pilots but, to celebrate how monumental the victory over the Luftwaffe was
Mitch

 

[Denver]

An inspirational book about the Battle of Britain is Eagle Day, read around 1970.
The author's name I don't recall.

 

[wadepat]

Hi Rob,

Thank you so much for the wonderful photos. Viewing them was both a thrill and a moving experience. I am so very glad you were able to participate in the tour as I know very few people would have found the tour as meaningful as you did.

Please, as you are able, keep us informed of the progress of the renovation.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :smile2:

 

[wayne556517]

Awesome Rob awesome will have to get over there one day,bowl you a few over,s down a few pints and you can show me your wonderful country,thanks for posting mate they are superb.

 

[Rob]

Thanks for sharing those photos, Rob! It's great to see such a historic site getting the care it needs.

Makes me think that some of those scenes would make nice backdrop pieces, in polystone or foam....


Prost!
Brad

My pleasure Brad.

Hi Rob,

Thank you so much for the wonderful photos. Viewing them was both a thrill and a moving experience. I am so very glad you were able to participate in the tour as I know very few people would have found the tour as meaningful as you did.

Please, as you are able, keep us informed of the progress of the renovation.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :smile2:

Thank you Pat thats very kind of you, I will try and get on another tour as the work goes on.

Awesome Rob awesome will have to get over there one day,bowl you a few over,s down a few pints and you can show me your wonderful country,thanks for posting mate they are superb.

And that is also very kind of you too Wayne, would be a pleasure.:smile2:

Rob

 

[Obee]

Rob,

do you have any idea as to when the restoration project will be competed?

Looking on what I see from your images, there is a lot of work to be done to being the 'old gal' back to her former glory.

There is a possibility that I wll be "back in Blighty" next year (but not when the Olympics are on) and I'd love to check out my Mum's old workplace.

John

 

[Rob]

John,

They expect to finish building work and hand it over for fitting out in September next year. It will open as soon as possible after that, so we are looking at after the Olympics at the very earliest.

There is a huge amount of work still to be done, the basement is a warren of rooms in which all have had the floors dug up and dividing Walls knocked down . I think they hope to be open in the latter part of next year, will be worth the trip mate.

Cheers

Rob

Rob,

do you have any idea as to when the restoration project will be competed?

Looking on what I see from your images, there is a lot of work to be done to being the 'old gal' back to her former glory.

There is a possibility that I wll be "back in Blighty" next year (but not when the Olympics are on) and I'd love to check out my Mum's old workplace.

John