SDO12455 - Flight Refuelling Centre, Wimborne Minster. Historic Building Recording & Assessment

1.1 This document reports on the historic building recording and assessment of the Flight Refuelling Centre, Wimborne Minster undertaken by Scott Wilson. 1.2 The Flight Refuelling Centre is located in Wimborne Minster, to the south of the town centre (NGR: SZ 022 997) (Figure 1). The site is bounded to the north by Leigh Road and to the west by Brook Road. Flanking the site to the south and east is an industrial estate, terminating at the River Stour. The site is currently occupied by the Flight Refuelling Centre, but many of the structures are vacant and falling into disrepair. 1.3 A Level II Photographic Record was undertaken at the site. This involved a general photographic survey of the historic structures and was undertaken using a 35 mm camera to produce monochrome photography. Both internal and external photography was undertaken, with general views of the structures within their wider context. This survey was extended to encompass the late 20th century structures within the site in order to provide a comprehensive record of the complex and its wider context. 1.4 The documentary evidence suggests a single construction phase at the site during the 1940s. Although there are structural differences between the temporary Nissen Huts and more substantial brick buildings, it is likely that this reflects the pre-fabricated nature of the Nissen rather than a chronological discrepancy. The Nissen hut was produced at a central manufacturer and shipped out by the Air Ministry. The examples at Wimborne are, therefore, typical of their type. 1.5 The insubstantial nature of the surviving buildings supports the suggestion that the site was used for storage rather than as a military base. There also appears to have been extensive provision for vehicle maintenance, suggesting that the site functioned as a central depot for the movement of goods, with vehicles weighed in and out at the weighbridge. 1.6 The continued use of the site has lead to extensive alteration to many of the buildings, particularly the central store; however, the layout of the site survives predominantly in tact reflecting its original function.