RAF Alma Park
Encyclopedia
RAF Alma Park was a Royal Air Force corps headquarters and training facility during World War II and is notable as the birthplace of the Royal Air Force Regiment. Alma Park is located 2 miles (3.3 kilometres) north east of the centre of Grantham
, Lincolnshire
, England.
The headquarters was established in the house and grounds of an 18th Century stately home, called Alma House and its grounds known as Alma Park, that was requisitioned by the Air Ministry for the duration of the war. RAF Alma Park opened in December 1941 and closed in August 1946.
The original house and its grounds were demolished post-war and the land is now in use as a modern trading estate, with only a few acres of open parkland remaining.
The search for a suitable headquarters and training site settled on Alma House in Grantham and the Air Ministry requisitioned the estate in the autumn of 1941. The headquarters was established on 14 December 1941 although the Corps of the RAF Regiment was not formally established until 1 February 1942 under Royal Warrant from George VI.
During World War I in November 1915 the Alma Park estate, then known as Harrowby Camp, together with Belton Park
had been a training centre for the Machine Gun Corps
and together the two adjoining estates had housed and trained 18,000 men.
Although some RAF Regiment training took place on the parkland at Alma Park the corps rapidly expanded to in excess of 66,000 personnel organised into 280 squadrons and there was not room to accommodate them onsite. The first RAF Regiment depot accommodation barracks were established instead at adjoining RAF Belton Park
and nearby airfields at RAF Folkingham
and RAF North Witham
.
RAF Alma Park closed in 1946 along with RAF Belton Park and the headquarters and depot of the RAF Regiment were combined and relocated to RAF Catterick
where they remained until 1994 when they relocated to its current home at RAF Honington
.
The prefabricated buildings at RAF Alma Park had remained in use as council living accommodation until the late 1960s when the area was designated as an area for light industry. In 1970 Barrats/Janes Ltd started building the Polygon Estate followed by Jelsons building on the Kenilworth Road side of Harrowby Lane in 1973.
Extensive research into the building named 'Alma House' has produced no evidence that it ever existed. Local research done at Grantham Library and the Census etc have proved fruitless. Citation is needed for evidence of this 'house'. It is suggested that there has been a mix up with Belton House
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England.
The headquarters was established in the house and grounds of an 18th Century stately home, called Alma House and its grounds known as Alma Park, that was requisitioned by the Air Ministry for the duration of the war. RAF Alma Park opened in December 1941 and closed in August 1946.
The original house and its grounds were demolished post-war and the land is now in use as a modern trading estate, with only a few acres of open parkland remaining.
History
As early as the 1920s the RAF had formed small airfield defence units but traditionally the role of ground defence had predominantly been handled by detachments of regular army personnel. It became evident in the aftermath of the Dunkirk evacuation that the army did not have the resources, personnel or expertise to continue supporting the growing number of UK and overseas RAF airfields and the decision was taken to form a dedicated RAF defence force.The search for a suitable headquarters and training site settled on Alma House in Grantham and the Air Ministry requisitioned the estate in the autumn of 1941. The headquarters was established on 14 December 1941 although the Corps of the RAF Regiment was not formally established until 1 February 1942 under Royal Warrant from George VI.
During World War I in November 1915 the Alma Park estate, then known as Harrowby Camp, together with Belton Park
Belton House
Belton House is a Grade I listed country house in Belton near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. The mansion is surrounded by formal gardens and a series of avenues leading to follies within a larger wooded park...
had been a training centre for the Machine Gun Corps
Machine Gun Corps
The Machine Gun Corps was a corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front in World War I. The Heavy Branch of the MGC was the first to use tanks in combat, and the branch was subsequently turned into the Tank...
and together the two adjoining estates had housed and trained 18,000 men.
Although some RAF Regiment training took place on the parkland at Alma Park the corps rapidly expanded to in excess of 66,000 personnel organised into 280 squadrons and there was not room to accommodate them onsite. The first RAF Regiment depot accommodation barracks were established instead at adjoining RAF Belton Park
RAF Belton Park
RAF Belton Park was a Royal Air Force corps accommodation depot during World War II and is notable as the first depot of the Royal Air Force Regiment...
and nearby airfields at RAF Folkingham
RAF Folkingham
RAF Folkingham is a former World War II Royal Air Force flying station in Lincolnshire, England. The airfield is located south west of Folkingham and due east of Lenton village, approximately due south of county town Lincoln and north of London...
and RAF North Witham
RAF North Witham
RAF Station North Witham is a former World War II airfield in Lincolnshire, England. The airfield is located in Twyford Wood, approximately east-southeast of Cotgrave; about north-northwest of London...
.
RAF Alma Park closed in 1946 along with RAF Belton Park and the headquarters and depot of the RAF Regiment were combined and relocated to RAF Catterick
RAF Catterick
RAF Catterick is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Catterick, North Yorkshire in England.-History:Catterick airfield first opened in 1914 as a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome with the role of training pilots and to assist in the defence of the North East of England...
where they remained until 1994 when they relocated to its current home at RAF Honington
RAF Honington
RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regiment depot and home to the Joint CBRN Regiment.-RAF use:...
.
Alma Park today
No trace of the original Alma House remains, having been demolished post-war. The majority of the site is now covered by the modern Alma Park Trading Estate although a small portion of the original open parkland remains as a rough heathland with pathways.The prefabricated buildings at RAF Alma Park had remained in use as council living accommodation until the late 1960s when the area was designated as an area for light industry. In 1970 Barrats/Janes Ltd started building the Polygon Estate followed by Jelsons building on the Kenilworth Road side of Harrowby Lane in 1973.
See also
- List of RAF stations
- RAF RegimentRAF RegimentThe Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
- RAF Belton ParkRAF Belton ParkRAF Belton Park was a Royal Air Force corps accommodation depot during World War II and is notable as the first depot of the Royal Air Force Regiment...
Extensive research into the building named 'Alma House' has produced no evidence that it ever existed. Local research done at Grantham Library and the Census etc have proved fruitless. Citation is needed for evidence of this 'house'. It is suggested that there has been a mix up with Belton House