NOOKS and CORNERS
WHAT now for the charred remains of Hangar 3, the grade 2*-listed First World War structure on Old Sarum airfield
(Eyes passim)
?
Just a week after the planning inspectorate gave the go-ahead for a housing development on the airfield – on condition that the historic hangar was restored – a massive fire on 17 April destroyed most of the surviving building, including the huge wooden lattice work “Belfast trusses” in the roof. A more modern café building, already earmarked for demolition in the plans, was also destroyed.
Airfield director Grenville Hodge said the company was “devastated” by the loss of the hangar, as repair works were about to start. But locals have long been warning that the damaged building, described by Historic England as a highly unusual survivor of the early days of aerial combat, was extremely vulnerable to more damage.