“When the war was over victory was celebrated with a great bonfire, built of tree trunks and set blazing with flares and incendiary bombs.”
Jesse Underwood, Haveringland Through the Ages, 1994
Tentative plans to retain and upgrade the airfield for post-war RAF operational fighter use came to nothing and the entire site was sold in lots.
Whilst much of the former airfield is now private land and used for agriculture, some of the former RAF buildings have been used for building cars and the airfield was even used to trial a special helicopter. More details can be found on this following page:
The Haveringland Hall estate was sold in lots which included the sale of Hall Farm and also the site of the former Haveringland Hall, its the gardens, arboretum, coach house and clock tower. In November 1945 Jesse Underwood purchased Hall Farm with 700 acres in association with Alfred Gibbs, who had farmed there for more than thirty years.
In 1948 they purchased the site of the former Haveringland Hall, (which had been demolished) plus the gardens, arboretum, coach house and clock tower, totalling a further 130 acres.
Photo of the clock tower after the war; Credit: G. Kett
They decided to restore the parkland to its original condition, where possible. Soon the three hangars, Romney and Nissan huts were demolished, their concrete footings were also excavated.
They replanted some ninety acres of woodland, including belts of trees in their original position. Still visible today is the long line of polar robusta which they planted across the runways to break up the skyline.
The estate around the former Hall was in a state of neglect, overgrown with weeds and supporting a large rabbit population. They restored the arboretum. The large lake, fed by natural springs, was dredged and restocked. It became a popular fishing venue.
In 1953 a licence was granted for a caravan and camping site where visitors could enjoy the seclusion of the conservation area.
Photo of the restored clock tower
As listed buildings, the coachhouse, clock tower and courtyard buildings were restored and converted into a private residences. More details about these listed buildings can be found here:
Today “Haveringland Hall Park” comprises a number of residential lodges and holiday lodges set across the parkland of the former mansion.
This page is still under construction – please come back soon to see more details and photos.
Haveringland Chronicles 