RAF Stenigot

RAF Stenigot was a Chain Home radar station established by the Royal Air Force in the late 1930s. Located on the Lincolnshire Wolds near the village of Stenigot, it played a crucial role in the nation's air defence network during World War II. The station was later upgraded as part of the Cold War-era Linesman/Mediator system before its eventual closure.

History

The station was constructed as part of the pre-war expansion of the Chain Home network, a pioneering early-warning radar system developed by Robert Watson-Watt. It became operational in 1939, just prior to the outbreak of World War II. During the Battle of Britain, its radar plots were vital for directing RAF Fighter Command aircraft, notably those from nearby sectors like RAF Digby, to intercept Luftwaffe formations. The site was attacked by the German Air Force in 1940, but the essential radar equipment remained functional. After the war, its strategic importance continued into the Cold War, leading to significant redevelopment in the 1950s.

Description and facilities

The original wartime station featured the standard Chain Home layout, including 360-foot-tall steel transmitter towers and 240-foot-tall wooden receiver towers. These were arranged in distinct transmitter and receiver blocks, with supporting technical buildings, guardhouses, and accommodations dispersed across the site. In the 1950s, the station was completely rebuilt to house new Type 80 'Green Garlic' and Type 84 radars as a key control and reporting centre within the Linesman/Mediator system. This phase saw the construction of a large, secure technical block, new operations buildings, and four colossal 126-meter-tall guyed mast radiators for VHF communications, which dominated the local skyline.

Operations and units

Throughout World War II, the station was operated by the Royal Air Force under the control of RAF Fighter Command. Personnel from the RAF and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force worked on site, maintaining the radar equipment and relaying critical information to sector operations rooms such as RAF Kirton in Lindsey. In the post-war period, it functioned as a Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), with its data fed into the national air defence system at RAF High Wycombe. The station was latterly managed by No. 90 Signals Group before its operational role was transferred to more modern facilities.

Post-war use and current status

The station was closed and decommissioned in 1975. Most of the buildings were subsequently demolished, and the land was returned to agricultural use. Two of the four massive Cold War communications masts were dismantled, but the remaining two were retained and converted for civilian use by the Home Office as part of the National Air Traffic Services network and later by BT Group. These iconic masts remain prominent local landmarks. The concrete bases of the original Chain Home towers and other structural remnants are still visible at the site, which is occasionally visited by historians and enthusiasts.

See also

* Chain Home * Battle of Britain * RAF Digby * Linesman/Mediator * Cold War * Robert Watson-Watt

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Lincolnshire Category:Radar stations in the United Kingdom Category:Military installations established in 1938 Category:Battle of Britain