Reports
Latest reports from Tag: World War II
Woburn House
Woburn House is a B2 listed grand mansion located on the grounds of Lisnevin Training School. An Italianate property that was once the private summer mansion for John Gilmore Dunbar, a wealthy mill owner who passed it down to multiple generations of his family. Used as a convalescent home during WWII, Woburn house went on to be an open borstal before being taken over by the Police Service of Northern Ireland for training and office purposes.
RAF Ballykelly
RAF Ballykelly opened in June of 1941 as a base for RAF Coastal Command during World War II. From here, aircraft were sent out to spot, track and engage enemy submarines in the Atlantic Ocean. During the Cold War, the airfield was extended to enable the V-bomber force to use RAF Ballykelly as a dispersal site. In 2008, the Ministry of Defence closed the airfield.
East Fortune Hospital
This former hospital was built beside East Fortune Airfield to treat tuberculosis patients in Scotland. During World War II, it was converted into a military hospital and expanded to accommodate 400 beds. After the war, it was converted into a hospital for intellectually disabled children and then adults before closing its doors for good in 1997.
The Northumberland Stoplines
In June 1940, one of the largest construction projects in Britain was initiated. Thousands of concrete blocks were produced and placed along the coast to deter amphibious landings. Fortified gun placements and pillboxes were also built further inland as stop lines to halt any enemy advancements.
Otterburn Hall
Otterburn Hall was previously a military hospital during World War II before being bought by the YMCA in 1980 who converted it into a hotel After changing hands multiple times over the years, Otterburn Hall closed its doors suddenly in 2012 with the loss of 30 jobs. At the time of closure, it was a 4* hotel, comprising of 65 bedrooms and a wedding venue set in 500 acres of woodland and deer park.
Gin Head Research Station
Overlooking the Firth of Forth and located beside Tantallon Castle, this research station was built in 1943 by the Admirality to deceive the German High Command that the Allies were going to invade Pas-De-Calais instead of Normandy on D-Day.
Ewart Park
Ewart Park, built by Sir Horace St. Paul, is a Grade-II listed mansion located in rural Wooler. Used as a Battalion HQ building in World War II with soldiers having to walk 4 miles into Wooler for entertainment. It has been left abandoned since the end of the war.
Victory Memorial to the Soviet Army, Riga
The former Victory Monument in Riga was a Soviet-era memorial opened in 1985 and demolished in August 2022 after decades of controversy. History, timeline and photos from Victory Park.