It once reverberated to the engines of Spitfires and Hurricanes. But now much of RAF Church Fenton is empty and silent.
These eerie pictures were captured by a Yorkshire photographer turned urban explorer, who has been documenting abandoned ruins across the region through his Abandoned Yorkshire Explores website.
Urban exploring has become increasingly popular through photographically-led blog sites. Martin (he asked us not to give his full name) has photographed sites across Europe, but most are in Yorkshire.
From a Pontefract cinema to Leeds Girls School, his pictures paint a haunting image of nature reclaiming back buildings we have left for dead.
One of his latest expeditions was to the disused part of the former RAF Church Fenton airbase, a few miles south of York. What he found was a massively overgrown jungle hiding the old buildings, including the “highlight [which] was the huge water tower with a great view from the roof!”
The airfield was opened in April 1937, as the air force was being expanded in response to the growing threat from Hitler.
During the war Church Fenton was home to a night-flight training unit. Later it hosted RAF squadrons which carried out offensive sorties over Northern Europe.
In peacetime the RAF used it as a training base, and it closed in 2013. You can read more about its history on this excellent website.
Meanwhile, have a look at Martin’s pictures below and visit his blog page for more.
I used to visit Church Fenton frequently during the 1950s as a ATC Cadet and to watch the Air Displays with Meteors of 19 72 and 609 Sqns. I saw the best aerobatic display ever by a Meteor F8 of 609 Sqn RoyalAuxillery Air Force. Just fantastic days.
My father was Officers mess Steward for many years we lived in quarters in the Officers mess I still have the clock that hung in the kitchens and a few other bits .
Should be saved as a time capsule and used as a meusiem. These types of buildings are disappearing fast to developers.
I got demobbed from there 1 Feb 86, was dined out the Mess 18 Dec 85, only did a couple of months there as was on LTOD such a sad sight
i am really interested in these photographs and the texture of the buildings its self, i ould really like to visit this place and if possible take photographs my self for my gcse art its something I’m really interested in and some of the work i produce is very similar to this, I’m not oo sure where to get details like an email, phone number or where this place is.
I pass the airfield every week And now, nearly 80 ,was not in the war, but look across at the buildings, think of all those who lived and worked there and wish it was possible to have a look round.
Is this building still there? if so where abouts is it?
Great if sad photos now captured for eternity. Thank you. Remember queueing in our Hillman Imp with my Dad and his workmate to get into the airshows in the late sixties. Still have a couple of the programmes. Halcyon days. Creating a Hamlet/housing or whatever far too sensible an idea. Even if accepted it would take decades to come to fruition in today’s so called hi-tech era. All that tech slows things down terribly and cost a fortune too!
Sad indeed. Happy memories of Church Fenton as an ATC cadet, 1731 (Isle of Lewis) Sqn. in the 1960’s. Jet Provosts doing their stuff!!
As a young Pilot Officer in 1990, I met pretty young lady in that Officers’ Mess. We are still together 26 years later. Great memories!
As the last station warrant officer at the station from 1983 to 1990 I was saddened to see the pictures of Church Fenton in its present condition I have very fond memories of my years there and the comradeship of the men.
I remember you……………. a villa fan if memory serves me well
are yes noel i remember you very well
What a shame! This is one of the few remaining “Expansion Stations” built before WW2. I think Church Fenton was involved in the “Baedekker Raids” (apologies if spelled wrong) where a few airfields got bombed by the Germans.
I have fond memories of the place, as an Air Cadet at camps, at the Air Shows, and latterly, during my Military Service, I flew from Fenton in JP’s with the Chief Flying instructor.
Why oh why does this place HAVE to be abandoned and derelict to the point it will have to be demolished! Surely “SOMETHING” can be saved of a little bit of Yorkshire’s history, and a little bit of pride can be maintained, even if in the form of a small museum there? We have seen what happened to Driffield and many other airfields across Britain – the developers have no interest in history, only in money 🙁 I feel very sad now 🙁
church fenton has now been bought by a fruit farmer & is now a civil airport, a film studio & also a race track for people that buy a Ginetta sports car
It was a terrible shock to see Church Fenton in such a poor state
I was the last Officers Mess Manager before it closed in 1992 Ihave such fond memories and many friends that I knew when stationed there
My Father was Officers Mess Steward for many years my brothers and I were brought up in the stewards quarters spent many happy times there such a shame its gone my Da and I visited after it had been shut it was a shame to see the parquet floor in the dining room had lifted up with damp I still have the clock that hung on the wall in the kitchens and other little bits from when it shut .
Hi Anthony. Where were the Stewards quarters?
Lovely photos, evoke some real emotion
Many happy memories of Church Fenton with 24TNDP. Shame he didn’t get any shots of the crew rooms on the flight line. It would be nice to see if the course badges we painted on the walls had survived the passage of time.
We used to go with my mum and dad to all the airshows when my dad was based at Linton before he came out of the raf in 76 had some fun times there’s sad ???? but happy memories
My Dad (Cpl Sutherland) was stationed here twice ’59-63 and ’66-69. We lived in quarters on Askham Lane & Tedder Rd in Acomb York, these also were demolished many years ago. I have fond memories of Bonfire nights, Christmas parties (with a visit to the cinema beforehand) at the camp. So sad to see it now.
My name is Dion Pedder, I was born at home in Church Fenton 27,1, 1959. My dad was Corporal Michael Pedder, Mick.
These photos certainly bring back many memories and the Sgts mess bar , I spent many a night behind it serving the Sgts and W/Os, many happy memories such a shame the buildings are decaying, another piece of RAF history will soon be gone.
Happy memories of when I worked in the officers mess there, I also met my husband there.
It’s a shame to see this go to ruin, I never served there but heard many good things. Perhaps the Government should spend some money on re-furb for our homeless vets.
What brilliant beautiful buildings just left to fall from grace . It could of been used for so many things
could put all these refugees or ex homeless service back in there tidy it up run the machine shops an motor pools use as an industrial area put people to work on it rathe rthan let waste
I thought a local farmer had bought this site and was planning to reopen the airfield as a civil concern……
Oh to be able to take it, preserve its history and bring it back to life…..
Wow! I especially like the ones where mother nature has taken over inside, and the shot looking up the stairwell/atrium.
used to live at church fenton when my father was in the raf
Being both a long term ex RAF veteran and my earlier years brought up in York I have passed and visited Church Fenton several times. It is difficult to imagine even with the passage of time it could get into this state. Demolition seems to be the only solution.
Such a waste such a shame that most of the building (s) are unfit and would be demolished. It could with a bit of cash from the government, be turned into a small hamlet. You know, houses shops…..
Very sad all that spit and polish will not pass AOC’s inpection now. great photos.
Back in 1969 I was the on last but one RAF Officer Induction course there and left as an APO acting Pilot Officer, going on to Basic Flying Training at Linton on Jet Provosts. Have good memories of the base, including a formal interview with Station Commander who tried to persuade me not to get married! Hard to match these excellent photos with the memories though, everything was so polished and regimented then. I went on to fly C130s, Vulcan B1/K2 serving 21 years (and still married!)
Remember the wonderful Air Shows we used to go to in the 50s/60s. My dad worked on the runway during the war.
These photos are beautiful, yet sad. My mum and dad, and I think my aunt and uncle met here in the mid 1960’s. My grandma and mum worked in the kitchen. Lots of memories here. Thank you for sharing!
Amazing pictures. So many memories and so sad to see it like this but you have brought out the magic of a truly historical and unforgetful place in a lot of service persons lives. Thank you
Yes, very good memories, very saddening to see these pictures though.
Wow! the things we used to do in some of those rooms………….. I feel so old looking at those pictures, I think that our Barrack Block Mitch!
Spot on Karen. The memories are still there, but the base is a mess….. Such a shame, as was a great first posting for me.
Have some fab memories of Church Fenton. Such a shame to see it like this. Had an amazing chance to be escorted round the site a couple of years ago….