Industrial History Online

Industrial History Online

RAF Orby (Ingoldmells) Radar Station

Description and History of Site:-
One of the first generation of WWII Ground Control of Interception (GCI) Radar Station the site became operational in January 1941.

The earliest GCI stations were mobile and used a mixture of trailer-mounted equipment and temporary buildings. Permanent buildings were not proved until about 1942. This compromised principally of a brick operations block, known as the "Happidrome" and a single rotating aerial array with the equipment housed underneath.

Only the brick operations block now remains and is in use as part of the Motor Racing track

In 1950 listed as GCI and C&M. Under the ROTOR plan, it was proposed that it should become a GCI Readiness and Chain Home Extra Low (CHEL) radar station and that a new underground building should be constructed. This work does was not undertaken, and the site appears to have been decommissioned in the mid-1950's.

Not listed in HER


Further Reading and References:-
Gough J, Watching The Skies - The History of ground Rader in the Air Defence of the United Kingdom, HMSO, 1993
Osborne M, 20th Century Defences in Britain Lincolnshire, Brassey's, 1997
Lowery B ed, 20th Century Defences in Britain - An Introductory Guide, Council for British Archaeology, 1995 1996
Cockcroft W D Thomas R J Barnell P S Ed, Cold War - Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946-1989, English Heritage, 2003
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=a9cd4db1-8723-430f-9c5e-584c211962c0&resourceID=19191


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Key Words :- radar ground control and interseption GCI

Viewing the Site :- Site now Skegness Motor Racing Stadium. Can be viewed from the public road

Address :- Marsh Lane, Orby, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE24 5JA
Grid Ref :- TF 52706 67893
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.186215 , Long 0.283937
Local Authority :- East Lindsey District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Lincolnshire - Lindsey
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site in alternative industrial use
Site Dates :- circa 1940 - circa 1955
Record Date :- 19 April 2021

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter