HOLTON HALL PARK WWII

Tales about the Holton Hall, the park and the airfield

Buttons courtesy Dana Lea's Web Graphics

The Holton Hall Park area referred to below stands on private property. Any American veterans or family wishing to visit the Holton Hall Park site are always made welcome. Just drop me an e-mail giving the expected dates and I will inform the site office.

The site is reached by taking the A144 out of Halesworth towards Bungay. Turn right at the mini-roundabout by the Triple Plea public house onto Sparrowhawk Road. Towards the end of which, on the left is where one of the large T2 aircraft hangers once stood. Glen Miller performed there on 4^th August 1944. I’m informed that if any VIP’s needed ferrying around the country the task normally fell to a group not involved on a mission. The commander with the task of transporting Glen Miller and his band agreed to do so on the condition that Glen Miller give a concert to the 489^th Bomb Group at Holton. Not only was the hanger packed to capacity, but many men were climbing up the walls inside the hanger in order to obtain a better view.

At the end of Sparrowhawk road the road bends to the right as it follows the original runway perimeter track and then back to the left. In line with the end of the south-facing runway. On the left is a new memorial to the 56^th Fighter Group, after that the memorial to the 489^th Bomb Group

A foundation has also been laid for a proposed third memorial to the 5^th Air Sea Rescue Squadron. The airfield ceased to be used for flying in 1947. The airfield site is now owned by Bernard Matthews, and houses many turkeys breeding huts and a factory. The airfield is still intact and probably best viewed from the air. The 56^th fighter group museum has an aerial view of Holton airfield that was taken last year clearly showing all the runways.

Continuing along the road from the memorials you reach the site of the 56^th Fighter and the 489^th Bomb Groups Combat Mess on the left. Part of one of these nissen huts are currently being used for a museum and library to the 56^th Fighter Group. Past this on the left, now fully taken over by more of the Bernard Matthews Factory site, is the area shown as Site 6 on the Air Ministry maps. This was the first site to be constructed by Irish and London labourers in 1943. The workers had a large nissen hut (337) on the map. This was used as a dining hall and had a temporary stage on which entertainers would come and perform to the workers.

On the right, just before the Combat Mess is a water treatment plant belonging to the Essex and Suffolk Water Company. This area used to house a 50' Water tower put up by the Americans during WW II, after the war, this developed a leak and led to the formation of a gigantic icicle during winter that was quite a danger. The tower was eventually pulled down, and a much smaller water tower now stands in its place. Alongside this is the entrance to Holton Hall Park. This was the main community centre for the airmen.

As you enter the park the Site office is on your right. It is here that anyone entering the park should report having first made prior arrangements for the visit. The site office is in the building that was the ration store in 1944.

In front of the site office is a large expanse of concrete. Here three large nissen huts once stood and housed the GI’s Mess hall. One of the original boot scrapers used by airmen entering the hall still remains. Meals used to take place there in three sittings with about five hundred men at each sitting.

Continuing down past where the GI’s mess hall was located you pass the remaining foundations of the airmen’s bath houses, ablution blocks and latrines, these are visible on the right. At the end of the lane is a pond and a "T" juncton. Turning right, on the right is the base of what was the Post Exchange "PX" building, run by two women this was the place to buy confectionery and cigarettes. Opposite where the Post Exchange stood is now plot 4, and the entrance into the Holton Park Garden area. This is where the original horse stables beloning to Holton Hall were located. Continuing down the road you pass the Standby Generator building. Still standing this is used by plot owners to store bicycles. To the left in the distance there is a man made lake. This covers the area, which used to be known as Sleepy Valley. The road continues on to the West Lodge gate on Lodge road. Just after the Generator building is a turning to the right. Down here on the left one passes, first the foundations of the original Officers Club when the site opened in 1944, then on the bend is the Aero Club (American Red Cross Club). The lane continues on to eventually come out back at the site office. Just before the office on the right is where I believe the Sergeants Mess was.

Returning back to the Pond and the "T" junction. The road to the left of the pond bears to the left. On the right is where Holton Hall once stood. Behind where the hall stood is a children’s play area. This was originally used as a croquet lawn. Opposite the location of the hall there is an air-raid shelter. This is still fully intact. The road continues to the East Lodge gate. Over to the right is the area of Holton Hall Park now known as Sleepy Valley. It was in this area that the cinema and Gym were located in 1944. Not much else of the original wartime buildings are visible around the park, with the exception of numerous blast shelters. These were open shelters that have a very unique shape.

I am now informed that the term M&E plinth refers to "Mechanical and Electrical, housing the Mechanical Switchgear and the electrical transformers. The "East Lodge" shown on the Air Ministry as a Picket Post, was in fact always a lodge. It was customary to let newly weds have the use of the East Lodge.