Aircraft hangars, now a storage depot. 1916 with minor mid C20 alterations. (1)
Built 1916, notable for Belfast Truss roof. The Belfast Truss was developed in the late C19 as a way of achieving a maximum span using available resources, primarily timber and felt. It was quickly adopted by the military during World War I. In 1927/28 a range of technical buildings to the north of the hangars, these included an armoury, workshop, photographic block and guardhouse. Much of the works undertaken at Hucknall between the Rolls Royce and the RAF was secret both during and after the war years but included. The development of the world-renowned Merlin engine. The world’s first piloted vertical take-off jet powered aircraft, known as the Flying Bedstead. The development of the world’s first turboprop engine. The world’s first flight of a commercial jet-airliner. Development of the world’s first reverse thrust jet engine.The airfield closed in 1971, but engines continued to be tested as the adjacent Rolls Royce site until 2008. The grade II listed hangars fell out of aviation use becoming vehicle workshops and later warehouses. (2)

Listed buildings slides, (Photograph). SNT2648.

<1> DOE, Listed Building Description (Published document). SNT228.

<2> Ashfield District Council, 2016, Summary of Heritage Assets: Former RAF Hucknall Airfield, Watnall Road, Hucknall (Unpublished document). SNT5255.