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All the United Kingdom England Friskney RAF Wainfleet Control Tower

RAF Wainfleet Control Tower

The control tower at the historic weapons range is now available as a highly unusual vacation rental.

Friskney, England

Added By
Alan Newman
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The tower.   Mat Fascione/CC BY-SA 2.0
The top-floor common area offers beautiful views on a clear day.   cottages.com/Used with Permission
The top-floor common area offers beautiful views on a clear day.   cottages.com/Used with Permission
One of the bedrooms.   cottages.com/Used with Permission
The tower.   Mat Fascione/CC BY-SA 2.0
The tower.   Mat Fascione/CC BY-SA 2.0
The control tower in 2010.   J.Hannan-Briggs/CC BY-SA 2.0
The marsh.   Ian Paterson/CC BY-SA 2.0
The results of several years of target practice.   Ian Paterson/CC BY-SA 2.0
Target ships on the beach.   Ian Paterson/CC BY-SA 2.0
Steel H-beam targets.   Ian Paterson/CC BY-SA 2.0
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The RAF Wainfleet in Friskney, near Skegness, England, has had a long and distinguished military history. In the 19th century, the weapons range was used for artillery practice, though it closed before World War I. It reopened as a military firing range just before World War II for both artillery and bombing practice and was used to test the Stabilizing Automatic Bomb Sight. The control tower was built during this time. 

Today, the control tower has been remodeled as a vacation rental. In this unusual building, the lounge is on the top floor, with the bedrooms below. Visitors can expect an uninterrupted view over the marshes through the massive windows previously used by the controllers. The tower has retained many of the features that hint its historical military significance. 

After World War II, the site served as a NATO practice range for both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Some of the world’s most formidable warplanes could frequently be seen overhead. However, due to British defense funding cuts following the 2008 financial crisis, the range closed in July 2010, reopening in its new role in 2017.

The range area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the resident and migratory birds that frequent it. Notably, it attracts a large number of brent geese that stop there on their return trip from the Arctic. It’s also good for spotting seals, and there’s even the skull of a large stranded whale lying within the marsh. The odd accommodations are also very close to Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, one of the best in the country, making it prime real estate for wildlife enthusiasts.

Related Tags

Military History Hotels Towers Aircraft Birds Bombs Weapons Places To Stay World War Ii Animals Military

Know Before You Go

While still in use, the range was supposedly cleared of ordnance by the RAF. However, there's still the likelihood of unexploded weapons lurking undetected beneath some parts of the site, so observe all the safety signs.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

September 21, 2017

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RAF Wainfleet Control Tower
Sea Lane
Friskney, England
United Kingdom
53.061581, 0.236417
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