Visited with DJ OSKA who was able to arrange for the keyholder to open both the operations block and the generator house for viewing.
From the sign on the site erected by the Commons Committe with assitance from the radar museum at Neatishead..
RAF Barrow CommonFrom 1940 to 1944 this site was manned as a radar station to detect aircraft, especially low-flying, attacking the country. It was built in 1940 by JF Williamson, builders of Burnham Market. Initially the Coastal Defence station was manned by the army, with a Chain Home Extra Low radar set capable, with a “bedstead” aerial mounted on the roof, of detecting aircraft up to 35 miles out and with a field of vision from north-west to north-east.
A Second World War Radar Station
It was one of a number of Chain Home Low or Extra Low radar stations, linking to the east probably with a station on Bard Hill behind Salthouse and another at West Beckham behind Sheringham, and to the west at Stenigot and Skendleby in Lincolnshire. These were positioned with as clear and unimpeded a view of the sea as possible. Certainly the site of Barrow Common’s radar station was well suited. Less suitable was the bedstead aerial which had to be turned by hand, often difficult in high winds. Scanning was therefore frequently exhausting for the operators.
In early 1942 the station was taken over by the RAF as a Joint Air and Surface Watching Station, although in a standby surface watching role, as the main danger was still thought to be low-flying aircraft. The bedstead aerial was replaced by a lattice tower about 100 yards (90m) to the south-east, probably 200 ft (81m) high. The four concrete blocks on which the corners if the tower rested can still be seen. This increased the range significantly.
RAF Barrow Common was likely to have been manned not only by RAF personnel but also four naval ratings responsible for plotting ships, and four army observers – over 80 personnel in total. There would have been four watches of six hours each. Personnel were billeted at Valley farm just to the east of the common. Of the two buildings the larger housed the radar equipment and screens, and probably a restroom for the operators. The small building contained the diesel power plant. The station was closed in 1944 after the invasion of the continent by the allied armies.
This may be taken as the official history, although there are still some details to be confirmed.
The exterior..
On the left is the operations block, the lower block is the generator house.
The operations block, the door used to access the building is on the far end. The door visible in the shot is to/from the third and furthest room.
The generator house.