Building record MAB38319 - RM CONDOR, ARBROATH AIRFIELD

Military airfield, now in use by Royal Marines, and associated buildings, including a B-listed Captain's House (NO 41403 43752) and a C-listed control tower (NO 61893 43589).

Military airfield, now in use by Royal Marines, and associated buildings, including a B-listed Captain's House (NO 41403 43752) and a C-listed control tower (NO 61893 43589). HMS Condor was originally planned as an observer training school when it was built in 1939/40, and commissioned on 19 June 1940. A decoy site was established at Kelly Moor (NO54SE0084). HMS Condor was an air engineer school unit from 1945 until it closed in September 1970. It then became the home of 45 Commando, Royal marines, in 1970, but the airfield continued to be used as a gliding school. Because of the surrounding trees, it is difficult to see much of the aerodrome today. The airfield still retains its two runways. An early Royal Naval Air Service control tower survives to the East of the main technical area. It was built in circa 1940, and is a three-storey, five-bay, rectangular plan, flat-roofed former control tower. It is constructed with a rendered brick shell over a reinforced concrete frame. There is a crash tender garage, with a later roller shutter door, in the South elevation. On the third storey, there is a recessed observation balcony and parapet on three sides. There is a timber-clad roof cabin, railings and moorings for the now removed anemometer mast, cast-iron rainwater goods and later uPVC windows throughout, replacing the original metal casement windows. There is irregular fenestration reflecting the internal plan. Inside, there is are concrete stairs, with a cast-iron banister and hardwood handrail. Within the woodland to the North-West of the airfield is an early-19th century Captain's house, also known as Woodlands House. It is a wide rectangular building, oriented East/West. There is a five-bay, three-storey centre block, with two-storey, single-bay wings to the East and West, and a single-storey wing to the East. The South-facing elevation has a full-height projecting bow front over the centre three bays. The wings all have piended slate roofs, and there are wallhead and ridge stacks. To the East of the house is a farmstead. On the 1st edition OS map it is a shallow U-plan range, oriented North-West/South-East. The North-West wing is extended on the 2nd edition OS map, creating a three-sided range. The building now consists of the original North-West/South-East oriented range, without the wings at each end that had given it a U-plan. The technical area includes many wartime buildings, some now used for other purposes. Aircraft hangars of the T2 (three in a block), Bellman, Tee-side 'S' types, Naval aircraft repair shops and a Bain hangar, which is now in use for electrical repairs, all survive in the technical area. There are also accommodation huts, two torpedo attack trainers, naval guard rooms, gym/concert hall with many other buildings within this area. On the North-West side of the technical area is the naval operations block, a low flat roofed concrete and brick building. Within the site is a stone of remembrance, commemorating men of 7 (Sphinx) Commando Battery Royal Artillery killed in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and the Falklands.

Period Notes
Captain's house built in the 19th century, and most other buildings of a World War II origin. The Captain's house was listed on 11/06/1971, and the control tower on 30/05/2006.

AN/6667, AN/6667 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22383.

AN/6668, AN/6668 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22384.

AN/6669, AN/6669 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22385.

AN/6670, AN/6670 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22386.

AN/6671, AN/6671 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22387.

Smith, D J, 1983, Action Stations 7, 37-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10977.

Francis, P, 1996, British Military Airfields, 134, 154, 159, 160, 161 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11496.

Sep 15 2000 , AAS/00/13/CT125-6, AAS/00/13/CT125-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29382.

Sep 15 2000 , AAS/00/13/G33/7, AAS/00/13/G33/7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29383.

Record last edited

Sep 8 2025 2:01PM