Temporary hut used as nurses quarters during WWII goes on the market

Temporary hut used as nurses quarters for nearby RAF hospital during WWII before veteran airman called it home for 70 years hits market for £200,000

  • The hut served RAF Hurn near Bournemouth, Dorset which opened in 1941 
  • William Chapman, a veteran who died aged 96, lived in property with his family
  • Planning permission has been granted to demolish the hut and build a bungalow 

A temporary hut used as a nurses quarters during WWII and then lived in by a veteran airman has gone on the market for £200,000.

The humble part-brick, part-timber hut served as the nurses’ quarters for a nearby hospital at RAF Hurn, near Bournemouth, Dorset.

After its use during the war a veteran by the name of William Chapman rented the property for his family because he was unable to secure a council house.

He died two years ago aged 96 and now the structure is on the market and could be demolished – with planning permission granted for a contemporary bungalow in its place.

Scroll down for video 

This felt-covered temporary hut was built to house nurses during WWII. It was used by nurses at the neighbouring RAF hospital at Hurn, near Bournemouth, Dorset

War veteran William Chapman and his family rented the temporary hut from the Department of Environment because they were unable to get a council house. The veteran lived in it (his bedroom is pictured) until his death two years ago, aged 96

The property has been described by estate agents as ‘not the most glamorous thing’ but still a ‘very interesting property’. Mr Chapman and his family managed to make it work as a home. Pictured is a washing machine and heater

Historian Mike Phipp, who wrote a book about the history of Bournemouth Airport, describes the history of the property. 

He said: ‘During the war they put the sleeping quarters away from the airport.

‘There were about ten sites, little clusters of huts dotted around to keep them hidden from view.

‘The majority were sleeping quarters for servicemen and women. The sick quarters were where Mildren Construction is now and the nurses were based quite close to that, they were probably built in 1942.’ 


  • Unseen Churchill letter reveals for first time how brazen…


    The shots that sparked WWII: Chilling photos reveal moment…


  • Explorer, 31, discovers striking World War Two portraits in…

Share this article

The property comes with half-an-acre of land which currently has a concrete air raid shelter on that was used by the nurses in the war.

RAF Hurn opened in 1941 and was used by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces, primarily as a transport and fighter airfield.

It was one of the airfields established to counter the Luftwaffe presence across the Channel in northern France.

It then served as a base for the development of radar and for bombers supporting the D-Day invasion in 1944.  

Mr Phipp said: ‘The base was used for training glider pilots to cross the Channel for D-Day and on D-Day 120 fighters were flying back and forth from Hurn to France.

‘After the success of D-Day the fighters went to Normandy and were replaced at Hurn by the Americanw for a short while.

‘The base became a civil airport in December 1944 and some of the buildings were used by the airline BOAC. One or two were lived in by people after the war but most were knocked down.’   

The temporary structure, which has built decades ago during WWII, served nurses working at RAF Hurn. Some domestic accommodation sites, including this one, were built away from the airfield to provide accommodation for 2,440 personnel

Mr Chapman and his family have made a number of interior changes to the property – which is part-brick and part-timber

The kitchen inside the hut, which could soon be demolished if new owners decide to go forward with planning permission to build a new bungalow 

The airfield had a ground support station, mostly constructed of Nissen huts, with squadron headquarters, mess facilities, chapel, hospital, armoury, life support, parachute rigging and other functions.

Some domestic accommodation sites, including this one, were built away from the airfield to provide accommodation for 2,440 personnel.

In 1944 the airfield was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and then became Bournemouth Airport. 

The planned replacement dwelling for the hut would have 1,593 sq ft of space with an open plan kitchen/dining/living room, three bedrooms, one with an en suite, and a family bathroom.

It would also sit further back from the road and have a garage.

The current owners bought the plot from the government 31 years ago, they let the Chapmans continue living there for a low rent up until Mr Chapman died two years ago, aged 96. There is also still an old bunker in the grounds (pictured) for the nurses in the event of an air raid

The bunker is overgrown but estate agents Symonds & Sampson think that if you cut back the undergrowth you would still be able to get in there

Meredith Holmes, from estate agents Symonds & Sampson, said: ‘It was built as nurses quarters during the war and there is also still an old bunker in the grounds for the nurses in the event of an air raid.

‘It’s quite an unusual building, it’s partly made from brick and timber then completely covered in felt. It was only meant to be temporary so I think that was a cheap way to do it.

‘It’s not the most glamorous thing, it looks like a giant static caravan, but it’s a very interesting property.

‘The bunker is quite overgrown but we think if you cut back the undergrowth you would still be able to get in there.

‘Our clients live pretty much full-time in Australia so they’ve decided to sell. It has planning permission to demolish the existing building and create a contemporary three-bedroom house.

‘It could appeal to somebody who wants to build their own home or if the price is right it might go to a developer who wants to do it up and sell it.

‘The location is fairly remote but it has good access to the main roads and is close to the airport.’

The property will be sold at auction on Friday in Wimborne, Dorset.

Source: Read Full Article