RAF St.Lawrence

- RAF St.Lawrence -

RAF St. Lawrence was located on the coast about two miles west of Ventnor. It was initially established as a 'Remote Reserve' for the Southbourne site (on the mainland at Bournemouth) and first became operational with mobile equipment in 1941. However, when the buried installation was constructed it was obvious that it had a dual function as an Emergency Alternative Reserve for RAF Ventnor. This was because the Buried Reserve constructed at the St.Boniface site was considered vulnerable in the event of another air-raid attack there. In use, unlike Ventnor, the site was found to have an excellent height finding capability, being situated only 44 feet above sea level and because of this it took on 24 hour working. Accommodation for personnel was in local hotels. Line of shoot was 170 degrees, i.e. 22 degrees more southerly than Ventnor's, so the coverage would not have been exactly the same and the range would have been shorter too. The two towers were of wood and were 105 feet high. The site continued in use until 1947.
A plaque of commemoration was unveiled on April 10th.1994 at the Old Park Hotel by Lady Barclay and Sir Peter Anson as part of a weekend reunion held there.
This photograph from the 1945 Victory Souvenir edition of Radar Bulletin is undoubtedly of the St Lawrence site:-

And sixty three years later, this is what it looks like today:-

See P.S. below. The slot at the top of the blockwork allows the Interesting Special Scientific bats an unrestricted lifestyle.

The transmitter dome is equipped with an elaborate feeder portal.
Or from the air this Google Earth extract gives a perfect impression of the site layout.

There is an additional bunker and other huts in the trees close by.

The Officers' Mess was in the nearby Old Park Hotel shown below and the other ranks were accommodated in the Rocklands and Whitecliffe hotels.

The bunker and huts photographs taken & kindly supplied to be displayed here by 'Barrie H', another Island resident.

The area is known as 'Woody Bay' and the site is at Grid Reference 532761. It is easily visited as the coastal footpath passes extremely close to it. It may also be approached via a short footpath (No.V97) from Woolverton Road, St.Lawrence.
P.S.
When visiting the site with Harold Lewis in early October 2006 the Estate Manager unexpectedly joined us. He pointed out that we were on private land and that we ought not to be, especially as it was a Special Site of Scientific Interest due to it having become the home of an unusual species of bat. This was news to both of us as there were no signs in evidence indicating either fact. So would-be visitors please be advised that this is the case and as the bunkers are sealed and as it is perfectly easy to photograph the remains from the closely adjacent coastal path, there is nothing at all to be gained but a £20000 fine for venturing into the field. The two huts in the trees should be regarded as even more strictly off-limits. Any enquiries concerning a closer inspection of the site must be addressed to the owner, Mr.S.Twining OBE, Woolverton House, St.Lawrence. I sincerely apologise to Mr.Twining for our intrusion but hope that this announcement will wholly mitigate what was after all but a very mild act of trespass and indeed one unwittingly caused by the lack of a steel field gate at the side of the true footpath and also there being not one suitable warning sign in evidence at the time.
Recently, in the interest of the bats the site owner has elected to disfigure this historic and possibly unique (by virtue of its completeness) site by banking earth against the bunkers. See the latest photographs of the site. However, after consideration one may see this as a happy compromise indeed : one may be happy for both the bats and the future military historian. The bats have a secure home and the blocked entrance would be but a minor barrier for a future authorised and determined excavator, but very likely to deter the casual vandal in what will probably be a lengthy meantime. Take leave...or...Return to the CH Page.

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