Officers' Mess at former RAF Scampton

The Officers’ Mess with accommodation wings at RAF Scampton was built around 1936 to designs by Archibald Bulloch, with extensions in 1939 and again in 1955 by Orman & Partners. The building is constructed of brick with tile roofs.

The Mess follows a roughly H-shaped plan, comprising a large central block running east-west and flanked by north-south wings. The design is in a neo-Georgian style typical of buildings of the period. The main block, with 17 bays, faces south; the central three bays project forward to form the main entrance, featuring three doors set in deeply arched surrounds. Tall timber sash windows are located either side (currently boarded). The steeply pitched roof rises behind the parapet and is punctuated by three central chimneys.

The flanking accommodation blocks project forward of the main block. Their end elevations feature a central arched ground floor door flanked by windows, with three windows above. The long elevations have 29 bays, presenting rows of continuous windows at ground and first floor levels.

The rear elevations, facing a courtyard, are similar in design. The rear of the central block is irregular, incorporating a large block representing the Officers' dining room, a two-storey block with a flat roof at its upper level, and some single-storey extensions.

The main entrance opens into a central hall displaying moulded wall detailing, dividing the space into compartments with arched mouldings above cornice level, mirroring the arches of the main entrance doors. The hall provides access to a spine corridor extending the length of the central block. Large function rooms are located on the south side of the corridor; the room to the east of the main hall features a shallow barrel-vaulted ceiling with a simple moulded cornice and deep skirtings. This room contains a large fireplace with a tiled inset, a bolection moulded surround within a larger timber surround, and arched niches on either side.

Behind the central corridor lie the bar area and Officers' dining room. The original 1930s section retains a sprung timber floor and a suspended ceiling. The 1950s extension is larger, with projecting pilasters along the perimeter, lower wainscotting, and simple cornice details. Kitchens and service rooms are located beyond these spaces.

Each accommodation wing has a main stair for Officers’ use, featuring timber banisters and simply moulded posts, as well as secondary service stairs. Each floor of each wing has a central corridor with rows of accommodation rooms on either side. Many rooms retain built-in wardrobes; those in the 1930s portions have Art Deco style handles, while the 1950s extension has mid-century disc handles. Some rooms retain service bells.