Building 82 (Canteen), Aircraft Storage Unit Site

This is a former canteen, built in 1938 as part of the Air Ministry’s Directorate of Works and Buildings, under Drawing No 2876/37. It is now used as a nursery. The building is constructed of bath stone ashlar facing brick, with a profiled tile roof.

The plan consists of a long, single-storey, hipped block with a symmetrical front, a deep rear 'T'-shaped section containing the original kitchen, and side wings.

The exterior features steel casement windows with horizontal bars. The front range has a central pair of panelled doors set on two steps, recessed between rounded pilasters and sheltered by a small canopy. Two-light windows are arranged in a 1:4:1 grouping, with a lintel band above the central group and separated by four downpipes with hopper heads. The returns have 1:3 casement windows treated in a similar style, with two downpipes. A high, flush coped parapet runs along the top. The rear of the building retains the original ashlar stack, alongside a later, larger brick stack.

The interior contains panelled doors.

This canteen is part of a significant group of buildings that represent the high architectural quality of the RAF bases developed after 1934. Located at Hullavington, which opened as a Flying Training Station in June 1937, the site was selected in 1938 as one of a series of Aircraft Storage Units to hold reserves destined for the front line. It is associated with Buildings 59, 60 and 61 (The Officers' Mess) and forms part of a remarkably complete technical group established north of the main area to provide repair and administration facilities.