Building 66 (Guard And Firehouse)

Building 66, originally a guardhouse and fire-party quarters with a garage, was constructed between 1935 and 1936. Designed by A. Bulloch, architectural advisor to the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings, it is located within the nationally important RAF Hullavington. The building is constructed of bath stone ashlar facing brickwork, with a plain tile roof.

The plan consists of a rectangular, single-storey block arranged around a small central courtyard. A prominent open arcade/verandah runs across the front of the building. The front of the building houses the principal offices, with a later glazed lobby inserted into part of the arcade. To the sides and rear are a cell, garage, offices and WCs, modified from their original use.

The exterior features high-pitched hipped roofs behind parapets. The main front range rises above the arcade, which is supported by broad piers and stepped back wings. The arcade has simple capitals and flush voussoirs with keystones, with arches returning at either end. Three original wooden 15-pane sashes remain in the arcade, but the entrance has been altered with a timber framed and glazed kiosk. A high-level grilled light is visible to the left, and further high-level lights are on the returns, alongside a door at the far end. The right-hand end is also set back, with a front door, a large casement window, three smaller vertical lights, a door, and a wide vehicle doorway. The rear of the building includes three central blind arches containing 12-pane sashes, with a higher parapet flanked by 9 and 6-pane windows on either side.

The interior of the building has not been inspected.

This building exemplifies the successful blend of functionality and aesthetics that characterized the early phase of the RAF’s post-1934 expansion, and it notably displays original windows and fitments. As the first building encountered by visitors and staff, the guardhouse presents a dignified appearance with careful detailing, and the open arcade both serves a functional purpose and enhances the overall quality of the building.

RAF Hullavington, which opened as a Flying Training Station on June 6th, 1937, was also selected in 1938 as one of a series of Aircraft Storage Units. Further details about the site can be found in the descriptions of Buildings 59, 60 and 61, The Officers' Mess.