Main Hangar (Calshot Former Rnas Station Immediately South Of Castle)

SU 40SE 13/22

FAWLEY CALSHOT Main Hangar (Calshot former RNAS Station immediately south of Castle) GV II

The grade shall be amended to II* The entry shall be amended to read:-

SU 40 SE 1860-/13/22 08/04/88

FAWLEY CALSHOT Main Hangar (Calshot former RNAS Station immediately south of Castle)

GV II*

Former flying boat hangar. 1918. Steel-framed with corrugated asbestos or metal cladding and roof. Rectangular plan, covering an area of approx 5,704 square metres. Contemporary steel buttresses. West elevation has continuous glazing below eaves, and 3 sets of sliding double doors. East elevation has continuous glazing and single-storey outshut, also glazed. North and South elevations each have 8 lights. Steel lattice girders to interior. Historical note: The largest hangar built in Britain for use by fixed-wing aircraft during World War 1, comprising 3 of the "F" type hangars which were introduced in 1917. Forms part of the most outstanding group of early aircraft structures of this type in the British isles, ranging in size from the 1914 Belfast truss Canoe Hangar (qv) of 720 square metres in area, to the type "G" hangar (qv) of 1917 (972 square metres) and this example. Consequently, they manifest as a group the great advances made in aircraft technology in the 1914-18 period. The base is also associated with the development of RJ Mitchell's Merlin engine (used in the Spitfire), having been used for RAF speed trials in the inter-war period and to accommodate British and Italian teams for the Schneider Trophy contest in 1929 and the Supermarine and Gloster racers in 1931.