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The Red Barns of Norfolk

THIS PAGE UPDATED : 13 July 2024

Rumoured to have been constructed as forward landing grounds for a German invasion of the UK, these Red Barns continue to cause speculation as why they appeared in the late 1930's in the fields of Norfolk.

There are reports that the sites came to light in May 1940 when they were over flown by the RAF on a surveying mission. Investigation into them began and some of the Dutch farm workers were arrested. When questioned by the authorities the Dutchmen said the large barns were needed for specialist farm equipment and as nothing could be proved at the time they were released from custody after a couple of weeks. 

The barns were built for the Dutch-owned East Anglian Real Property Company (EARP), with the steel for them coming from Head Wrightson & Co, soon to become famous for the construction of the Bellman Hangar. 

Of all the 8 sites that were recorded, most, if not all had hedges and trees cleared. The resulting fields were roughly 200 acres at each site and the fields were allegedly bare of crops and rolled hard. Some people refer to agricultural lime being laid out in straight lines marking the sites out, but this has never been proved with certainty.

While the fantasist would like to believe there is some truth in these supposed 'German Landing Grounds', I highly doubt this was the case. Should anyone want to give me hard evidence to the contrary then I would welcome it.
​
LOCATION
Beighton
Buckenham (East)
​Buckenham (West)
Cantley (North)
​Cantley (South)
Guestwick (North)
​Guestwick (South)
Halvergate
Paston
Reedham
Sporle (North)
​Sporle (South)
​Southrepps
LAT / LONG
52.622303, 1.520553
52.606387, 1.495402
52.600816, 1.478929
52.593081, 1.512737
52.585549, 1.511990
​52.805445, 1.046647
​52.797854, 1.047036
52.609660, 1.565126
52.858110, 1.449974
52.573304, 1.577122
52.648313, 0.738704
​52.636960, 0.749731
Location not known
NGR
TG 3839 0854
TG 3672 0668
​TG 3567 0603​
TG 3799 0525
TG 3803 0441

TG 0545 2744
​TG 0552 2659
​TG 4147 0729
TG 3235 3453
TG 4245 0327
TF 8538 0915
​TF 8616 0790
​Location not known

Beighton

Low Farm, Beighton

Buckenham (East)

Wood Lane Farm, Buckenham

Buckenham (West)

Buckenham Hall Farm, Buckenham

Cantley (North)

Manor Farm, Cantley

Cantley (South)

Burnt House Road, Cantley

Guestwick (North)

Abbey Farm, Guestwick

Guestwick (South)

Station Farm, Guestwick

Halvergate

Tunstall Road, Halvergate

Paston

Hall Farm, Paston

Reedham

Hall Farm, Reedham

Sporle (North)

Town Farm / Petygards, Sporle

Sporle (South)

Town Farm / Petygards, Sporle
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UK Airfields (previously known as 'Airfields & Aviation Memorials').
Copyright © 1977 - 2025.
All photos taken by Richard E Flagg unless stated otherwise.
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