The little patch of Northumberland to the south of Stamfordham
has gone by a few names over the past half century or so. Since the start of
World War II it has been almost exclusively a military affair, and remains so
as modern-day Albemarle Barracks. But it began life in 1939 as one of many
hastily-built aerodromes, and was commonly known as Ouston Airfield or RAF
Ouston.
Though it has not seen an aeroplane for several decades, the
rather odd arrangement of runways can still be clearly made out on modern day
maps: three long strips criss-crossing one another, with an outer ring-road
enclosing the site. Its aviation history is a standard affair: opened in 1941,
hosting Hurricanes and Spitfires initially, to be followed by all sorts of
warplanes, from Defiants to American Mustangs and Typhoons to Wellingtons . Post-war, it continued in use in
a ‘reserve’ role into the late 1950s, and some aircraft maintenance work was
carried out there into the 60s.
Just when its useful life seemed to be coming to an end, it
suddenly burst back onto the scene as a car and motorcycle racetrack in the
early to mid-60s. Racing may well have taken place there as early as 1961, but
what is known for certain is that the Newcastle
and District Motor Club organised meetings at Ouston Airfield in consecutive
Junes in 1962, 1963 and 1964. Jackie Stewart is known to have blown the field
away at one race at Ouston in his Jaguar E-type in one of his earliest wins (1962
or 1963, reports differ); and the great Jim Clark was paraded there in 1964 and
presented the prizes. In 1965, apparently, a crowd on 20,000 watched a
motorcycle race meet at Ouston.
Two years later, in 1967, the site was reopened as an
airfield for a short duration, acting as the North-East Regional
Airport Newcastle Airport
Then, in the early 1970s, it was handed over to the army and
renamed Albemarle Barracks, and aeroplanes have never left its surface since (though
Apache helicopters are still to be seen there). Recently it has found yet
another use: as a secure compound for the transport of nuclear material and/or warheads
– or so the rumours go…
I was only born in 1971, I can remember attending a single motorsports event at Ouston Airfield next to Whittle Dene. I cannot remember if the main event was bikes or cars but I can clearly remember watching a side-car race on the same day. I remember my dad buying me a Ferrari badge which was sewn onto my jacket and stayed their until I outgrew it, I would estimate this event was in approx 1977 or 78.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mick, that's very interesting. Clearly the odd meet or two continued for a bit longer than I'd imagined!
DeleteMy Dad (Peter Middleton) won a few races there. I'm currently making a documentary about him. If anybody has a list of race results from this track, it would be very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI did my basic training in Albemarle barracks in 1979-1980 with the Royal Signals they also tested the Challenger tank there, which was quite funny because they stuck cardboard boxes all over it to break up it's actual shape, in case of random photographers from the perimeter, while it raced up and down the airfield tearing up concrete as it went
ReplyDeleteJust picked this up, very interesting. My dad William Forster Boyd, born 2 November 1908 lived on the site of RAF Ouston before they tore down his mams cottage to make way for development. Just before his death took him to the entrance where we were met with the sentry with a gun. Rather than run I explained that my dad lived on the land before the airforce took over in the early years of the Second World War and we were allowed to take the car in. I had to explain my position to the colonel in charge literally quaking in my boots, he arranged for.one of his officers to join us in the car as we drove around the grounds no doubt over the house, the Tofts, where he once lived, lovely memory seeing dad relive his youth in those precious moments, Les Boyd
ReplyDeleteMedburnboyd@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteDid not want to be anonymous