Church, West Camp, Crail Airfield

Heritage listing

Category C Group Category Details 100000019 - See Notes Date Added 25/08/2006 Local Authority Fife Planning Authority Fife Parish Crail NGR NO 62140 09275 Coordinates 362140, 709275 — 1939-40. Small pitched roof former Church with narrow lean-to outshots to N and S. Smooth cement rendered brick. Latin cross outline to apex of W gable just discernible. Metal-framed windows, some multi-pane mullioned and transomed casements. Asbestos roof. — All listings at Crail Airfield are Group Category A. The Runways are designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The Church is noted as building number 83 on the DTZ/LDN report. Crail Airfield is the best preserved example of a Second World War Naval Airfield in Scotland. It is remarkable for its survival, completeness and the rarity of some of the individual buildings. It is highly significant not only in the wider terms of Naval and Second World War history, but is also of great local importance. Crail was one of 4 airfields constructed in the early war period (along with Arbroath in Angus, Yeovilton in Somerset, and St Merryn in Cornwall). It follows the Naval pattern of 4 narrow hard runways and associated brick, concrete and corrugated iron structures. The runways are part of the main operational side, the 'Technical Area' to the South-East. The recreation and living quarters of the 'West Camp' are located to the North-West. These areas are separated by the road between Crail and Balcomie. The aircraft hangars and the great majority of the interiors are the most significant losses at the site. Many buildings have been altered and are in a poor state of repair. Around 2000 personnel were stationed at Crail Airfield, both living at the airfield itself and billeted in Crail and the surrounding area. An airfield operated briefly at C

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.