Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Circa 1940 (opened 1941). 3-storey with flat roof; square-plan disused Second World War control tower of standard Royal Naval Air Station design with cantilevered balcony. Brick and cellular concrete with concrete cills. Light railings to balcony and rooftop.

S (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: broad door to centre ground flanked by narrow vertical windows with further similar window to outer right; 1st floor with window to centre, 2 smaller windows to left, tall narrow stair window to right and tiny window to outer right; further windows to centre and left bays at 2nd floor.

E ELEVATION: variously-sized asymmetrically-disposed openings to each floor; 2nd floor with cantilevered balcony wrapping around angle to right and access ladder to roof at left.

W ELEVATION: ground floor with 2 windows to centre and right; 1st floor with 3 windows to centre and right, and narrow vertical window to left with tiny window beyond; 2nd floor with broad door to left and balcony wrapping around angle, single window to right.

Some metal-framed casement windows remain.

INTERIOR: ground floor only seen 2002. Small rooms with brick divisions and concrete staircase.

Statement of Special Interest

Although the total of Britain's airfields increased form 158 to 740 during the Second World War, virtually intact examples of this standard late war type of control tower built also at (amongst other airfields) Heathrow and Dumfries are few. Findo Gask was a '25 SLG grass satellite aerodrome' comprising ancillary structures such as Battle HQ and machine-gun range. Intended for use by 44 MU Edzell, the field was taken over by 309

Squadron (owing to its close proximity to Polish army camps) and was opened on 14th June, 1941. On 25th November, 1942 the squadron moved its headquarters to the site. Flying Training Command took over Findo Gask on 12th July, 1943 by which time The Empire Training Scheme had established 153 Schools in the UK. Subsequently becoming a satellite for Errol, the airfield closed on 12th September, 1944 with the buildings being utilised for storage by the Polish Army until 1948. Many years later AST Perth used the field for practice forced landings.

Now (2002) only the control tower remains in anything like its original form. A nearby T2 hangar was re-clad and renovated by 1981, and a single (altered) Nissen-type hut remains together with some areas of concrete runway. Further examples of listed Second World War control towers are at East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian and Fearn Royal Naval Air Station, Highland.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.