RAF Caistor
Built in 1940, Caistor was a minor RAF base, serving as a relief airstrip and training base during WW2, then returned to agricultural use afterwards.
In July 1959 however, it served as one of the 5 Thor missile stations of the Hemswell group as part of Project Emily, the US-UK deployment of intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) on 20 sites in the east of England. 4 years later Thor was phased out and this site quickly returned to agricultural use.
English Heritage have a very informative advice report that gives more historical detail. It concludes as the site is so eroded, it won't be listed.
From the air we can see the tell-tail signs of a Thor site, specifically three cross-shaped hard-standings in a triangular arrangement, with two L-shaped blast walls at the intersection of each cross.
This diagram helps explain the function of the parts that are left, though as no L-shaped blast wall is shown, it doesn't seem to be an exact representation of this particular site.
The emplacements were found deserted with evidence of recent poultry production and fly-tipping. In the photo below a blast wall is on the right. The missile would have laid in a shelter where the shed is now.
Another blast wall with dumped junk
According to the diagram, this concrete trough could have been the liquid oxygen overflow basin
Looking into one of the sheds - nothing of interest except the remaining hard standing.
A locked auxiliary building - perhaps fire related.
More old poultry sheds. Unable to tell whether they ever had RAF use.
Thanks for reading- stand by for part 3!
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