Site Records

Site Name: RAF Murlough Bay ('URB') CHEL R11 ROTOR Radar Station

Torr Road
West Torr
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland
OS Grid Ref: ID 213407

Sub Brit site visit 31st May 2006

RAF MURLOUGH BAY TODAY
The technical block at RAF Murlough Bay is located half a mile inland from the Antrim coast at a height of 290 metres with the land dropping off steeply towards the sea. A steep access road runs north from Torr Road to an artificial plateau excavated below the highest point. The entire hill was surrounded by chain link fencing running down to the road, although the fencing has now been removed all the concrete fence posts remain.

Externally, the R11 technical block is in fair condition with open doors and windows, many with their glass still intact; it has now been put to agricultural use. Internally the building has been almost completely gutted; the false teak flooring in the spine corridor and all the rooms has been removed. As built all the cables were sited beneath this floor which was raised approximately 3' above the ground floor throughout much of the building. Within the main part of the building only the air conditioning plant room does not have a false floor with steps down from the raised corridor.

In this room all the plant and switchgear has been stripped out leaving four small brick built rooms that held banks of filters. A number of concrete mountings and engine beds are still in situ.

Internally little remains to indicate the buildings former use. This urinal is one of the few remaining artifacts.

The domestic rooms are located at the north end of the building, at the end of a short side corridor. This area comprises male and female toilet cubicles and a male and female rest room, each with a serving hatch into the tiny kitchen. The kitchen like the rest of the building has been completely stripped of its fixtures and fittings; the serving hatches are still there but one has been boarded up. A single male urinal can still be seen in the toilet. This part of the building has a solid concrete floor. This part of the building has been adapted for animals with hoses and drinking troughs. At the south end

A single brick radar plinth with four concrete blocks around it still stands on the hilltop above the technical block. The blocks would have supported a 25' gantry for the Type 14 search radar above the plinth; there is no evidence of a second plinth for the Type 13 height finder.. The standby set house is sited at the east end of the technical block again this has been stripped of original fixtures and fittings and put to agricultural use. A girder running the length of the building at ceiling level would have been for a movable hoist. The building has two wings from which there is no access to the main part of the building; one of these has been fitted out as an office and/or domestic use with furniture, fridge, cooker, sink etc..

Two modern radio masts are now sited on the hilltop overlooking the technical block and within the original Rotor enclosure.

Close to the road, concrete steps lead down to the base of a demolished building, which was the guardhouse. A smaller extant building alongside was for the police dogs. Internally this building has a number of half height partition walls which was the dog food preparation area. The filter beds for the sewage works can also still be seen close to the boundary.

The VHF receiver block was located on a field boundary 100 yards west of a minor road at Crockanore, one and a half miles west of the technical site. Although the building has been demolished some fence posts and foundations can still be seen. The VHF transmitter block was located on a hilltop on the east side of the same road; no evidence of which remains.

Those members of Subterranea Britannica taking part in this visit were Nick Catford, Bob Jenner and Keith Ward .

For further pictures of RAF Murlough Bay click here

Gallery 1 - Gallery 2 - Gallery 3

Sources:

• Bob Jenner
• Keith Ward
• PRO File Air 8/1630
• A view of Air Defence Planning by R H G Martin 2003 ISBN 0-954601 7-0-X
  

Home Page

© 2007 Subterranea Britannica