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Hampton Road, STANMORE, HA7 3GE

A Spitfire and a Hurricane outside the WW2 headquarters of Fighter Command at Bentley Priory.

From 1926 until 2008 Bentley Priory was owned by the Royal Air Force and during the Battle of Britain it was the headquarters of Fighter Command. The Air Chief Marshal, Sir Hugh Dowding, was based here as was the Operations Room. In 2013, Bentley Priory Museum was opened, focusing on Bentley Priory's pivotal role during the Battle of Britain and Sir Hugh Dowding, as well as many others. The Spitfire on the north side of the Museum belonged to Cyril (Bam) Bamberger who flew with 610 and 41 Squadrons - see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7148769

Bentley Priory is best known for its pivotal role as Headquarters Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

The original Priory housed a cell of Augustinian Friars believed to be founded by Ranulf de Glanville in 1170. He was the first Englishman to be killed in the Crusades. The Priory was dissolved in the 1530s. After 1766, the house was built on higher ground to the north of the site of the original Priory. In the late 18th century, Sir John Soane was brought in to extend and refurbish the house. At the end of the 19th century it was converted into a hotel but this failed financially and from 1908 until 1924 the building was a girls' boarding school. From 1926 until 2008 it was owned by the Royal Air Force and during the Battle of Britain it was the headquarters of Fighter Command. The Air Chief Marshal, Sir Hugh Dowding, was based here as was the Operations Room. In 2013, Bentley Priory Museum was opened, focusing on Bentley Priory's pivotal role during the Battle of Britain and Sir Hugh Dowding, as well as many others. This Spitfire on the north side of the Museum belonged to Cyril (Bam) Bamberger who flew with 610 and 41 Squadron. His service record is shown on a nearby information board - see also https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7146902.

Headquarters of Fighter Command in Second World War

The original Priory housed a cell of Augustinian Friars believed to be founded by Ranulf de Glanville in 1170. He was the first Englishman to be killed in the Crusades. The Priory was dissolved in the 1530s. After 1766, the house was built on higher ground to the north of the site of the original Priory. In the late 18th century, Sir John Soane was brought in to extend and refurbish the house. At the end of the 19th century it was converted into a hotel but this failed financially and from 1908 until 1924 the building was a girls' boarding school. From 1926 until 2008 it was owned by the Royal Air Force and during the Battle of Britain it was the headquarters of Fighter Command. The Air Chief Marshal, Sir Hugh Dowding, was based here as was the Operations Room. In 2013, Bentley Priory Museum was opened, focusing on Bentley Priory's pivotal role during the Battle of Britain and Sir Hugh Dowding. as well as many others. This window is one of a number in the entrance hall which commemorate this time. Sir Henry Tizard helped develop radar in the Second World War. For more information about him see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Tizard