IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Boston Close, WANTAGE, OX12 0GQ

Looking towards Grove Technology Park from Wellington Gate. There is a field between the two at the moment.

The park has expanded rapidly in recent years. This building went up in 2007 and is the home of CMS who are suppliers of office furniture components. It is the first building to be erected to the east of the former airfield perimeter road, ie within the runway area.

A very fancy roundabout with block paving and nice planting in the Wellington Gate estate. Could use a bench?

This is all that remains of the main runway at Grove airfield. During WWII it was the longest runway in Europe, over two kilometres. The far end is at SU396909. Its alignment is 03/21, namely a bearing of 30 degrees approaching from the south-west or 210 degrees from the north-east.

This tech park has been developed on the site of the former Grove airfield. The owner, a helicopter enthusiast, regularly visits by helicopter and has had this grassed area designated as a helicopter landing pad. It is right outside my office window! The building beyond is the warehouse of John Lewis of Hungerford, kitchen furniture makers, not to be confused with the major department store chain.

Built on the site of the former Grove airfield, the remains of the runway being seen in the foreground. There is still flying activity here as the area in front of the water tower is a helicopter landing pad. The water tower, with its Grove Technology Park symbol, is a good land mark for miles around.

A housing estate.

A regular sight from my office window as a helicopter takes off from the pad. For more explanation see Image]

The owner of the technology park is a great helicopter enthusiast and usually arrives here piloting his own machine. A helipad has been constructed in this area adjacent to the water tower, which is a great landmark for miles around. Three or four different helicopters visit regularly. Unfortunately it is right outside my office (this photo is taken from my office window) so a take-off or landing tends to interrupt conversations. The next picture is the same helicopter taking off Image]

This is Boston House, one of the original buildings of Grove airfield, which was used as a Government research laboratory after WWII before AERE at Harwell was constructed. For anyone who is interested, my office is ground floor second from the right.