Historic Doncaster RAF control tower given listed status after vandal attacks
The former RAF base has been a prison for more than four decades
A historic control tower at a former Doncaster RAF base has been given listed building status - but the building has become a dumping ground and a magnet for vandals and urban explorers.
The crumbling building, which is now part of the Lindholme Prison estate, has been given Grade II protection by Heritage England and has been recognised for the role it played during World War Two.
Emma Reed, who has spent eight years chronicling the history of the base, which first opened in 1938 and was used by the Royal Air Force until the 1980s before becoming a Category C jail led the campaign for the watch tower to be given protected status.
But she says the building is currently used as a dumping ground and has suffered damage as result of local vandals before becoming a magnet for urban explorers - YouTubers who visit and film abandoned buildings.
She said: “I have been campaigning because the prison are allowing it to be trashed, filmed inside of overnight, and used as a rubbish dump.”
She blames damage on urban explorers breaking into the building to film inside the complex which was once used as a Bomber Command post during WW2.
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A leter from Historic England states: “Following your application to add the building to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, we have now considered all the representations made and completed our assessment of the building.
“I am able to inform you that having considered our recommendation, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add RAF Lindholme Watch Office (control tower), to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
“The building is now listed at Grade II.”
Initially called RAF Hatfield Woodhouse, it started out as an aerodrome on Hatfield Moors.
However, stores and correspondence was getting waylaid between the station and Hatfield Aerordome in Hertfordshire so in August 1940 it became RAF Lindholme.
During World War Two, Canadian and Polish squadrons operated out of the base and it was also used for training.
During the war, a total of 76 bombers were lost on operations flying from this airfield: 40 Hampdens, 35 Wellingtons and a single Lancaster.
By 1985, it has been converted to a prison, a use it retains to this day, with capacity for more than 1,000 inmates.