A Conversion You Would Not Expect: A Former RAF Tower Has Been Transformed Into A Luxury Property

By Mark McConville

 

STAY in this RAF watch tower overlooking the grounds where the Dam Busters were trained during World War Two for just £24 per person per night.

 

Stunning pictures show the surprisingly spacious interior of the tower with the 360-degree windows flooding it with natural light, sleek bathrooms and cosy bedrooms.

 

Other incredible images show the exterior of the watch tower, the outside balcony area overlooking the luscious countryside and the luxurious hot tub.

 

RAF Wainfleet – The Tower is located in Friskney, near Skegness, Lincolnshire and is listed on cottages.com for £1021 for a week’s stay.

 

The three-bedroom property sleeps six, meaning a week’s stay works out at just £24 per person per night.

 

“The complex has been such an important part of the local area’s history that we simply couldn’t leave it to willow and become dormant – so when it became available in 2013, we jumped at the chance to make it ours, develop it into a place that can be enjoyed by all,” said RAF Wainfleet owner Will Roughton.

 

“With the redevelopment, we have tried to be as true to the site’s history as possible – including naming the rooms after planes that once flew here and displaying items of historical significance on the site, whilst also making the magnificent views accessible to all.

 

“We have had great feedback from guests so far and look forward to welcoming even more people to the properties.”

 

The range dates as far back to 1890 and is located within a registered nature reserve in the civil parish of Friskney. Used throughout World War II to train Dam Busters, the site was where the Ministry of Defence developed the bouncing bomb before being closed in 2010 and sold to Will Roughton, a farmer who owned one of the surrounding farm estates, three years later.

 

Now, the grounds – which consist of a unique Watch Tower (built in 1980), as well as three additional properties and a games room which are in the process of being redeveloped into modern and comfortable holiday lets, with The Tower ready to accept bookings now.

 

The conversion of The Tower has seen the building’s inner structure re-planned to offer en-suite bedrooms with all the modern comforts expected from a contemporary holiday property, including a large garden.

 

When complete, the additional properties will comprise of two two-bedroom bungalows alongside a one-bedroom bungalow and a games room. What’s more, The Tower itself has been transformed to offer a large glass observatory where guests can enjoy breath taking views across the nature reserve which is birdwatch designated and over The Wash to the North Norfolk coastline.

 

“We are delighted to welcome this unique complex of properties, which Mr. Roughton has worked tirelessly to update and modernise, to the cottages.com family,” said cottages.com Regional Manager for Central England and North Norfolk Christopher Otty when the property was added to their portfolio.

 

“The combination of Will’s existing property development experience with our expertise of both the local tourism market and holiday letting in general, we believe that the estate will enjoy this new chapter in its life.”

 

Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, later called the Dam Busters, using a purpose-built “bouncing bomb” developed by Barnes Wallis.

 

For more information see https://www.cottages.com/cottages/raf-wainfleet-the-tower-ukc1178?adult=2&nights=7&range=3