Cardington, RAF Base c.1955
Photo ref: C325013
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Photo ref: C325013
Photo of Cardington, RAF Base c.1955

More about this scene

We conclude the tour with another reference to manned flight, in this case airships. These gigantic sheds, originally painted black, were built to house airships: one was built in 1917 and extended to house R100, the other was built in 1927 for R101. The size is stupendous: 812 feet long, 390 feet wide and 180 feet high. Unfortunately, R101 crashed in 1930, and airship production stopped. The Short Brothers built the sheds, the administration blocks and a workers' village called Shortstown. It became an RAF base in 1936.

An extract from Bedford Photographic Memories.

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A Selection of Memories from Cardington

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Cardington

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As a young 18 year old, and very excited, I was joining the RAF. My excitement died a little as I went through basic training - all that drill, wow, anyhow I got through it and considered it all very worth while. My first leave, in that blue uniform, I looked very smart and was proud to have served.
As RAF children, all three of us were christened in the picturesque church in Cardington, which is the unofficial 'favourite' church for RAF personnel! I obviously don't remember my own christening and wasn't about when my older brother was held over the font, but I do remember my sister's christening because she's nine years younger than I, so the memory is quite vivid. I also remember ...see more