Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The History of Martlesham Heath Airfield

Situated three miles north east of Ipswich, Martlesham Heath was first used as an aerodrome in the 1914-1918 war. Between the wars it was used to test many of the aircraft and much of the equipment that would later be used in the Second World War.

Just prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Martlesham then became the most northerly station of Number 11 Group Fighter Command squadrons of Blenheims, Hurricanes, Spitfires and Typhoons which operated from this airfield during the period 1939-1943.

Among the many pilots based there were such famous men as Roland Stanford-Tuck and Douglas Bader. Ian Smith, the post war Rhodesian Prime Minister, was also at Martlesham for a time.

In 1943 the station became one of a group of grassed surface airfields earmarked for use by fighters of the United States Eighth Air Force and 1600 yard runways were laid down using a then experimental process of soil stabilisation with oil and tar products.

Nearby housing and a major road presented difficulties in sighting the runways and it was necessary as a result to take the southern end of one of these runways through the very middle of the camp.

In October 1943 356th Fighter Group moved in from its training base at Goxhill in Lincolnshire. With only limited accommodation available on site many of the US pilots had to be billeted in requisitioned country houses in the vicinity.

The 356th Fighter Group was composed of three squadrons and equipped with P-47D Thunderbolts. Fresh to combat the Group suffered a number of heavy defeats at the hands of the Luftwaffe and became considered the hard luck fighter group of the Eighth Air Force with a comparatively high loss to victories ratio.

With conversion to the P-51D Mustang in November 1944 the Group had better success in combat and on two occasions decimated it’s adversaries.

At the end of hostilities in 1945 the station reverted to the RAF and a memorial to the American Fighter Group later being erected on the parade ground.

In the immediate post war years Fighter Command squadron were in residence at Martlesham Heath but the proximity to Ipswich and the physical limitations of being able to lengthen the runways restricted jet operation.

In 1955 villages surrendered their common rights to public land to enable the main runway to be extended and 30 acres of parish common land were given up for which the Air Ministry agreed to pay £37 per annum.

Between 1946 and 1960 a number of different units occupied the site.

Interestingly a 1977 book called Airfields of the Eighth Then and Now by Roger A Freeman described Martlesham Heath at this time as:
“Martlesham Heath has now become an industrial and dormitory satellite of Ipswich and the four pre-war hangers and technical site buildings are now used for light industry and storage. A new road crosses the airfield and on the southern side of this road a new housing estate known as Martlesham Heath Village Hamlet is under development. Suffolk County Constabulary also have a new headquarters building on what was part of the airfield while dominating all is the colossal Post Office Research Centre situated on the north east side just behind the old RAF Technical site.

Nearby on the old RAF Parade Ground can be seen a memorial erected to the memory of those members of the 356th Fighter Group who lost their lives in World War II.”

If you are looking to buy property in Martlesham Heath or sell a Martlesham Heath property contact us today. With offices in Ipswich, East Ipswich and Martlesham, Jonathan Waters Estate Agents are perfectly placed to assist you with all of your IP5 property needs.

Estate Agents Martlesham – contact us now to register your requirements or click here to join our mailing list.

Relocating to Martlesham Suffolk

If you are relocating to Martlesham Suffolk, whether part of a job move or to raise a family, it makes sense to use the services of a local estate agent who knows the area well. Here at Jonathan Waters estate agents, Martlesham, we are well placed to help you find your dream property. But we can also help if you are looking for estate agents Ipswich.

Before you start your search for your ideal home, there will be all sorts of questions you will want to ask, such as what are the schools like in the Martlesham and Ipswich area? Will I be close to local amenities?

As prominent estate agents in Ipswich and Martlesham, Jonathan Waters estate agents can guide you through the house buying process and can advise you on local facilities such as shops, supermarkets, transport links, schools, medical and healthcare clinics.

We have a wide range of properties on our books throughout the Ipswich and Martlesham area including detached family homes, bungalows, flats, terraces and semi-detached properties for sale. Whether you want a home with a large garden, double garage, workshop area, en-suite bathroom, or a small, low maintenance property we will do our best to find what you are looking for.

So if this is your first step on the housing ladder, or if you intend to move into a bigger property, downsize, relocate, or retire in this area, contact us at Jonathan Waters estate agents and we will be happy to help you.

Estate Agents Martlesham, Ipswich and Villages - contact Jonathan Waters now

Ipswich or Martlesham?

Ipswich, the county town of Suffolk, is just a few miles away from Martlesham and many people choose to live in Ipswich while working in Martlesham, or vice versa. So if you are relocating to Martlesham it makes sense to look for properties in both areas. But choosing only estate agents in Ipswich or only estate agents in Martlesham, means that you could be limiting your options. With Jonathan Waters you don’t have to choose. We are estates agents for Ipswich and Martlesham, making us the ideal estate agent if you want to cover both areas. Martlesham lies to the East of Ipswich, and in between there are many villages, which are also popular choices to live for people working in Martlesham, either wanting to be a bit closer to Ipswich, or for those who prefer a quieter village location.

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents – Ipswich Offices

We have two Ipswich offices: in Ipswich town centre and on Foxhall Road. The Foxhall Road area is a popular location to live, as it lies on one of the major routes out to Martlesham. Our Foxhall Road offices make a convenient alternative to local people to pop into at weekends or after work. But for those who like to combine house hunting with a bit of retail therapy, our Buttermarket offices in Ipswich town centre will be ideal.

Estate Agents Ipswich - contact one of our Ipswich offices now:

Buttermarket (Town Centre): 01473 281188

Foxhall Road (East Ipswich): 01473 721133


Jonathan Waters Estate Agents – Martlesham Offices

Our Martlesham office is located on Martlesham Heath Business Park, very close to BT’s Adastral Park. This makes it a convenient location for people who have started work in Martlesham and want to pop in at lunchtimes or straight after work.

Estate Agents Martlesham - contact our Martlesham office now on 01473 620222

How Jonathan Waters Can Help

Searching for that perfect property can be a minefield and sometimes you just don’t know where to begin. That’s where Jonathan Waters estate agents can help. Our aim is to do all we can to find the right home for your budget.

One of the best ways to start looking is through the Jonathan Waters website. Our website is easy to use and has many features which will assist in narrowing down your search. These include price range searches, full particulars, interior and exterior photographs, 3-d photographs and a map of the area, so you can see the exact location of the property. And for those of you who are short of time, we offer a virtual tour for some of our properties to give you a feel for it and help you decide whether it is right for you.

Another way Jonathan Waters can aid your search is to join our mailing list so we can send you details of properties in your price range when they become available. This way you can see straight away when we have a suitable property on our books.

We have three offices in the Martlesham Ipswich area and our opening times vary. Contact us direct and either pop into one of our branches, or telephone us to arrange a viewing at a time convenient to you. We understand that viewings may not be possible for you during weekdays so we can also arrange appointments in the evenings or at weekends. It is all part of our service at Jonathan Waters.

We have friendly, helpful staff with more than 250 years combined estate agency experience and expertise and our detailed knowledge of the Martlesham, Ipswich and Suffolk area will ensure you will find what you are looking for. When you have found the right property, we can make it all run smoothly for you by providing mortgage assistance and recommending a reputable conveyancer with good local knowledge.

About Martlesham

Martlesham is just off the A12 roundabout and is a bustling community with excellent transport links. It is just six miles from the county town of Ipswich and within easy reach of Woodbridge and the Port of Felixstowe.

The village is sometimes affectionately called Old Martlesham by the locals to identify it from the newer nearby Martlesham Heath development, but both come under the same parish. Old Martlesham lies along the banks of the River Fynn and was named in the Doomsday book as Merlesham, which is most likely to mean ‘meadow near the mooring place.’ Martlesham Heath sprung up as a new village in the 1970’s and has grown into a thriving, prosperous neighbourhood with houses for more than 3000 people, a major supermarket, shops, businesses, schools and leisure facilities.

Martlesham Heath village was built on the site of the former RAF base where the famous fighter pilot Douglas Bader served in 1940. The Control Tower Museum keeps the memory alive and documents the history of Martlesham Heath as an airfield from 1917 until its closure in 1967. A public house, called The Douglas Bader, is named after the war hero.

The scene has changed dramatically in the last forty years with companies, leisure facilities and Tesco’s supermarket opening up here. Suffolk Police Headquarters is based in Martlesham, as is BT’s hi-tech communications, research and development centre at Adastral Park. Martlesham Heath Business Park is home to many businesses, a bowling centre as well as our very own Jonathan Waters estate agents.

Martlesham is well served by a regular bus route and an Ipswich park and ride service opened up here at the end of 2003.

Schools in Martlesham

Martlesham has excellent schools in the area and these include:

Birchwood Primary School

This small primary is based on Valiant Road, Martlesham Health and was described in its Ofsted Report as a good school led by an enthusiastic and dedicated head teacher.

Gorsewood Primary

This is another good primary based at Deben Avenue, Martlesham Health, and was praised in its Ofsted report with having outstanding attendance and pupils keen to learn.

Beacon Hill County Primary

This school was noted in its Ofsted report as providing pupils with a quality well rounded education and having a warm and friendly atmosphere. It is based at Black Tiles Lane in Martlesham.

Secondary Schools

The nearest secondary school is in the nearby village of Kesgrave. Kesgrave High is a very popular school with a good reputation and is often over-subscribed as a result. There is also a co-educational independent school in Woodbridge, which is about two miles from Martlesham. Woodbridge School has 600 pupils and is known for its excellent academic standards and good facilities.

Healthcare in Martlesham

Martlesham is well served for healthcare with the Martlesham Health Dental Practice and the Martlesham Health Doctors Surgery and both of these can be found in The Square at Martlesham Heath.

The NHS doctor’s surgery is wheelchair access and has five consulting rooms, waiting and reception area, a treatment room and practice manager office.

Martlesham is within easy reach of Ipswich Hospital which is based on a 46 acre site on Heath Road and has several in-patient clinics, out-patient clinics as well as clinical departments, such as a paediatric oncology department.

Working in Martlesham

Many people make the move to Martlesham to climb up the career ladder. Telecommunication giant BT’s global innovation and development centre is based here and it is a major employer with more than 3,500 staff. BT is sited in Adastral Park, a science park dubbed IP-City which is home to over 250 hi-tech companies. Other major employers in the area are Suffolk Police Headquarters, Tesco’s and Ipswich Hospital’s NHS Trust on Heath Road, which employs 3,200 people.

Several companies have their offices in Martlesham Heath Industrial Estate including road haulage and shipping agents. Other businesses in the area include shops, caterers, tour companies, pubs and leisure organisations including Kingpin Bowling Centre and the Martlesham Heath Business Centre and Fitness Club.

Martlesham is within easy reach of Ipswich, which is a base for large insurance companies, and it is also close to Felixstowe Docks, another big employer in Suffolk.