Old Chapel, Greenham Common.

One of an ever decreasing number of buildings still surviving.

Greenham Common Airbase became well-known for its controversial US Air Base housing Cruise Missiles. And the women’s peace camps. Today, it is all very different.

The Old Chapel, Greenham Common is one of a number of buildings that still survive on the former camp base. I noticed the building whilst I was on what is now Greenham Business Park on the Bus of Hope.

There are still quite a few buildings from the days when it was a US Air Camp, although the numbers are diminishing slowly. It is a shame, because there is a lot of history here.

Military use of the Common is recorded as long ago as 1872, although it was not until 1941 that is was first requisitioned for an RAF Airfield. Since then, the history has been somewhat chequered. It finally closed as a US Air Base in 1992, with the MoD putting it up for sale the following year.

The Old Chapel, Greenham Common was used as a multi-denominational place of worship. The front “porch” is a later addition, a ceremonial stone gives the date as 1958. It is currently in use as the National Needlework Archive, complete with café.

Photograph Details:

• Taken: 12 Apr 2017
• Camera: Canon 5D MkIII
• Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L II USM
• Focal Length 47mm
• F/6.3
• 1/200 Sec
• ISO 100