RAF Oxenhope - what was it?

Aparently this was an RAF base in Oxenhope near Howarth outside of Bradford in the UK. Its a pretty remote spot and would have been even more remote in the 50s/60s when the roads werent as amazing and there was little motorway infrastructure (or was being built at the time). (ive read one post on here regards Oxenhope but it looks like there was no def answer on it).

Its not used at the momment (apart from what looks to be a new mobile phone mast), Im pretty sure its not being used for anything interesting these days, but I'd really like to know what it was used for in the 50/60/70/80s. Some information I've got says it was used for monitoring air traffic etc. during the cold war.

As far as I know this place was used by Bradford University in the 90s until about 1998 when some radio telescope equipment there got struck by lighting and they moved their lab to Tenerife. The location still has Bradford Uni signs on it but the place seems to be no longer used. Any signage relating to MOD or the RAF seems to have been removed. All though the main road is covered in electric fencing, Im putting this down to farmers trying to keep sheep of the road. There are some footpaths around it but they lead to nothing, just non passable moorland.

Prior to Bradford Uni using the site in the 90s I have no information as to what this base was used for.

Locally everyone I know refers to this place as the '2 headed monkey research lab' because no one really knows what its for, and when you try and walk around it, it's either too boggy or what you want to see is just over the brow of the hill.

Questions I've got are:

What was this place intended for?

Why does the ground look to be disturbed behind the base

What are the concrete cylinders for coming out of the ground? Are they sign post foundations? Look a bit big - and why cover them? If I open one up will it be like Lost - I dont want to be typing numbers in every 108minutes.

Why is there so much infrastructure (power running to it etc) there for 3 above ground small buildings.

Why is there no information about this place!?

There was a post about RAF Oxenhope on here in 2004, the last post said some of the posters where going to meet up to check it out, but never posted back.

Have I gone mental taking picks of moorland bogs?

What was this place? Anyone with any information?

Click here to see some photos and stuff Ive took: Let me know if Im on the wrong track with this one set my mind to rest

www.agile-systems.co.uk...

Interesting site and pics you've taken!

Never heard of RAF Oxenhope before. The disturbed land looks a lot like landfill. Maybe they demolished various structures and buried the rubble close by?

BTW, what's the link to the other ATS thread on this?

EDIT: NM, found it here: www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 30-4-2006 by koji_K]

Oxenhope eh? Discontinued research eh? Landfill eh? Massive lightning strike eh?
Your "bog" pics are most interesting - I'm no archeo/anthropologist but it does seem that the pics may indicate previous structures or the footings of a previous installation. Are there any geological studies in the time span you judge as "post-use" or after abandonment? How about old studies? A current GPR sweep would be sweet.

I'd never heard of Oxenhope to this point in time. Perhaps inquire with the university, local council and the MoD and hope for the best but expect nothing conclusive. The local residents and workmen/women of the area and era may be of real assitance beyond establishing the anecdotal aspects - try the seniors facilities in the area; you won't know what's under the rock unless you look. Local stories may sound "nuts" but do not discount them as they can potentially "lead" places with "truth in residence" that may not have come to light otherwise.

I'm gonna "keep up with" this one - the mere mention of anything connected with possible underground access points (from other literature) is both exciting and potentially risky (I've been "escorted" from CFB Downsview for merely playing soccer). Have care and a digital camera and "friends" who know enough about your work that if something untoward were to occur that you would be conspicuously missed and pursued by such "friends". It's cool to "work the highwire" trapeze but use a net because you could be "trapped with ease".

commirob, you are not "mental" and "two-headed monkey labs" do exist in the real world so please keep us up to date with your findings. u2u me if I can help (from Canada).

Interested people of the "Goog" may wish to key up: N 53 48, W 01, 55 for Oxenhope data.

Thanx for the great work! 'made my day!

Victor K

thanks the comments so far -

I'd really like to find out more on this one - will ask around and see if I can get a contact at Bradford Uni

regards the land behind - too far out to be a landfill for domestic or industrial rubbish - it could possibly be the base was part demolished and the land recovered.

still seems weird and theres no defo answers with this one.

i will dig in further and see if there's anything more - if anyone googles anything interesting regards this please let me know or post on here! - am new to this forum but checking out some really interesting stuff

any posters from the original thread would be good to hear from them

Rob

Lived in the area for 50 years, lots of time walking the moors, lots of interesting things to see, but absolutely nothing of the "X-Files" persuasion. Lots of drainage, but it is bog city up there (Hey, don't want your foundations to collapse....), and removing the lid on the "mysterious" concrete tubes reveals..... absolutely diddley-squit! I've visited the Uni installation with a close friend who has worked at Bradford Uni for nearly 30 years, and guess what? Again, nothing of any great interest to posters to this kind of forum. Oh, and anybody telling you that you get approached and questioned for walking anywhere on those moors is well and truely yanking your chain! People, you're wasting your time with this one! Sorry......

so whats under the lids on the concrete things then if you've had a look? not any real answers in that post just the opinion that nothings there currently (which I know - my interests are what it was used for prior to bradford uni).

what do you think to the clearly man made marks around the back of the base? drainage? building work? natural?

can your friend at uni tell you what the base was used for before bradford uni took it over? which was the point of the original post...

A currently running topic about RAF Oxenhope already exists.

Please discuss this subject in the pre-established thread. Thank you.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

(Topic closed)