Preserving Lincolnshire’s Aviation History: Restoring the Metheringham Air Control Tower

At LME Building Contractors, we love working on residential extensions and new builds across Lincolnshire, but every so often, a project comes along that is truly special. We are incredibly honored to announce that our team has officially broken ground on the structural renovation of the historic RAF Metheringham Watch Office and Control Tower.

Located just off Westmoor Farm on Martin Moor in Metheringham (LN4 3HA), this building isn't just brick and mortar—it is a living piece of British history that has stood the test of time since the height of World War II.

The Rich History of RAF Metheringham

Originally constructed in 1942, the control tower served as a vital hub for the RAF No. 5 Group Bomber Command during WWII. It was the nerve centre for the courageous aircrews of the 106 Squadron RAF, who flew crucial missions from this very airfield.

Fast forward to the modern day, and the site operates as the wonderful Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre. Run by dedicated volunteers and operating as a registered charity, the centre keeps the memory of the 106 Squadron alive through painstaking preservation, seasonal weekend opening hours, the historic Peter Scoley Hall, and their famous Douglas Dakota aircraft housed right here in the hangar.

Breathe New Life Into a Heritage Icon

Because the building has been standing for a very long time, it requires careful, professional intervention to guarantee its structure remains safe, sound, and weather-tight for generations to come. Working on a heritage site built in 1942 requires a completely different approach than a standard modern renovation.

Our initial phase focuses heavily on structural stabilization. We have already erected full-perimeter scaffolding across the building to allow our brickwork experts to carefully restore the external shell. Inside, we have stripped the rooms back to their original, raw brick and concrete to assess the integrity of the floors and ceilings.

While internal layout decisions are still being finalized, our core mission alongside the client is simple: to completely renovate the building to the highest professional standards while keeping the historical theme, character, and soul of the original WWII watch office completely intact.

A Live Update on a Historic Journey

This is a live, ongoing project for the LME team, and we couldn't be prouder to play a small role in protecting Lincolnshire's deep aviation heritage. We’ll be sharing regular updates right here on our blog as the scaffolding comes down and the internal fit-out begins.

If you're in the area between March and October, we highly recommend planning a weekend visit to the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre to experience this incredible landscape for yourself—and see our progress up close!

We handle historic & commercial renovations across Sleaford, Lincoln, Grantham and the wider Lincolnshire area — see our services →