Fly Past

came on-stream in 1964. Few of
the airfield’s wartime structures
remain; some huts and gun butts
survive along the coastal road.

Back to nature
In the spring of 2001 British news
broadcasts were dominated by

the heart-breaking sight of animal

carcasses being dumped ready

for burial or cremation, as foot-

and-mouth disease paralysed the

countryside. Often shown

was the former airfield at

Great Orton where the

Department for

Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs (DEFRA) had hastily

acquired the land. Close to half a

million cattle were buried there.

The local community and DEFRA

were united in making sure

this horrifying spectacle

was not going to be

Great Orton’s lasting

legacy. The result

was an exceptional

transformation, Watchtree Nature

Reserve being described as: “a

wildlife haven and community

asset for all.”

Earmarked in 1941 as a

satellite for Silloth,

Kirkbride is used for storage and light

industry, a hotel and general aviation.

September 2018 FLYPAST 99

After eight years serving the Fleet Air Arm as a crew trainer, Anson Mk.I MG721 was issued to

Anthorn in July 1952 for storage. It was wheeled out two months later for the station open day

and was scrapped in early 1955. PETER GREEN COLLECTION

Anthorn is easily identifi ed by its array of

huge aerials.

The warden’s offi ce at Silloth, part of the
present-day industrial estate.