21 April 2025
Last week’s fire at Old Sarum Airfield which devastated the Grade II listed WW1 Hangar 3 – and the adjacent Hangar 3 Cafe – has an upside, according to military historian Taff Gillingham.
“There is far too much defeatism and ‘the end of Hangar 3’ nonsense floating around, with everyone focusing on the cause of the fire, but it really doesn’t matter if it was an electrical fire, arson or spontaneous combustion,” said Taff, who is a co-founder of Great War Huts and a historical advisor for film, television and theatre productions.
“Stop being distracted by the cause and look at how the fire can help the planning condition restoration. The scrap wood has gone and the main structure is still there.
“It’s not a disaster at all. The building was derelict, and all the timber needed replacing. The fire has cleared all the dead wood away. After a tidy up, and a repair of the walls, it will be ripe for restoration.
Similar hangar at Hooton Park during restoration. Note the ‘Belfast Trusses’ which hold up the roof
“[It’s] a far better place to start than the same type of hangar at Hooton Park, Cheshire, after its collapse in 2009, which took a lot of brickwork with it.
“It’s vital to turn the narrative round, and quickly, before the Old Sarum brickwork gets demolished in the midst of the doom and gloom.”
The fire was so intense that clouds of smoke could be seen from miles away. Local Salisbury Radio presenter and digital content producer Andy Munns shot drone footage of the fire which was used by many TV stations:
The cause of the fire is being investigated by Wiltshire police and fire service, with the police appealing for any witnesses.
Wiltshire Police said, “An investigation is now underway into the cause of the fire, and we would like to speak to anyone who was in the area shortly before the fire started.
“If you can help with our enquiries, please contact us on 101 quoting log number 262 of [the fire’s] date (17/04).
“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. We would also ask that members of the public keep their distance from the affected area while police and fire continue with the investigation.”
Members of the public have sent in to us the latest footage of Hangar 3 & the surrounding area this afternoon & current state of the remains. These walls we hope will stand for another 100 years following full rebuild – the owner was given approval to do so in March 2024. #SOS pic.twitter.com/y88PkrNBO9
— SOS – Save Old Sarum (@SaveOldSarum) April 20, 2025
Airfield director Grenville Hodge arrived at the scene of the fire while it was being contained. He said to reporters from Salisbury Journal that he was ‘devastated’ by the incident.
Later Mr Hodge added, “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a significant fire has occurred at Old Sarum Airfield, resulting in damage to the Grade II* listed World War I aircraft hangar and the neighbouring Hangar 3 Café.
“At this time, we are cooperating fully with the authorities and are awaiting the outcomes of ongoing investigations by Wiltshire Police and the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service to determine the cause of the blaze.
“Our immediate focus is on supporting the investigation and assessing the extent of the damage.
“We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift and professional response which has saved the brickwork of the hangar as well as rescuing the vital parachuting equipment for GoSkydive which will enable parachuting to recommence with minimal delay.”
Hangar 3 cafe in happier times. Photo: Hangar 3
Hangar 3 Café was totally destroyed in the fire. As well as serving customers at the airfield when GoSkyDive was operating, the Cafe was a popular venue for locals and especially Salisbury’s motorcyclists. Every Thursday was ‘Bike Night’ and the annual worldwide Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was due to be staged there on 18 May.
One regular, Tamar Pratt, said on Facebook, “Gutted for you all. One of our little boy’s favourite spots in the whole city. All the recent hard work hadn’t gone unnoticed and it was becoming such a lovely community hub. Devastating watching it this evening. I hope whatever happens, you can rebuild and come back from this awful incident.”
Boscombe Down Aviation Collection is housed in a similar hangar to Hangar 3 – but in much better condition
Boscombe Down Aviation Collection is based in another of the WWI hangars at the other end of the airfield. It issued this statement, “To our followers, supporters and members, we can assure you that the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum Airfield is safe in light of recent news events concerning the airfield site.”
GoSkyDive, which operates a tandem skydiving business at the airfield, said, “Last night, our community was deeply affected by a devastating fire that swept through our home at Old Sarum Airfield.
“Our hearts are particularly heavy for our friends at Hangar 3 Café, who have lost their entire premises. They have been more than just neighbours – they’ve been an essential part of the GoSkydive experience, serving countless customers and staff over the years. We are committed to supporting them through this difficult time and will work tirelessly to help them return to operations as quickly as possible.
“The fire has also impacted our own facilities, and while the damage is only partial, safety is and always will be our absolute priority. We have made the decision to cancel all skydiving activities this weekend (18-21 April) to thoroughly assess the situation.”
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have begun an investigation into the fire that destroyed what remained of Hangar Three at Old Sarum Airfield.
Read more…https://t.co/W0HapdCYR1 pic.twitter.com/rbLsboOSsK
— Salisbury Radio (@salisburyradio) April 18, 2025
