Originally constructed in 1942, the Watchtower stands alongside the former RAF Great Orton Airfield, now home to Watchtree Nature Reserve. Centrally positioned among the parishes of Aikton, Great Orton, Kirkbampton, and Burgh by Sands, it has overlooked the landscape for more than 80 years. A silent witness to the airfield’s wartime activity and its evolution over the decades.
Despite limited maintenance over the years, the Watchtower’s structure has endured remarkably well. The brickwork and concrete floors remain largely intact, offering a solid foundation for potential restoration.
Originally, RAF personnel accessed the roof via a fixed ladder extending from the first floor. The rooftop itself featured a protective perimeter railing where crew members would stand watch, scanning the skies for incoming aircraft. This vantage point would have provided sweeping, unobstructed views across the airfield and even today, the height and openness of the tower still create a commanding lookout over the surrounding landscape.
Across the rest of the land, remnants of RAF activity can still be found. Several concrete aprons jut out from the grass, likely used as foundations for temporary buildings or as key markers for pilots during wartime operations. Each of these surviving features contributes to the historic character and archaeological value of the site.
The tower is Grade II listed not only for its wartime role, but for its unusual design. Only five towers of this model were ever constructed, and this is now the only surviving example. Its story is also one of charming imperfection: in a well‑known historical quirk, the building was mistakenly constructed facing the wrong direction. Rather than overlooking the Great Orton airfield it served, the tower faces Silloth — reflecting Great Orton’s role as a satellite site supporting operations there.
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