Current Use
As soon as the station was closed, steps were taken by the Isle of Man Government, through the Local Government Board, to acquire three of the communal sites – the WAAF quarters, the hospital and sick quarters and a site in the centre of Andreas village – for the conversion into family accommodation. These were badly needed to re-house families living in condemned properties in Ramsey and to relieve the general housing shortage on the Island as a consequence of the war. Every effort was made to convert the brick-built huts into acceptable two-and three-bedroom homes with electrically heated living rooms and kitchens. Each had a toilet installed, but bathrooms had to be shared. During 1947, a total of 81 families were accommodated as a temporary measure pending the construction of new housing estates. It was to be several years before such new housing was ready, and upon their completion, this temporary housing by now badly affected by damp, was demolished. One structure to survive, was the old gymnasium which still stands, and continues to provide the village of Andreas with a very useful Parish Hall.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the Manx Government and the Air Ministry were proceeding as to the future of the airfield. Tynwald, the Isle of Man's Parliament, accepted an offer to purchase the whole of the airfield for the price originally paid in compensation to the land owners – a total of £23,740. No charge was made for the buildings, the Air Ministry agreeing to this as a gesture of appreciation to the government and people of the Isle of Man for their co-operation during the early years of the war.
The airfield's runways were soon put to good use by the newly formed Andreas Racing Association for motorcycle racing. The Association's emblem is that of the Three Legs of Man, set against the "A" layout of the airfield's runways.
After a short time in the ownership of the Manx Government, the airfield was put up for sale as a complete entity, and was purchased by a Mr Morrey for the sum of £33,000. The facility is still owned by the Morrey family, and many of its buildings still exist, being mostly used for storage. The local gliding club still uses the airfield, together with a small number of privately owned light aircraft.
To this day, within easy view of the airfield, is the (still) stunted tower of the parish church of St. Andrew (in Manx Gaelic, Andrew translates to Andreas), a permanent legacy of Royal Air Force Station Andreas, and below which lie twenty-three RAF graves.
Read more about this topic: RAF Andreas
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