Here comes summer - however I think today the crews would have been grounded, The Control Tower is shrouded in a thick sea fret. Although you might not be able to see it today, it is a beautiful time of the year with the hedgerows full of cow parsley and hawthorn blossom. It has been gorgeous to spend an evening or two in the garden watching the sun set over the old airfield enjoying a little tipple (or two) with swallows swooping overhead and Red Kites in the distance.
We have just had our busiest time in the B&B - the second May Bank Holiday was fully booked combined with two weddings... we are so happy that the businesses are doing well, especially when we hear lovely feedback from guests and the newly married couples we have driven on their special day. Fabulously, we have just been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence - we are over the moon.
The open day in May for North Norfolk Stories was really special. For the first time we took visitors up to the roof on a night time tour. This felt very poignant as we followed the story of one aircraft - 171/A which was lost in January 1945 all the crew died in the crash. While in the former Control Room at night the history felt very close. We had several people attended the tours who had family connections with RAF North Creake and since then one has even come to stay (a surprise for her birthday). As a result of the open day, we have been gifted several more pieces of RAF North Creake history; more on that below. We got to spend the most extraordinary afternoon with a WWII fighter pilot (Spitfires, then later Tempests, and many others too) and his lovely wife... we were totally blown away by his stories. Incredible to listen to him regaling us with his memories which sounded more like a 'boy's own' adventure story than a first-hand account! Extraordinary lives! Living in a Control Tower has brought us the most amazing encounters with people. We feel very privileged.
After almost 2 years of business we have got our B&B signs up. A sign that we are getting more of the general works completed. These look great with thanks to Jungle Signs in Fakenham and our very good friend Marianne who designed our logo for us. We have also got around to tweaking the website - so now the Stirling Suite features on there too - take a look ControlTowerStays.com. Keep an eye out for this new site HostUnusual.com they are just about to launch and if you love to stay places a bit out of the ordinary then take a look. Obviously, there is one extra special entry on there (with an extra special launch offer too).
5 years ago (almost to the day) Nigel googled (in a fit of desperation after a bad day at work) 'Control Tower for sale'. We came to see the Control Tower as soon as we could...
The day the love affair began... June 2011
We could see that under this 'Swiss Chalet' style exterior was a brilliant modernist building. Thankfully not many other people could, as it had been on the market for 18 months by then. We put in an offer, got our home on the market and 4 months later we moved in. We've never looked back.
If you want to book your summer break with us - drop us a line mail@controltowerstays.com and we'll check availability for you. Weekends are fairly booked up for the next few weeks but we have lots of weekday gaps. Hope to see you here soon.
Best wishes,
Claire & Nigel
RAF North Creake History Project
Our kitchen - formally the Watch Office, was filled with the voice of Alan Wood DFC. He was a Navigator on Stirlings in 199 Squadron and based at RAF North Creake. We met his lovely daughter, Gillian Tewson, at our open day this week. She very kindly brought along his DFC medal to show us and a photo of him but magically for us an interview with him too. Sadly Alan is no longer with us but fortunately his memories have been captured on tape.
Wonderful afternoon with the villagers of Oulton commemorating those who served at RAF Oulton during WWII. This beautiful gathering is part of the 100 Group Association annual reunion. Both RAF North Creake and Oulton were sister stations within 100 Group of Bomber Command. We were treated perfect afternoon tea followed by a very moving gathering by the memorial. It was wonderful to have veterans there but also children of the village who read out poems they had written. You can feel the warmth of the village and know they will continue to remember them. We were so privileged to be there. Just wish we had brought some tissues.
We were asked to lay a wreath in memory of those who served at RAF North Creake and particularly for those that did not return - the association do this for each of the 100 group stations each year. We placed this by the marker stone as there is no other place appropriate... yet. Our next big project is to start to draw up plans to erect a proper RAF North Creake memorial. We have met with the leader of the council, Tom FitzPatrick, who is also keen on this idea so we hope that by the 75th anniversary of VE Day we will be able to lay flowers by the RAF North Creake Memorial to remember all those who served here.
If you want to be involved in this project please drop us a line - we will need all the help we can muster.
Our North Norfolk... some of the stuff we love to do
A fabulously restored WWII bombing teacher building which now houses a fantastic exhibition. Only 7 miles from here and well worth a visit. Opening Times 2016: From 10:30am to 4pm June, July, September and October: Tues, Thurs & Sun August: Bank Holiday Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sun
Little Vintage Lover Fairs - littlevintageloverfair.co.uk
We try to go to as many of these as we can... they are always so lovely. We never intend to buy anything but always manage to find that little something that is perfect for the Control Tower.
There are two of these coming up in 2016
Heydon - 7th August
Burnham Market - 4th December
At the moment we have availability on both weekends.
Walks along the beach
Our favouite beach is Wells-next-the-Sea. A walk along the golden sands around the dunes then back through the pine woods never fails to raise our spirits. The colours of the land and seascape are stunning and we love the beach huts - playing the game of one day we'll build one that looks like a control tower. We are in discussion with a friend who owns a beach hut, so in future, guests here might be able to rent one for their stay.
The history of RAF North Creake is never far from our thoughts though as we often think when we are there that this is where they would have come to swim and have some normal time away from the base.
The beach cafe is nice or if you walk back into Wells - There is the fabulous Grey Seal Coffe shop not to mention a few lovely pubs and bars too for something more substantial - The Lifeboat, Bang in Wells, The Albatros, The Globe to mention but a few.
We have a few of these gorgeous prints available for sale
Original (ltd ed of 40 - 30 colour, 10 black and white) lino cut of The Control Tower – which is designed, hand painted and printed by Lewis Orchard. These were created for our crowd fund for the Stirling Suite but we have 10 left of these available in colour or in monochrome. They are exclusively available to buy from us (the artist gave us the full run) the price for a mounted print and including P&P is £130. The image is approx 30 x 30 cm and mounted is 50 x 50 cm. If you would like to purchase one let us know.
mail@controltowerstays.com
A little picture round up of other happenings in May here at CTHQ
We are open for a special 3 day B&B stay this Christmas
The Control Tower Bed and Breakfast
Bunkers Hill, Egmere, Walsingham, Norfolk NR22 6AZ.
www.controltowerstays.com | mail@controltowerstays.com | 01328 821574
Here comes summer - however I think today the crews would have been grounded, The Control Tower is shrouded in a thick sea fret. Although you might not be able to see it today, it is a beautiful time of the year with the hedgerows full of cow parsley and hawthorn blossom. It has been gorgeous to spend an evening or two in the garden watching the sun set over the old airfield enjoying a little tipple (or two) with swallows swooping overhead and Red Kites in the distance.
We have just had our busiest time in the B&B - the second May Bank Holiday was fully booked combined with two weddings... we are so happy that the businesses are doing well, especially when we hear lovely feedback from guests and the newly married couples we have driven on their special day. Fabulously, we have just been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence - we are over the moon.
The open day in May for North Norfolk Stories was really special. For the first time we took visitors up to the roof on a night time tour. This felt very poignant as we followed the story of one aircraft - 171/A which was lost in January 1945 all the crew died in the crash. While in the former Control Room at night the history felt very close. We had several people attended the tours who had family connections with RAF North Creake and since then one has even come to stay (a surprise for her birthday). As a result of the open day, we have been gifted several more pieces of RAF North Creake history; more on that below. We got to spend the most extraordinary afternoon with a WWII fighter pilot (Spitfires, then later Tempests, and many others too) and his lovely wife... we were totally blown away by his stories. Incredible to listen to him regaling us with his memories which sounded more like a 'boy's own' adventure story than a first-hand account! Extraordinary lives! Living in a Control Tower has brought us the most amazing encounters with people. We feel very privileged.
After almost 2 years of business we have got our B&B signs up. A sign that we are getting more of the general works completed. These look great with thanks to 
Wonderful afternoon with the villagers of Oulton commemorating those who served at RAF Oulton during WWII. This beautiful gathering is part of the 100 Group Association annual reunion. Both RAF North Creake and Oulton were sister stations within 100 Group of Bomber Command. We were treated perfect afternoon tea followed by a very moving gathering by the memorial. It was wonderful to have veterans there but also children of the village who read out poems they had written. You can feel the warmth of the village and know they will continue to remember them. We were so privileged to be there. Just wish we had brought some tissues.
We were asked to lay a wreath in memory of those who served at RAF North Creake and particularly for those that did not return - the association do this for each of the 100 group stations each year. We placed this by the marker stone as there is no other place appropriate... yet. Our next big project is to start to draw up plans to erect a proper RAF North Creake memorial. We have met with the leader of the council, Tom FitzPatrick, who is also keen on this idea so we hope that by the 75th anniversary of VE Day we will be able to lay flowers by the RAF North Creake Memorial to remember all those who served here.
Our favouite beach is Wells-next-the-Sea. A walk along the golden sands around the dunes then back through the pine woods never fails to raise our spirits. The colours of the land and seascape are stunning and we love the beach huts - playing the game of one day we'll build one that looks like a control tower. We are in discussion with a friend who owns a beach hut, so in future, guests here might be able to rent one for their stay.
