When the second World War broke out, Haveringland Hall (Click Here for Photos) and its surrounding parkland was taken over by the Air Ministry. The outlying farms and cottages were offered for sale, first to the tenants and then by public auction.

And nOW a systematic alteration of the whole area was set in motion, in order that a fighter aerodrome might operate there. Looking at the Church today, sentinel like in the bare landscape, it seems incredible that a few years ago it nestled in the shelter of a great forest of trees, oak, chestnut and beech, themselves the glory of a great park stretching through massive wrought iron gates on past the lodge which housed the village post office, through a majestic avenue of horse chestnut trees, beautiful in spring with their pink candle like blossoms. A wall some miles in length encompassed the whole. Further afield deep hollows by the wayside concealed a wealth of primroses in the spring, while a group-of pine and spreading woodland continued far outside the boundary walls.

All of this was levelled to the ground as the aerodrome took shape. A gap of a mile was torn in the wall, the lodge gates were removed and the lodge itself blown up without ceremony. As runways crossed and recrossed the greenwood, each primrose hollow was obliterated with rubble brought by countless lorries from local gravel pits. The trees were carried off in mournful procession. The Hall survived for a time, useful for bilteting the flying men, then that too, was demolished. Gaping cellars and a few outbuildings are all that remains of the great mansion. The church however survived as it continues in its mission. The days are gone when its upkeep was attended by carpenters and builders, no more are its floral decorations supplied from the hothouses in the Hall gardens, or the altar frontals and cloths stitched by the leisure ladies of the Hall. The dozen or so parishioners left somehow do cope with all the needs. The women by organising sewin.9 parties and social events have paid for a modern heating system. The church is kept clean and the graveyard tidied. So although the Squires have gone, the church continues to thrive.

From the Haveringalanda Booklet by John Kett