Friends of the New Forest Aviation Heritage Centre

Located on the edge of the Heatherstone Grange housing development just outside Bransgore, Sopley side.

We occupy the last remaining building of RAF Sopley, a camp built in the early 1950s to provide personnel for the nearby Radar station.

We have adapted this building to preserve the history and heritage of the twelve airfields that were operational in the New Forest during WW2. The centre is also a remembrance to the 25,000 brave service men and women and 10,000 civilians who operated them. Come and learn about the history of aviation in the New Forest.

We have information boards, models, photographs, artefacts, uniforms, videos and CGI to recount the history of the 12 New Forest Airfields.

An upstairs gallery contains many limited edition prints depicting the aircraft that flew from the airfields. Many of these prints are signed by the pilots who flew them. We also have a local aviation reference library with information on the airfields and the aircraft which flew from them.

We also have a preloved book section with books and magazines for sale at bargain prices.

Our children’s quiz has proved very popular, especially as there is a prize at the end if all is correct.

After browsing our gift shop, you have the opportunity to partake of light refreshments in Mee Mee’s tearoom.

We normally have a Homemade cake, cold drinks, filled rolls, snacks as well as tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

There is free parking and free Wi-Fi.

We look forward to seeing you.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

1000-1130, 1200-1330 & 1400-1530

Location & directions

Mosquito Way, Bransgore, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 8HE

Directions:

What3words: beyond.likely.surprised. Look out for the FONFA Private Event signs on entrance to Marryat road/Arnwood Drive off Derritt lane. On leaving the lane to enter the Heatherstone Grange Estate immediately turn left and then turn left again, after travelling a short distance ,as per the FONFA signs. Then in less than 50 yds you will see the sign for Mosquito Way on your right. Within a few yards you will see our centre on your right.

Contact on day:

Samuel Ruddy

Telephone number:

+447774047845

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Only prebooked admissions allowed

Booking contact name:

Hampshire History Trust

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking website:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hampshire-history-trust

Booking opens:

27 Aug 2026 09:00 AM

Booking closes:

18 Sep 2026 03:00 PM

Accessibility details

As we do not have a lift their is no wheelchair access to our first floor gallery apologies. We have a tablet you can view the prints which are the only exhibits on the first floor gallery.

Additional information

There is a tearoom serving drinks hot and cold drinks as well as cakes and biscuits. We have a small shop selling books, model kits and DVDS. We also have a section selling preloved book ,magazines and DVDs.

Max number of people:

20

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

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