Village of Nocton, in Lincolnshire, England
The imposing Nocton Hall began life as an 18th century manor house. After the U.S. entered the Great War in 1917, Nocton Hall became a convalescent home for young American officers until 1919, then stood empty until World War Two. In 1940, the hall and 200 acres of parkland were aquired by the Air Ministry and became an RAF hospital. Over the next five decades, the Nocton Hall served as an army “clearing station” for the Americans, an officers’ club for the British, and latterly a 740 bed hospital under RAF control until 1984. U.S. forces took over again during the Gulf War of 1991/92, with up to 1,300 medical staff on site. After 1995 Nocton Hall fell into abandonment and two servere arson attacks during the last decade have reduced the grand building to little more than a shell.
The imposing Nocton Hall began life as an 18th century manor house. After the U.S. entered the Great War in 1917, Nocton Hall became a convalescent home for young American officers until 1919, then stood empty until World War Two. In 1940, the hall and 200 acres of parkland were aquired by the Air Ministry and became an RAF hospital. Over the next five decades, the Nocton Hall served as an army “clearing station” for the Americans, an officers’ club for the British, and latterly a 740 bed hospital under RAF control until 1984. U.S. forces took over again during the Gulf War of 1991/92, with up to 1,300 medical staff on site. After 1995 Nocton Hall fell into abandonment and two servere arson attacks during the last decade have reduced the grand building to little more than a shell.
