The former RAF Cowden, about two miles south of Mappleton beach on the East Yorkshire coast, was used as a bombing range for many years.
The site has a long military history, having been used as a combined artillery and field firing range from the 1940s until 1955, when it was transferred to the RAF. It remained an active air weapons range until it was decommissioned in 1998.
The eroding coastline in this area mean that numerous bombs, both inert and live, and once buried inland, have been discovered deposited on the shore at Mappleton. In 2021, Brimstone UXO was awarded a competitive tender to manage the ongoing UXO risk at Cowden. Since then, the team has worked tirelessly to locate, identify, and safely dispose of ordnance that would otherwise present a hazard for residents and visitors, along this stretch of coastline.
On a freezing day in January this year, Brimstone UXO reported facing “truly challenging” conditions at the former air weapons range. In a post on social media, it said: “Our team has been hard at work in recent days, facing some truly challenging conditions at the former air weapons range, RAF Cowden.
“Extensive coastal erosion has resulted in mudslides and high levels of UXO contamination on the public beach. Despite these obstacles, our engineers are continuing to dispose of all dangerous items and ensure the safety of the local environment and community.”
Below is a selection of photographs from the Hull Daily Mail archives showing RAF Cowden in times past.
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