Suttons House was originally two staff cottages for Suttons Institute, which was opened in September 1938. The two houses were then used by RAF Hornchurch from September 1939 until 1946, although at present it is unclear what role the houses played during the war. After the RAF departed, the houses became part of the St Georges Hospital site from 1948 and were finally used by the NHS as a mental health building until its closure in around 2013.
These beautiful 1930’s building will now be getting a new lease of life from 2019 when it opens its doors as The RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre.
This has been a thirty-year struggle to secure a permanent home to house our collection of artefacts, photographs and personal stories relating to this famous aerodrome’s history and without the support and generosity of Bellway Homes who have kindly gifted them to the Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Trust this opportunity would not have been possible.
Please help support this local community venture in whatever way you can, it might be by loaning or donating artefacts or photographs, or maybe by giving some of your spare time to volunteer with helping to renovate the building or even volunteer in helping to run the centre when it opens next year.
We have already had various working parties in Suttons House over the last few weekends and in the following images you can see some of our board of trustees and volunteers who have given up some of there valuable time in helping to get everything ready for its grand opening. There of course is still a lot of work to be done so if anyone out there can give some free time to this worthwhile venture, we would be very pleased to hear from them, individuals, Tradesmen or local companies all are very welcome.
