Visit a small building with a big story! Langham Dome stands on the edge of RAF Langham, a decommissioned World War Two airfield which once revolutionised life in a peaceful Norfolk village. The intriguing curved structure housed state-of-the-art AA (anti-aircraft) training technology, schooling ground-to-air gunners using groundbreaking stop-frame film technology. Developed in 1940, it simulated attacks by projecting immersive images of enemy aircraft onto the Dome’s interior walls, like a Imax Cinema. Langham Dome is one of only six such WW2 gunnery trainers left, although 40 were built.

Today it’s a Scheduled Ancient Monument – reputedly the youngest ancient monument in the UK – owned by the North Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trust and The Friends of Langham Dome (who preserve the building for future generations) have restored Langham Dome as a visitor centre to tell its fascinating stories of courage, sacrifice and ingenuity.

In 1939 Langham’s 200 residents lived in tiny flint cottages with no electricity or running water. By 1944 there were 2,500 people, united by a common struggle. Life centred around the new airfield where British men and women from all over the UK mingled with New Zealanders, Australians and Poles and other nationalities. The air was loud with dogfights and battling planes shot down over the sea while search lights swept the sky.

But that wasn’t the only noise! Wartime Langham became a swinging hotspot, where everyone let off steam at notoriously raucous parties!