Banburyshire Rambles Photo-Journal

Paul Mobbs’ photographic record of his walks around ‘Banburyshire’ and ‘The Irondowns’, and occasionally, as part of his work around Britain, the areas beyond.


‘Last Chance (HS)To See’ – Scene 35:

‘Chipping Warden Airfield’

Though Chipping Warden airfield has resisted development pressures for many years, its former taxi-way is being used to re-align the main A361 road, and HS2 crosses in its ‘green tunnel’ at a 90° angle

18th April 2019

© 2018-2021 Paul Mobbs; released under the CC-BY-NC-SA logoCreative Commons license.
Updated February 2021.


Other than the taxiways there is little left of RAF Chipping Warden. The small industrial estate set up within the area that was once hangars and barracks has not intensified over the years. Question is, will the realignment of the road – formerly an obstruction to new development – cause more impact through new development pressure than HS2 itself?

This is another site selected as a ‘control’; a site which should have minimal impact given the nature of the development proposed.

HS2 passes in its ‘green tunnel’ from the trees on the left of the picture through the hedgerow on the right. Technically its impact should be minimal.