A campaign to bring Northern Ireland’s only World War II RAF ‘Trainer Dome’ back into use as a community defence heritage facility will reach a major milestone today (Friday 13th February) thanks to work beginning on-site in Aghanloo village.
The rare building, one of only six in the UK, sits within the former RAF Limavady site and was a key defence site in the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’ during WWII.
A sod-cutting is being held to mark a £1m investment in conservation and public access at the Dome by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and partners as part of Binevenagh Landscape Partnership.
The project will not only relaunch the scheduled WWII Trainer Dome into a multi-purpose community event space with 360-degree projection capability but will aim to remove the scheduled monument from the Heritage at Risk Register.
With a target opening date of Autumn 2026, the Trainer Dome will create a facility to tell the WWI and WWII story of Lough Foyle and the North-West through immersive projection technology. The project part of a developing ‘Atlantic Defence Trail’ which will see the development of conservation and public access to additional sites of defence heritage interest around the coast of Northern Ireland.
The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with the support of National Lottery players, Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The sod-cutting celebration marks the culmination of seven-year programme of engagement with the local community and heritage experts to gain scheduled monument and planning consent.
Devity Contract Services will now begin clearance works before work to prepare the venue can begin.
Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
“We are so pleased the see the development of this unique defence heritage project as part of our commitment to the delivery of the Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership. The conservation of the Second World War Training Dome is a flagship project which offers both visitors and local people to opportunity to learn more about the history and heritage of the landscape.
We are looking forward to seeing the works progress and the exciting ways that this space will engage people. Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to support the training dome project which will provide a sustainable future for this important monument.”
The milestone was also welcomed by project partner Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Mayor Councillor Oliver McMullan commented:
“Council is delighted to see work beginning on the World War II RAF ‘Trainer Dome’ project in Aghanloo.
“The site has played an important role in the island’s history, and this work will not only preserve the building, but also recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by many local people during World War II.
“Future plans for the site, include a multi-purpose community event space, will be beneficial for the entire community and a welcome addition for many generations to come.”
Contractor Devity Contract Service’s Sean Warnock outlined the next stages of work at the site:
“Over the coming months, works will progress to include access improvements, drainage and service installations, alongside the conservation and refurbishment of the Dome structure itself. This will involve specialist structural steelwork, installation of a new tensile fabric covering, and associated internal and external repairs, all carried out in line with the requirements of a scheduled monument.
“We are proud to be delivering this project in close collaboration with the design team and stakeholders, with a strong emphasis on safety, heritage sensitivity and quality, as we help secure the long-term future of this unique structure for the local community.”
Project updates will be added to the Binevenagh & Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme Facebook page: link.
FAQs
– Is the Trainer Dome formally acknowledged as an important site?
The structure is in private ownership and is a scheduled monument (SMR Number LDY 009:048). The Dome has been included as a Training Site in ‘The Northern Ireland Defence Heritage Project Database’ as an acknowledgement of its architectural and historical significance.
– What makes the Trainer Dome so significant?
Trainer Domes are a particularly rare military building typology, with only six remaining in the UK. They represent a significant period in our history when sites across Northern Ireland were under threat from invasion and aerial attack. The RAF Limavady Training Dome is of particular interest as it is the only one remaining in Northern Ireland. Its survival and unusual appearance presents an opportunity for the structure to become a focal point in telling the story of how Lough Foyle played a vital role in the defence of Britain during WWII.
– How did the Trainer Dome work?
The design concept of the trainer dome is that images of enemy aircraft are projected onto the interior of the dome which were fired at by a replica anti-aircraft gun. Only half of the dome’s inner surface was used as a target screen as the rest was lined with sound absorbent material to limit echoes. Between 1942 and 1944 over forty concrete and steel domes were built on airfields across the country. Please see the Conservation Management Plan for the Dome for more details.
– What was the Trainer Dome’s role in WWII?
With US troops and supply convoys reaching Britain via Northern Ireland, the port of Londonderry became vital during the Battle of the Atlantic. This led to an increase in military activity in the area including the development of RAF Limavady in 1940 and RAF Ballykelly in 1941 as well as the establishment of a significant anti-aircraft battery at Magilligan Point. The fall of France in June 1940 led to the fear of imminent German invasion. This led to the establishment of a ‘concrete crust’ of defences to beaches and shorelines along the north coast including numerous pillboxes, anti-boat landing defences, roadblocks and barbed wire entanglements.
– How has formal research and planning for work at the Trainer Dome been carried out?
The RAF Limavady Trainer Dome Conservation Management Plan was compiled by Hamilton Architects on behalf of Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme.
It was written following the format of The National Lottery Heritage Fund Guidance document, Conservation Plan Guidance dated October 2012.
The Plan was commissioned to inform the sensitive and appropriate development of the site with the aims of:
- Understanding of the significance of the RAF Limavady Trainer Dome, its setting, context and links to other defence heritage structures in the region.
- Understanding of the architectural importance of the structure.
- Understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with the development of the site.
- Developing policies and recommendations to conserve and enhance the special architectural, historical and political significance of the building.
- Meeting the projected outcomes of The National Lottery Heritage Fund including involving a broader range of people in heritage, improving the condition and understanding of heritage assets and developing heritage skills within the local community.
– What is the project value?
The £4.2m Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership has received £3,435,685 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
The WWII Dome Project represents an investment of £950,000 as one of 13 projects being delivered by the Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership.