The Heritage Centre

Located on the edge of the Heatherstone Grange housing development. (see below for map from road to centre) just outside Bransgore, Sopley side.

We occupy the last remaining building of RAF Sopley, a camp built in the early 1950s to provide personnel for the nearby Radar station.

We have adapted this building to preserve the history and heritage of the twelve airfields that were operational in the New Forest during WW2. The centre is also a remembrance to the 25,000 brave service men and women and 10,000 civilians who operated them. Come and learn about the history of aviation in the New Forest.

We have information boards, models, photographs, artefacts, uniforms, videos and CGI to recount the history of the 12 New Forest Airfields.

An upstairs gallery contains many limited edition prints depicting the aircraft that flew from the airfields. Many of these prints are signed by the pilots who flew them. We also have a local aviation reference library with information on the airfields and the aircraft which flew from them.

We also have a preloved book section with books and magazines for sale at bargain prices.

Our children’s quiz has proved very popular, especially as there is a prize at the end if all is correct.

After browsing our gift shop, you have the opportunity to partake of light refreshments in Mee Mee’s tearoom.

The tearoom is open to all, even if you do not wish to view the centre. We normally have a Homemade cake, cold drinks, filled rolls, snacks as well as tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

There is free parking and free Wi-Fi.

We look forward to seeing you.