History of Manston

Manston Village

The following is an extract from: Edward Hasted, 'Parishes: St Laurence (Thanet)', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 10 (Canterbury, 1800) - converted to more modern English:

"The Manor of Manston, located on the western edge of this parish, was for many generations the home and inheritance of a family who shared its name. According to records in the Pipe Office, Richard de Manston served as one of the Recognitores Magnæ Assisæ — a position of considerable trust and importance during the reign of King John.

Sir William Manston and his brother Sir Roger Manston are buried in the Grey Friars at Canterbury. A depiction of Roger Manston once appeared in one of the windows of Ashford Church. He was shown wearing his coat of arms — red, with a horizontal band of ermine between three silver stars (the same arms that appear on the stone roof of the cloisters at Canterbury). He was portrayed with spurs on, kneeling on a cushion with his hands raised in prayer, his hair cut short, and wearing a beard. His image was displayed alongside those of several other notable figures.

William Manston served as sheriff in the 14th year of King Henry VI’s reign and carried out his duties from this estate. His son, Nicholas Manston, died in 1444, leaving only one daughter, Joane, as his heir. Through her marriage, her husband Thomas St. Nicholas of Thorne in Minster gained possession of the estate.

Their great-grandson, Roger St. Nicholas, left only one daughter, Elizabeth, who brought the estate to her husband, John Dynley of Charlton in Worcestershire. Their eldest son, Henry, later sold the property—along with Powcies and Thorne—around the middle of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign to John Roper of Linsted, who was later made Lord Teynham. The estate remained in the Roper family until Henry, Lord Teynham, sold it around 1709 (the sale being recorded in Chancery) to Sir Henry Furnese of Waldershare, who died owning it in 1712.

Afterward, the estate passed in the same way as Powcies in Minster to his granddaughter Anne, the wife of John, Viscount St. John. Their grandson George, Viscount Bolingbroke (whose father had inherited the title), sold it in 1790 to Mr. Gibbon Rammel of Nash Court and to Messrs. Smith and Wotton. It has since been sold again and is now owned by Mr. Richard Brice.

The manor house has long since been converted into a farmhouse. The remains of its chapel are still substantial, and being covered in ivy, they create a very picturesque scene, especially on the north side."

Ownership Timeline of the Manor of Manston

1. The Manston Family (Early medieval period → mid‑1400s)

Richard de Manston — held office under King John (reigned 1199–1216).

Sir William Manston and Sir Roger Manston — buried at Grey Friars, Canterbury.

William Manston — Sheriff in the 14th year of Henry VI (1435–1436).

Nicholas Manston, Esq. — died 1444, leaving only one daughter.

End of Manston line

Joane Manston — sole heir; through her marriage the estate leaves the Manston family.

2. The St. Nicholas Family (mid‑1400s → late 1500s)

Thomas St. Nicholas, Esq. (husband of Joane Manston) — acquires the estate through marriage.

Their great‑grandson Roger St. Nicholas — leaves only one daughter.

End of St. Nicholas line

Elizabeth St. Nicholas — sole heir; through her marriage the estate passes out of the family.

3. The Dynley Family (late 1500s)

John Dynley, Esq., of Charlton, Worcestershire — gains the estate through marriage to Elizabeth St. Nicholas.

Their eldest son Henry Dynley later sells the estate.

4. The Roper Family (mid‑1500s → early 1700s)

John Roper, Esq., of Linsted — purchases the estate during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign.

Later created Lord Teynham.

The estate remains in the Roper/Teynham family for roughly 150 years.

End of Roper ownership

Henry, Lord Teynham — sells the estate around 1709.

5. Sir Henry Furnese (1709 → 1712)

Sir Henry Furnese, Baronet, of Waldershare — buys the estate in 1709.

Dies owning it in 1712.

6. The St. John / Bolingbroke Family (early 1700s → 1790)

Estate passes to Anne Furnese, granddaughter of Sir Henry Furnese.

She is married to John, Viscount St. John.

Their grandson George, Viscount Bolingbroke inherits and later sells it.

7. Rammel, Smith & Wotton (1790)

In 1790, George, Viscount Bolingbroke sells the estate to:

Mr. Gibbon Rammel, of Nash Court

Messrs. Smith and Wotton

8. Richard Brice (Late 1700s)

After further sale(s), the estate becomes the property of Mr. Richard Brice.

Manston Airfield:

Early Beginnings (1916–1918)

Manston’s story starts during the First World War, when the Royal Naval Air Service established a base on the Isle of Thanet to counter German Zeppelin and Gotha bomber raids.

Its wide, flat farmland made it ideal for emergency landings, and it quickly became a key defensive airfield.

By 1917, Manston hosted fighter squadrons flying aircraft such as the Sopwith Pup and Camel, intercepting enemy bombers crossing the Kent coast.

The airfield also developed one of the earliest “long landing grounds,” a precursor to the long runways it would later become famous for.

Interwar Development (1919–1939)

After WWI, Manston remained under RAF control and transitioned into a training and experimental site.

The 1920s saw the construction of more permanent buildings, including hangars and accommodation blocks, giving the station a more established presence.

Throughout the 1930s, Manston played a role in air‑defence preparations as tensions in Europe rose. It became part of the expanding RAF infrastructure designed to modernise Britain’s air capabilities.

The airfield’s location—close to the coast and continental Europe—made it strategically important, and improvements were made to its facilities and runways in anticipation of future conflict.

On the Eve of War (1939)

By the outbreak of WWII, Manston was ready to serve as a front‑line fighter station.

It became one of the first RAF bases to face enemy action due to its exposed position, setting the stage for its crucial role in the Battle of Britain and beyond.

The Second World War (1939–1945)

Early War and the Battle of Britain

Manston’s exposed position on the Kent coast meant it was one of the first RAF stations attacked in 1940.

During the Battle of Britain, it hosted fighter squadrons flying Hurricanes and Spitfires, though the airfield was repeatedly bombed and at times rendered almost unusable.

Pilots often described Manston as a “forward emergency field” — damaged but vital, a place where crippled fighters could attempt a landing rather than ditch in the Channel.

The Blitz and Heavy Bombardment

Luftwaffe raids intensified through 1940–41. Hangars, workshops, and accommodation blocks were destroyed.

Despite the devastation, Manston remained operational in a limited capacity, a testament to the resilience of ground crews who repaired runways under fire.

Mid‑War Expansion and New Roles

As the war progressed, Manston was rebuilt and expanded. Its famously long, wide runways were developed to accommodate larger aircraft.

It became a base for a variety of units:

RAF and USAAF bomber squadrons

Air‑sea rescue operations, using Walrus amphibians and later helicopters

Night‑fighter units countering German intruders

The airfield also served as a key emergency landing site for damaged Allied bombers returning from Europe.

D‑Day and the Final Push

In 1944, Manston supported operations for the Normandy landings, including fighter‑bomber missions and reconnaissance flights.

It also hosted experimental units testing new radar and electronic countermeasures.

Post‑War RAF Era (1945–1999)

Cold War Transformation

After WWII, Manston became a major RAF station and later a joint RAF–USAF base.

The Americans stationed fighter and interceptor units there during the early Cold War, including F‑84 Thunderjets and F‑86 Sabres.

The airfield’s long runway made it suitable for jet operations and emergency landings for aircraft in distress over the North Sea.

RAF Training and Support Roles

Through the 1960s–80s, Manston hosted:

RAF Fire Training School, which became one of the most important fire‑fighting training centres in Europe.

Search and Rescue units, including the well‑known yellow RAF Sea King helicopters.

The station gradually shifted from a frontline base to a specialist training and support facility.

Closure as an RAF Station

In 1999, the RAF formally withdrew, ending more than 80 years of continuous military presence.

Civil Aviation and Commercial Use (1999–2014)

After RAF departure, Manston operated as Kent International Airport.

It handled cargo flights, charter services, and occasional passenger routes.

Several owners attempted to develop it into a major regional airport, but commercial viability proved challenging.

The airport closed in 2014.

Recent Years and the Present Day

Since closure, Manston has been the subject of ongoing debate and redevelopment proposals.

The site has been used for:

Lorry parking and emergency overflow during cross‑Channel disruption

Film and TV production

Occasional aviation events and training

Proposals to reopen Manston as a cargo‑focused airport have been examined multiple times, with planning processes, consultations, and legal reviews continuing into the 2020s.

The airfield remains a prominent landmark in Thanet — historically significant, strategically located, and still central to local discussion about its future.

Rail Connections to Manston Airfield

Early Military Rail Link (WWI–Interwar)

During the First World War, the airfield relied heavily on road transport, but as it expanded, the War Office arranged for a rail siding to be built off the Canterbury–Ramsgate line. Various works were authorised - the Handley Page sheds were started on 20th September 1917 with semi-permanent sheds erected from 22nd November. On the 11th November a light railway to Birchington was discussed, but never came to fruition. Although it has proved impossible to discover a firm starting date, the railway seems to have been under construction by January 1918 with around 2000 Royal Engineers involved in its construction.

On the 22nd January 1918, the Air Council decided to construct the semi-underground hangars at Manston, with two of the five approved eventually completed. For all this mass of construction, a railway connection seems to have been essential after all. There are some reports that a railway was constructed in 1916 but there is currently no evidence to support that. By 22nd July 1918 a connection was in place to connect the camp to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway.

A new trailing connection had been made with the up line between Birchington and Herne Bay Stations. There were also trailing crossovers between the main lines on each side of the new siding connection. In addition to the ground signals for working the new connections up and down line running signals were erected, and the new signalling and connections were patrolled from a new signal-box known as Birchington "A". The new box formed an additional block post on the line and contained a frame with 16 working and 2 spare levers.

This siding was located near Manston Road, roughly west of the airfield.

It wasn’t a public station — it was a freight spur used for:

• Aviation fuel
• Building materials
• Equipment for the expanding base
• Occasional aircraft components

WWII Use

The rail connection became more important during the Second World War.

Manston’s heavy bombing meant constant deliveries of:

• Construction materials for runway repairs
• Ammunition and supplies
• Fuel for RAF and later USAAF units

The siding allowed trains to offload directly onto military lorries heading into the airfield.

Post‑War and Decline

After 1945, the siding continued to serve the RAF station, especially during the Cold War when large quantities of fuel and equipment were moved.

With the rise of road transport and changes in logistics, the rail spur gradually fell out of use.

By the late 20th century it had been lifted, though traces of the formation could still be seen for years on aerial photos.

Passenger Access

There was never a passenger station at Manston Airfield.

The nearest stations for passengers were:

• Minster 
• Ramsgate
• Margate

The Route of the Manston Airfield Rail Sidings

1. Connection Point on the Main Line

• The siding branched off the Canterbury–Ramsgate line between Minster and Ramsgate.
• The junction sat just east of Minster station, near where the line begins to curve toward Ramsgate.
• On modern maps, this is close to the area south of Manston Road and west of the airfield boundary.

2. Direction of the Spur

• From the junction, the spur ran north‑east, roughly parallel to Manston Road.
• It did not enter the airfield proper; instead, it terminated at a railhead just outside the perimeter.
• This was typical for RAF stations — rail wagons were unloaded at a secure point, and lorries carried supplies inside.

3. Railhead Location

• The railhead sat near what is now the south‑western corner of the former airfield.
• If you imagine the modern runway layout:
  • The spur ended roughly south‑west of the main runway threshold, near the area that later became part of the fire training school’s supply zone.
• A small yard existed here with:
  • A short loop or passing track
  • Hardstanding for unloading
  • Access roads leading directly into the station

4. Visible Remains

Even though the track has long been lifted, several clues survived into the 1990s and early 2000s:

• A faint embankment or raised strip running diagonally from the main line toward Manston Road.
• A slight cutting near the junction.
• The outline of the unloading yard visible on older aerial photographs.

These features have softened with redevelopment, but the alignment can still be traced with careful comparison of old OS maps and modern satellite imagery.

5. How to Visualise It Today

If you want to picture it on a modern map:

• Start at Minster station.
• Move east along the railway for about half a mile.
• Imagine a spur peeling off to the north‑east, crossing the fields toward the south‑west corner of the airfield.
• The spur stops short of the perimeter, ending in a small yard.

 

St Catherine’s Church, Manston: A Historical Overview

Medieval Origins (12th–13th Century)

• The earliest fabric of St Catherine’s dates from the 12th century, placing it firmly in the Norman period.
• Its simple layout — a single‑cell nave and chancel without aisles — reflects the typical design of small rural chapels serving scattered farming communities.
• The dedication to St Catherine of Alexandria was common in medieval England, especially for chapels associated with manorial estates.

Manorial Chapel and Local Estate Links

• For much of its early life, St Catherine’s functioned as a chapel-of-ease to the larger parish of St Laurence, Ramsgate (often mis-spelled St Lawrence - Ed).
• It served the hamlet of Manston and the surrounding farmland, which belonged to various manorial holdings over the centuries.
• The church’s small size and simple plan suggest it was built to meet the needs of a small agricultural population rather than a full parish.

Later Medieval and Tudor Period

• Additions and alterations occurred gradually:
  • A bellcote was added or rebuilt in the late medieval period.
  • Windows were enlarged and updated in the 14th–15th centuries, reflecting changing architectural styles.
• The church survived the Reformation with relatively little disruption, continuing as a minor chapel within the parish structure.

18th–19th Century Restoration and Change

• Like many rural churches, St Catherine’s fell into some disrepair by the 18th century.
• Victorian interest in medieval architecture led to restoration work in the 19th century, including:
  • Repairs to the roof
  • Replacement or renewal of windows
  • Internal reordering to suit contemporary worship
• These restorations preserved the essential medieval character while making the building more structurally sound.

20th Century: War and Community

• During both World Wars, Manston’s proximity to the airfield meant the church found itself close to military activity.
• It remained a place of worship for local residents and service personnel stationed nearby.
• Memorials inside the church commemorate local people and those connected with RAF Manston.

Modern Era

• St Catherine’s continues today as a small but active Anglican church, part of the benefice that includes St Nicholas-at-Wade and Monkton.
• Its medieval simplicity, rural setting, and long continuity of worship make it one of Thanet’s most atmospheric historic buildings.
• The churchyard, with its older gravestones and rural location, preserves the sense of a centuries‑old agricultural community.

Architectural Highlights

• Norman masonry in the nave walls
• Lancet windows from the early Gothic period
• A simple bellcote rather than a tower
• A simple, unaisled interior typical of early chapels
• Historic memorials and a peaceful churchyard

This short history of Manston was written by David J Carr - local historian, photographer and published author of "The Chatham House Story"