Listing for 'unique' airship shed

The Beta Shed is one of only a handful of surviving portable airship hangars

A giant airship hangar in Hampshire used during World War I has been protected with Grade-II listing status.

Culture minister Barbara Follett MP gave the status to the Beta Shed at Farnborough Airport.

It is one of only a handful of surviving portable airship hangars in Europe and is to be protected because of its "unique" history.

The structure was created in about 1892 and was erected at the airport between 1910 and 1911.

It was used during the war to house airships, or balloons, which provided air observation of German submarines and monitored threats to shipping convoys.

How the hanger looked when it housed airships during World War I

The new listed status will provide the shed with enhanced protection against insensitive development.

Ms Follett said: "This is a most unusual and unique building and deserves preservation.

"Only six of these sheds existed at the beginning of the First World War, and this one has housed some truly remarkable examples of British engineering."

Farnborough was the location of the first airship trials, including the first Sea Scout (SS), but the base was abandoned by the Naval Airship Service due to the expansion of aeroplane squadrons there.

Airships and personnel were transferred to Kingsnorth, Kent, which became the airship headquarters.