Nuthampstead was historically a
hamlet in the parish of
Barkway. The hamlet took on civil functions under the
poor laws from the 17th century onwards, appointing its own
overseer of the poor. Nuthampstead therefore became a
civil parish in 1866 when the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws. Despite becoming a separate civil parish, it remains part of the ecclesiastical parish of Barkway. During the Second World War,
RAF Nuthampstead, situated next to the village, was home initially to the
55th Fighter Group and subsequently the
398th Bombardment Group of the
U.S. Army Air Forces. This latter unit, the base's primary occupant, flew
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers on missions over occupied Europe. Known as USAAF Station 131 during the war, and less formally as AAF Nuthampstead, the airfield was constructed by U.S. Army engineer battalions starting in 1942. The site was formerly Scales Park, which was planted with oak trees after the
Battle of Trafalgar. These were cleared to make room for the runways, hangars, and other wartime facilities. Visitors to the site will find that the main runways have since been removed, with a grass runway and service roads only remaining to allow the airfield to be used by light aircraft. In 1968–71 the Commission on the Third London Airport (the "
Roskill Commission") considered Nuthampstead as one of its four short-listed sites, along with
Cublington,
Foulness (later known as
Maplin Sands) and
Thurleigh. Barkway
VOR is located at Nuthampstead Airfield. Areas of the former airfield have been converted into a shooting ground. Since 1992, when planning permission was granted, the ground has developed to enable it to hold major championships in four international shooting disciplines. ==Geography==