The Newark Air Museum (NAM), in Nottinghamshire, UK has completed the acquisition of its longtime home at the former RAF Winthorpe site in Nottinghamshire, securing the future of one of the United Kingdom’s largest volunteer-managed aviation collections. The purchase was finalized on June 5th, 2026, when museum trustees completed the acquisition of the museum’s Northfield Site from the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS). The transaction follows several years of discussions between the two organizations and was made possible through a land swap and purchase agreement reached earlier this year.
(Image credit: Newark Air Museum)
The acquisition comes as the museum approached the final phase of a lease agreement originally granted by the NNAS in the late 1970s. By purchasing the site outright, the museum has secured the long-term future of its collection of nearly 100 aircraft and cockpit sections, as well as its extensive archive of aviation-related artifacts. The museum now owns just under 13 acres of land in northeastern Nottinghamshire, providing a permanent home for its collection and opening new opportunities for future development. Museum officials say the acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter in the organization’s history. Future plans include improved visitor access, expanded parking facilities, and additional aircraft display areas. These developments will be pursued in consultation with local authorities and funding partners as part of a long-term vision for the site.
(Image credit: Newark Air Museum)
In the coming months, the museum plans to formally launch “Project 2039,” an ambitious development initiative that will include submissions to Newark & Sherwood District Council and other local stakeholders. “This land swap and purchase agreement has involved a long-running dialogue between the air museum and the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society,” said Howard Heeley, NAM secretary and museum trustee. “We would like to place on record our thanks to museum President Mich Stevenson OBE, who has been a vital conduit during these negotiations. We would also like to thank Simon Eccleston, CEO of the NNAS, and the trustees of the NNAS for their support while working with us throughout this process.”
(Image credit: Newark Air Museum)
Museum trustees also paid tribute to two individuals whose contributions helped make the acquisition possible. The first was John Dove, a former RAF Winthorpe National Service veteran and museum member whose substantial legacy donation provided critical financial support for the project. Trustees also acknowledged the late Mick Clarke, a former museum trustee and vice president whose vision and long-term planning helped shape the museum’s future development goals. “We now look forward to continuing a mutually beneficial relationship with our neighbors, the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, for many years to come,” Heeley added.
Founded in 1973, the Newark Air Museum officially opened to the public on April 14th of that year at another location on the former RAF Winthorpe site, also leased from the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society. Today, the museum’s collection of nearly 100 aircraft and cockpit sections represents one of the largest volunteer-managed aviation collections in the United Kingdom. With ownership of its site now secured, the museum is well positioned to preserve and expand that legacy for future generations of aviation enthusiasts. For more information about the Newark Air Museum, visit www.newarkairmuseum.org.
