Customer Reviews

Chicksands: A Millennium of History: From Monastery to Noble Estate to Supersecret RAF/USAF Listening Post - the air base with the most unique history...

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The work by Bill Grayson about Chicksands is professionalism at its best. His detailed study of Chicksands from the days early occupation by the Gilbertine Order to the occupation by the RAF and USAF/SS as an intelligence listening post is accurate and done in precise detail. His ability to convey the position of the military forces' use of Chicksands during WWII and the Cold War is excellent. This work by Mr. Grayson is a keepsake of knowledge that those of us who served our country at Chicksands will long hold in esteem and honor. A worthwile addition to any library.

This is an excellent book which details the history of Chicksands, a location near Shefford in Bedfordshire, England. Chicksands started out as a monastery, became a manor house, and ended up as a secret listening post for the RAF and later the USAF. The book details a lot of the midevial history of the site, and at times can be a little slow reading. Having lived and worked at Chicksands for about 2 1/2 years, I was glad to see a book that details the history of the place. The book is a fitting tribute to all who worked or lived there, from the monks in the 1100's to the USAF personnel who were there until closure in 1995.

Somehow lost my first review: CHICKSANDS: A Millennium of History is a noble piece of work. This is no routine historical book. It is fresh and lively in approach, and the research is impeccable. The people, events, backgrounds and settings equal credibility and realism. I know of some who have served at Chicksands in the USAFSS, and I am happy to see that Mr. Grayson has instilled their service to the top of the "hill" with this beautiful and well written tome to celebrate such unique history. Mr. Grayson, have you heard of Simon & Schuster? Random House? They need to see this book. Thank you for your foresight and talent to bring this historical work to the American people.

For anyone who has served at Chicksands, this is the definitive history of this ancient site. Bill Grayson covers the history of Chicksands from its Saxon origins, through the 400 years of its existence as a Gilbertine Priory. The book goes on to cover the 340 years of occupation by the Osborn family in great detail. The wartime years and the use of the Priory for intercept operations during World War 2 is followed by a lot of detail on the US presence until 1995. It is a complex tale well told. There are several links to the US and a fair cross section of British history can be imagined through the events at the Priory. The book is being re-printed in its third edition and it will include more information on the Priory restoration which took place in 1998. This book is strongly recommended for anyone who served at Chicksands or who wants to view British and some early US history within the context of a single place and the people who lived there.

I have read this publication a few times and always find it to be interesting and well presented. I have met Mr. Grayson several times and find him to be knowledgeable about Chicksands and interested in facts that present the best summary of the base and history of the site. His interest in preserving current history is well presented as he fills us in on the past.

The work by Bill Grayson about Chicksands is professionalism at its best. His detailed study of Chicksands from the days early occupation by the Gilbertine Order to the occupation by the RAF and USAF/SS as an intelligence listening post is accurate and done in precise detail. His ability to convey the position of the military forces' use of Chicksands during WWII and the Cold War is excellent. This work by Mr. Grayson is a keepsake of knowledge that those of us who served our country at Chicksands will long hold in esteem and honor. A worthwile addition to any library.

Book is very well written, research was thorough, and contents were informative and factual.
Definitely recommended to any lover of history.