Stop 01
Royal Square & the Dambusters Memorial
Begin where Woodhall Spa remembers the aircrew of 617 Squadron and the wartime story that reshaped the village.
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A village landmark shaped by wartime memory
The memorial at Royal Square commemorates 204 members of 617 Squadron who died during operations, training and transfer flights in the Second World War. Unveiled on 17 May 1987, its distinctive breached-dam form recalls Operation Chastise and carries the squadron crest, motto and the names of those remembered.
Royal Square has another wartime story beneath today’s gardens. The Royal Hydro Hotel and Winter Gardens once occupied this central site, but the hotel was destroyed by a German parachute mine on the night of 17/18 August 1943. The public garden, memorial and surrounding village centre now make this a powerful place to begin the trail.
Next: St Andrew’s War Memorial
Leave Royal Square towards Witham Road and continue to the junction where the village war memorial stands in the former St Andrew’s churchyard. The safest crossing and pavement side still need confirming during the physical trail test.