IT wouldn’t exactly make an episode of Grand Designs but this cylindrical shack was welcomed as somebody’s home in the 1940s.

The fuselage of an Airspeed Horsa glider – the type used by airborne troops in World War II – was converted by Mr. Arthur Bedford, a building contractor at Southbourne, Bournemouth.

The glider-home had three rooms – a bedroom measuring 10ft by 7ft, a living room 15ft by 7ft and a kitchenette 8ft by 7ft, and is believed to have been made for a London businessman.

In the war years, construction of houses virtually came to a standstill due to a shortage of materials and supplies.

To keep the builders occupied, glider bodies were stripped of their wartime gear and divided into sections.

They were converted into summerhouses, caravans, spare room annexes and even temporary homes, like the one pictured. Some were on wheels, others were mounted like a chalet and could be easily turned around to follow the sun.

Several were made in Surrey and according to the Oxford Mail, a lady named Maud Starkie lived in a converted Horsa from the 1940s until she died in 2000 at the age of 99.

The Mail wrote: “She built a shed-like structure over it for weather-proofing, but inside it was still like being in a plane.”

It is unclear how many were made in this area, and what exactly happened to the one pictured. The photograph was sent to us by Mr Philip Reinders from the Netherlands.

He has a particular interest in the subject and is writing a number of publications on military history.

“I wanted to find out more about gliders,” he told the Echo. “A lot of them came to England but what happened to them?

“I would love to hear from anyone who remembers this conversion at Southbourne, and learn if any more were made in the area.

“Was it just one or were there hundreds?”

Did you work on converting this Horsa glider? Did you live in it? Or do you simply remember seeing it?

Any information, please contact Philip Reinders at Reinders2@chello.nl