Unidentified piece of equipment

Does anyone know what this strange 2-3 foot drum shaped item I snapped at RNAS Hinstock back in the 90's is. It is not lined up with anything. It looks as though it may have rotated. Has 3 or 4 holes on the side of the drum. Concrete base. Just north of the tower on a grassy area in full view of the airfield but not aligned to the runway or anything like that. It is no longer there, I think it was bulldozed when they demolished some of the buildings 20 years ago.

Is that the remains of an electrical cable on the bottom right?

Well i think we can rule out a Capstan .i wonder could it perhaps have been the base of a hoist or jib crane sort of thing with the holes providing pivot sockets for pins?

I thought it might be an occluded lamp. A light source inside and the drum rotates giving a flashing beacon effect. Never know what these sailors get up to...

I dont thinks so. Nothing next to it. Nowhere for a jib or derick. If it were a hoist or something it would be by a hangar or shed or something.

Yes, a possibility. I did think beacon or something.