Amesbury
AMESBURY: Civil aerodrome or temporary landing site?
NOTES: It is I suppose, just possible that the location for both these accounts could have been RED HOUSE FARM, which became a WW1 aerodrome?
According to C C Turner in his book Old Flying Days published in or about 1927 I discovered this account: “ Mr. Graham Gilmour early in 1911 was touring on his Bristol military biplane. (Almost certainly a Bristol Boxkite I’d say?). On April 12, with Mr. Gordon England as passenger, he set out from AMESBURY for Yeovil. (My capitals throughout). He lost his way, however, and descended at FRYERN COURT, near Templecombe, (SOMERSET). Reascending, he flew to BLANDFORD (DORSET) to a friend’s place, and EASTBURY PARK."
"In the evening he headed for Martock, but the wind was so strong that he was practically blown down at HENSTRIDGE station, where the airmen rested for the night. Continuing in the morning, they flew to MARTOCK, (SOMERSET), via Sherborne, (it is not clear if they landed at Sherborne – my note), where they made some passenger flights, winding up by a sharp descent on a lawn, which involved a fence in ruin but left the aeroplane practically undamaged.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
Later C C Turner makes another remark which tends to make me assume that a Landing Ground at AMESBURY had been established circa 1911-1912? I quote: “Mr. D. Corbett Wilson, an Irishman who took a French ticket on the Blériot in January, 1912, did a lot of flying in public, including exhibitions in Ireland. He flew from Paris to FISHGUARD and Ireland, with a halt at AMESBURY.”
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