Cheesemans Farm
Note: I was interested to discover that Cheesemans Farm still exists, and this map shows the position. However, it almost certainly does not show the exact position of the airfield used.
CHEESEMAN'S FARM: Civil aerodrome (also known as RAMSGATE)
Note: Both of these maps have been very kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
British airline user: Hillman’s Airways
Location: Pretty much adjoining and N of RAF MANSTON, on the B2050 Birchington Road
Period of operation: 1933 to 1935?
NOTES: It seems Hillman’s Airways operated services from their MAYLANDS base in ESSEX to CHEESMAN’S FARM from the 8th April 1933, the inaugural flights using a DH.84 Dragon and a DH.83 Fox Moth.
According to Neville Doyle in his excellent book The Triple Alliance life wasn’t always easy for ‘Ted’ Hillman’s pilots. For example: “John Oliver took three passengers to Ramsgate on June 4th (My note: presumably 1933?) and was met at Cheeseman’s Farm by a rather zealous policeman who made enquiries, apparently, related to documents required by law to be carried by public transport aircraft. These included “the certificates of competency and licenses of its personnel”.
As a consequence, John Morgan Oliver appeared in court at Ramsgate on August 1st and explained that he was asked to take this flight after returning to Romford from Paris in another aircraft, and he had left the journey log book containing the required papers with the Customs. He was ordered to pay 4/- costs!”
NOTHING MUCH CHANGES
Pretty much the same situation exists today, the documentation required to be carried, even by private pilots, is something of a nightmare of complexity. This said, in over twenty five years and flying in every country in western Europe and elsewhere, I cannot recall one single occurrence of a policeman, (or any other official), checking my and the aircraft documents. In fact, only rarely was I asked by a flying school or club when going flying. And even then, they were usually only interested in seeing my log book to see where I'd been.
ANOTHER VENUE
It does seem Hillman Airways transferred their operations to RAMSGATE AIRPORT sometime after that airport opened in 1935.
Elizabeth Hubbard
This comment was written on: 2017-12-07 14:45:15My grandfather rented Cheesemans Farm, Manston. As children we played on the old airfield and round the roofless offices; originally there had been a hidden runway roofed over.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Elizabeth, Many thanks for the memory. Best regards, Dick
History of Manston Airfield
This comment was written on: 2018-04-29 00:05:21Actually Ramsgate airport was in a different location some 4 miles away. On 30th March 1933 the lease was signed to use ground at Cheeseman's Farm adjacent to Manston for civilian flights between Thanet and London
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