Christ Church Meadow
CHRIST CHURCH MEADOW: Temporary balloon launch site
Location: Near the centre of Oxford, and to the SE.
Period of operation: 4th October 1784
NOTES: On Oct 4th 1784 James Sadler made a successful ascent which is generally regarded as being the first manned balloon flight in England. This was not actually the case as Vincenzo Lunardi had achieved that on the 15th September 1784 from MOORFIELDS (LONDON). And indeed, the Scotsman James Tytler had made the first manned balloon flight in the United Kingdom on the 27th August 1784. This was from COMELY GARDENS (MID-LOTHIAN), in Edinburgh.
What does seem beyond doubt is that James Sadler was the first Englishman to achieve a manned balloon flight in England. It appears that he landed at Woodeaton which is about six miles away, although, having looked this up it seems more like 4nm to the NNE of Oxford city centre and Christ Church Meadow. His second flight apparently reached Aylesbury, which is more like 20nm away, to the ENE of Oxford city centre.
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