Cremorne Gardens
CREMORNE GARDENS: Early gliding and/or hang-gliding attempts plus aircraft ‘model’ demonstration site
Also balloon ascents. (Sometimes mis-spelt as Crethorne Gardens)
Note: This map was kindly provided by Mr Graham D Course
Location: On the N bank of the River Thames in Chelsea. S of where Lots Road leads into the A3212 ‘Embankment’ Ring Road as Cremorne Road leads E into Cheyne Walk
Period of operation: 1850 to 1880?
NOTES: It seems pretty certain to be in 1850 that John Stringfellow demonstrated in public the steam powered ‘model’ aircraft he’d been perfecting in CHARD, (SOMERSET) within “an immense tent”. This seems today almost certainly the first powered ‘model’ aircraft to successfully fly? The first successful ‘flights’ being in CHARD of course. My reasoning being that in 1851 he demonstrated his ‘model’ in the Great Exhibition held in the Crystal Palace in HYDE PARK.
GLIDER LAUNCHES
In or around July 1854 it also appears that the Frenchman François Letur gave a display in CREMORNE GARDENS by successfully launching himself in a glider of his design from a tethered balloon. Rather inronically he died in London of injuries received not whilst gliding but when trying to repair his balloon and a gust of wind dashed the balloon against some trees.
It would also appear that exactly twenty years later, in 1874, a Belgian gentleman by the name of De Groof launched himself from beneath a balloon, the 'Czar' being operated by Joseph W Simmonds, which had ascended from CREMORNE GARDENS. He was attempting to glide on two wings of “broad” span and a tail section of twenty feet in length. He is said to have survived the first attempt with just bruising but killed himself on the second attempt, crashing into Sydney Street.
Accounts vary regarding the details, including the nationality, name and age of the aviator. Some say his name was De Groot, aged 35 or 36. It also appears that he had previously made successful gliding attempts with his contraption abroad on the Continent.
A BALLOON ASCENT
The then very famous aeronaut, renowned throughout Europe, Mr Henry Coxwell performed an ascent, (possibly several?), from this site.
REMARKS
Several years ago I made this comment: "I imagine that the area of the gardens was much larger in the 19th century as today it’s roughly about 125 metres long and much narrower than this in width. Can anybody now explain why CREMORNE GARDENS was favoured in those days for various aviation related exploits in London performed in a period spaced over a quarter of a century apart?" The map above, added in January 2021, shows the size of CREMORNE GARDENS in the 19th century.
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