Dinckley Grange
DINCKLEY GRANGE: Temporary aerodrome
Operated by: Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day No.2 Tour
Period of operation: 13th September 1933
Location: About 1nm NW of Langho village, roughly 2.5nm WSW of Whaley town centre
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The second item, (with pictures), was published in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times on the 8th September 1933, as was the fourth item.
Note: The sixth item was published in the Nelson Leader on the 15th September 1933. The last item is from my Google Earth © derrived database.
NOTES: It is perhaps important to stress that before WW2, all 'flying circus' event locations, even if only used for one day, had to be officially licensed as an aerodrome. Indeed, in the earlier days a couple of men from the Ministry would turn up in a car and make a site survey, which included driving around and across the nominated field to ascertain its suitability. Sometimes they imposed performance limitations regarding certain aspects of operation.
Later, those considered to be responsible operators were allowed to be, in effect, self-licensing, but even so a license still had to be applied for. No doubt the Ministry ran short of inspectors, which forced that decision.
For example, these two 1933 Tours by Sir Alan Cobham, involved planning for 116 venues for the No.1 Tour and 161 venues for the No.2 Tour. The No.1 Tour did go across to the Republic of Ireland and had more two-day events. Both tours started on the 14th April, the No.1 Tour at Central Park, Dagenham, and the No.2 Tour at Holt Farm, Southend. Both tours ended on the 8th October, the No.1 Tour at Staines in Surrey and the No.2 Tour at Maylands Aerodrome in Romford, Essex.
This venue was the 138th venue for the No.2 Tour. That they arrived on time proves that, although Cobham, a renowned work-aholic, had only planned one rest day into the schedule - and that being on the 26th May - the Tour maintained a remarkable ability to keep flying, no matter what the weather was throwing at them. There are records of some displays needing to be trimmed down due to adverse weather, but almost none being cancelled.
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