Downton House
DOWNTON HOUSE: Private airstrip
Note: The first picture was obtained from Google Earth ©. The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Operated by: Mr Innes Ireland
Location: Just N of the A44, about 1nm E of New Radnor village, roughly 5.5nm WSW of Presteigne town centre and about 6nm W of Leominster town centre
Period of operation: Presumably 1961 to 1963 only?
Landing area/airstrip: Unknown?
NOTES: We have Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for drawing my attention to a newspaper article published in 2024 which contained just the barest of information. So, dusting off my patented Sherlock Holmes detective kit, complete with deerstalker hat, magnifying glass and twelve inch metric converter, I set to work.
Innes Ireland was of course a very well known F.1 racing driver back in the 1950s/1960s. With his new found wealth he purchased DOWNTON HOUSE and learnt to fly. The address was Downton House, Walton, Presteigne, Radnorshire. So, I am hopeful that I have identified the correct location? It was reported that he used to park his aeroplane outside the house, so presumably he landed it close by?
Further investigation revealed that after obtaining his PPL he purchased the Miles M38 Messenger 2A, G-AKIM. This being registered to him at this address from 07.04.61 until 08.07.63. Being a wooden aircraft perhaps he had it maintained and hangared elsewhere? This said, the nature of this place has probably changed quite a bit over the intervening eighty years so I cannot determine where he took off and landed, or indeed if he had a hangar erected.
If anybody can kindly offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
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