Durdham Downs
DURDHAM DOWNS: Temporary exhibition of flying venue
Operated by: British and Colonial Aeroplane Company
Location: Roughly 2nm NW of Bristol city centre
Period of operation: 11th to 14th November 1910
Note: Due to bad weather, (it was November after all), brief flights only took place on the 11th and 12th.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for doing the research into this location. As can be seen below, despite the event being of short duration, and cut short for flying exhibitions, it attracted serious attention from the local press.
Note: The account of the event was obtained from the Bristol Museum. The photo of M. Tetard flying a Bristol Boxkite is from the Bristol Archives.
TWO ARTICLES IN THE WESTERN DAILY PRESS
Newspapers were of course, in those days, the only means by which news could be spread around. Both accounts were published on the 12th November 1910.
The 'short article' excerpt is from Bristol Aircraft by C Barnes. The photo of M. Tetard flying is from the Bristol Archives.
The Photo One is from Wikipedia and shows Sir George White in front of a Bristol Boxkite. The two part article was published in the Bristol Times and Mirror on the 15th November 1910. Photo Two, showing M. Tetard getting airborne on the 11th November, is from Bristol - A Pictorial History.
AN ARTICLE IN THE BRISTOL TIMES AND MIRROR
This article with illustration was published on the 19th November 1910.
AND, FINALLY
Photo One is another which shows M. Tetard flying a Bristol Boxkite - from the Bristol Archives. Photo Two shows Henri Jullerot (left) and Stanley White standing in front of a Bristol Boxkite on the 14th November 1910 when no flying took place. This item is also from Bristol Aircraft by C Barnes.
Photo One shows a Bristol Boxkite over the Avon Gorge, looking south towards the bridge. Without much if any doubt (?) coming back to land at Durdham Downs. Photo Two is of the fabulous Boxkite replica on exhibition in the Bristol Museum. The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
END NOTE
A flying replica of a Bristol Boxkite can often be seen, in the air on display days in calm conditions, at the Shuttleworth Collection at OLD WARDEN near Biggleswade. If you have not yet made a visit, (well worth doing even on non flying days), do please add it to your bucket list. There is nowhere quite like it in the UK.
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