Hardings Farm
HARDINGS FARM: Private airstrip (Aka FRYERNING)
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: 1nm NW of Ingatestone, about 5nm SW of Chelmsford town centre
Period of operation: 1990s(?) to 2012
Runways: 08/26 680 grass 09/27 530 grass
Note: As the third picture shows, just before this site was closed for aviation usage, only the 08/26 runway was being used.
NOTES: Without much doubt, if I hadn't purchased a copy of ESSEX: A Hidden Aviation History by Paul Bingley and Richard E. Flagg in 2020, which Richard had suggested I might do, this and several other flying sites would have remained hidden.
There is another aspect. Keen eyed people, looking at this 'Guide', and there have been over 400,000 in early 2020, might have noticed that I apply a rule that a flying site with more than one runway is described as an airfield. But where do you draw the line? Here we have two runways being whilst not exactly parallel, on headings just ten degrees apart.
This is unusual but by no means unique, and I often wonder about the reasons why? The reasons can be many of course, a soft patch in winter perhaps on one runway, just a few metres away.
If anybody can kindly offer advice about this location, this will be much appreciated.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
