Highcliff
HIGHCLIFF: Temporary Landing Ground (Now spelt HIGHCLIFFE)
Operated by: Mr Denys Corbett Wilson
Location: Now the cliff top car park in Highcliffe, about 3.5nm E of Christchurch town centre
Period of operation: From 18th June 1913 for about a fortnight
Note: The local map was kindly provided by Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide'. The local view was obtained from Google Earth ©. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: It appears that Denys Corbett Wilson flew down here from HENDON on the 18th June 1913, to visit his friend the Hon. Mrs Bellew, then living at Beacon Lodge, just east of Highcliff Castle. It appears he based his Blériot XI here for around a fortnight, making several flights, including to the Isle of Wight.
He was certainly an adventurous flyer, having flown over the Jura mountains in France earlier that year. His main claim to fame came about when he was the first pilot to cross the Irish Sea on the 22nd April 1912, flying from FISHGUARD in South Wales and crash landing near Enniscorthy in County Wexford. It seems he started learning to fly at HENDON but didn't do well at all. This changed when he went to the Blériot School at Pau in southern France. No doubt this experience gave rise to him being devoted to the Blériot series of monoplanes. He died, being shot down, flying with the Royal Flying Corps in France during WW1.
More information can be found with the Christchurch History Society.
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