Hurlingham Club
HURLINGHAM CLUB: Civil balloon launching site later military
Civil operater: The Aero club? (Popular with various balloon owners it seems)
Military user: WW1: RFC/RAF No.1 Free Ballooning School
Location: In Fulham 0.25nm or so E of Putney Bridge
Period of operation: Civil: Early 1890s to middle or late period of WW1? Military: 1918 to 1919
Launching area: Military: 6 acres
NOTES: The Hurlingham Club was a popular ‘sporting’ venue for society types and possibly had a polo ground or similar, ideal for launching balloons. Also later being used as a temporary landing site.
In 1908 the largest balloon race ever held in the UK commenced here, (it was called an international race), starting from here with thirty-one balloons and crews participating. It was won by Mr Griffith Brewer, a major figure in British ballooning at that time. It is said that when the Aero Club was started in 1901 it’s founder, Mr F Hedges Butler had made just one ascent, whereas Griffith-Brewer had made forty.
I later discovered a couple of fascinating photographs in John Fabb’s excellent book Flying and Ballooning with the caption, “Some 93 balloonists ascended from Hurlingham in May 1908. The winning post was Burchetts Green – west of Maidenhead – 30 miles distant.” Presumably the mention of “93 balloonists” must include passengers? Around twenty balloons are visible in this photograph. He also includes another picture of a mass ascent taken in 1910.
Another picture in Flying and Ballooning is captioned, “The point-to-point race at Hurlingham, June 1911, organised by the Royal Aero Club. The Hon. Mrs Assheton-Harbord in her balloon, North Star, piloted by Mr C.F. Pollock, ascending.” Another photograph shows the Hon. Mrs Assheton-Harbord about to ascend to compete in the Hedges-Butler cup race, also in her North Star balloon, in July 1912.
Several years ago I made the following comment: "What I cannot determine is the lifting agent employed. They were almost certainly not ‘hot-air’ balloons and the envelopes seem too small for coal gas, so I imagine hydrogen was being used. This was very expensive to obtain, but, these people were wealthy. The Army favoured hydrogen in those days and produced it themselves." In early 2016 I was very kindly provided with the answer - see comment below.
It intrigued me to note that this site apparently only came under military charge when WW1 was nearly over. However, it has always been common practise for the Army, RFC and RAF to sub-contract various aspects of flight crew training, especially in the initial stages, to civilian schools as well as many other essential aspects of aviation - such as designing and building their aircraft for example. A practise which continues today of course.
In 2009 I discovered Claude Grahame-Wight was landing here in his Farman biplane and taking passengers for rides from 1910 to ? Apparently the ladies especially were queuing up and paid handsome sums to be taken aloft by the gallant G-W.
Carrie Starren
This comment was written on: 2016-01-13 22:27:48I am Hurlingham Club Archivist and can provide additional information on the gas supply to Hurlingham Club. From c.1907 a low gravity gas was made and stored separately at the Imperial Gas Works in Townmead Road, then supplied via a special pipe to Hurlingham.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Carrie, Many thanks for responding. I would much welcome extra information regarding ballooning activities. My best regards, Dick
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