Kings Lynn flying sites
Note: This map only gives the position of Kings Lynn town within the UK.
KINGS LYNN: Balloon launching site
Operated by: Mr Green
Location: Enclosure in/adjacent to the Gas Works
Period of operation: Tuesday 20th (inflation of balloon) and Wednesday 21st June 1826, (ascent)
NOTES: As mentioned elsewhere in those days the promise of a balloon ascent was the equivalent to a major airshow today, attracting thousands. The prices charged were comparable too, perhaps even much more than today? To view the balloon being inflated on the Tuesday cost one shilling – servants and children sixpence. To view the initial ascent from the enclosure, (an enclosure – often the open area inside a castle), was always strictly necessary to maximise revenue from these events in those days), it cost two shillings and sixpence, (half a crown), with children half price. (Wot! No servants allowed?)
It is notoriously difficult to make valid comparisons, (they didn’t have cars, TVs and microwave ovens in 1826 and few people had mortgages) but a maid servant was paid between £5 & £15 a year although food and board were provided free. (Domestic staff were generally better off than factory workers – who were generally better off than those employed in agriculture). For the middle classes an income for a single person of at least £100 a year, (£200 for a couple – although only the man would probably be earning of course), was thought to be the minimum required to get by on. A basic pair of shoes cost between six and eleven shillings, a toothbrush three pence. Even today a roughly similar differential cost?
So, by necessity being very simplistic, given the equivalent of an ‘average’ middle class £30,000 salary today, (one parent earning), the entrance fee to the enclosure for a middle class couple of five shillings, this equates to roughly £39, almost exactly what a couple arriving by car would expect to pay today to see a memorable regional airshow!
KINGS LYNN: Civil airfield (also known as MARSHALL’S FIELD)
Operated by: Savage & Co Ltd
Manufacturing: Savage & Co Ltd
Location: North Lynn just NW of Kings Lynn town centre
Period of operation: During WW1 only it seems
Site area: 80 acres
NOTES: In 1914 Mr J Billing, (Works Manager for Savage Ltd), went to France to meet Mr Blériot in order to negotiate a contract to build Voisin type LA biplanes under license at the St Nicholas Iron Works. To test fly these aircraft Savage & Co Ltd purchased about 80 acres of farmland from Mr William Francis Marshall who owned North Lynn Farm.
Later in WW1 Savage & Co became involved in production of DH.1/1A, DH.6 and Avro 504K aircraft. Roughly one hundred of each were produced. With MARSHALL’S FIELD now being too small for their needs these aircraft were transported from Kings Lynn on special trailers elsewhere for test flying but exactly where they went seems uncertain. The military aerodrome at NARBOROUGH seems the best guess?
KINGS LYNN: Temporary heliport
Operated by: BEA (British European Airways)
Location: Near the Hardwick Road
Period of operation: June to September 1948
NOTES: A grass-surfaced helipad was used by a BEA Dragonfly during the Experimental mail route, the first landing being on the 12th May? The helicopter then flew to Wells-next-the-Sea? From 24th to 29th May further flights took place carrying ‘dummy’ mail. On the Ist June the first revenue mail carrying flight, (including commemorative covers), arrived in the Dragonfly G-AKCD from PETERBOROUGH. Although a brave forward looking project it appears to have failed, the last flight taking place on the 25th September
As so often happens, one simple single spelling mistake can completely alter the history. In their excellent accounts of NORFOLK & SUFFOLK aviation history Huby Fairhead and Roy Tuffen state these services were first undertaken by a Sikorsky S.61 type, (which is the Sea King)….but they were of course flown by a S.51, the Dragonfly. Gawd knows how many similar mistakes I have made?
KINGS LYNN see also CONGHAM HALL HOTEL
KINGS LYNN see also EXTONS ROAD
KINGS LYNN see also SAYERS MARSH
KINGS LYNN see also TILNEY St LAWRENCE
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