Mangotsfield
MANGOTSFIELD: Temporary Landing Ground
Location: About 1nm W of the A4174, roughly 4.5nm NE of Bristol city centre
Period of operation: 18th to 22nd May 1912
Soon after departing on the first stage of his Tour, sponsored by the Daily Mail, on the 18th May 1912 from WORMWOOD SCRUBBS in west London, the famous French aviator, Henri Salmet, encountered his first major problem. He found that the nominated Landing Ground, the County Cricket Ground, was too restrictive to safely land on in the poor weather, and circled around Bristol, much to the delight of the inhabitants. It appears that problems with his engine pretty much forced his hand to make a precautionary landing here.
Bristol was to have been a night stop at the end of the first day, but for various reasons, not least very poor weather, he did not resume his Tour until the 22nd May.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The second item was published in the Daily Mirror on the 20th May 1912.
Note: This newspaper article, split into two parts to make it easier to read, was published in the Somerset Standard on the 24th May 1912.
Note: The ninth picture is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Perhaps a few readers might wonder why I have listed this location as being in Gloucestershire. The answer is perfectly simple - that's where it was in 1912 - and in fact, where it still is today. However, since WW2 local authorities have delighted in creating administrative areas, which they can change at a whim, which they try to make people assume is a new County. The so called 'County' of Avon, which existed between 1974 and 1996 is a good example. That 'County' was then split into four 'Counties'. Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Even the producers of most popular motoring maps seem happy enough to perpetrate this myth. It appears that only an Act of Parliament can change the name and geographical nature of a County, and it appears, that hasn't happened for a very long time. Hardly surprising of course, just imagine the complexities involved! Whilst on the subject, not so many people realise that the Royal Mail address and postcode system bears only a superficial resemblence to actual Counties. It is not uncommon to find a location which appears to exist in three 'Counties'. The propper County, an administrative 'County' and a postal 'County'.
Needless to say, from time to time, making it something of a minor nightmare trying to determine exactly what actual 'County' many of the locations listed in the 'Guide' are in. Needless to say, I often also give a well known modern 'Gounty' title in the index to make a site easier to locate.
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