Newmarket 1930s
Note: This map only gives a rough approximation of the position of the Landing Ground. If correct this is a pure fluke on my part. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
NEWMARKET: Civil Landing Ground
Operated by: Jockey Club, Newmarket
Location: “1m W of town on E edge of racecourse”
Period of operation: 1930s only?
Runway(s): Max landing run: 823 grass
NOTES: Listed in the 1930s ‘A.A. Register of Landing Grounds’ and one of seventy-four A.A.(Automobile Association) approved Landing Grounds on mainland Britain during the 1930s.
Fuel and transport (the latter typically a taxi service) were available from either Crisswell’s Garage or The Heath Garage. Two hotels were recommended, the Rutland Arms and The White Hart, both of which are in business today. It appears a telephone was available in the grandstand but there were no hangars. Leaving a wood and fabric aeroplane outside in the elements was not considered much of a problem in those days as their ‘life’ was just a few years at best.
What a contrast to those worthy people today trying so hard to keep such classic aeroplanes flying.
For a much fuller history of this location please see the NEWMARKET MILITARY listing.
Tony Beeton
This comment was written on: 2020-06-09 09:54:19Newmarket Racecourse consists of 2 Courses separated by the Devils Dyke an ancient defensive mound. The largest is the Rowley Mile Course on the Newmarket town side and this is where the RFC/RAF airfield was situated during both World Wars. Being well drained chalk it did not need hard runways to be built. This was used until recently as a landing ground for Racegoers and also to collect jockeys to convey to other Race meetings. The second Course is the July Course separated from the Rowley Mile course by the large ditch and mound. It is at 2020 used as the airstrip and subject to PPR through the Jockey Club. Has been in use for some years, but due its its rough surface caused one serious accident when propeller tips touched the ground. Its history can be read in "The Royal Air Force at Newmarket" by John Hamlin, if you can find a copy.
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