North Finchley
NORTH FINCHLEY: (Aka THE FLYING GROUND and ROBERTS FIELDS )
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
It might well seem incredible today, but in those days this area may well have been, to start with, fairly open countryside. But, with the astonishing pace of suburbia expanding all around London, this aspect alone may well have forced the closure?
As Mike Holder has pointed out, there is evidence that two almost adjacent fields had been used here.
Location: Near to and presumably west (?) of Holden Road which runs roughly N/S just W of Woodside Park 'underground' station. About 1nm N of Finchley (Central).
It may well not be generally appreciated, except for Londoners of course, that the majority of the London Underground system actually runs above ground. And indeed, did so even in the 1920s and 30s as the network expanded to serve the needs of those moving into suburban developments.
Period of operation: Mid 1920s (?) to 1930s
NOTES: The only mention of this flying site I have come across is from the excellent book, Those Fabulous Flying Years, by Colin Cruddas.
It appears Aeroplane Services Ltd were based here briefly in 1929 operating the Avro 504K G-AAEZ. The company was formed in March 1929 and a Receiver was appointed in December the same year.
It also seems that at some point they moved up to CASTLE BROMWICH in the West Midlands and spent the summer season at Southend where they were in competition with Surrey Flying Services. An altogether much bigger concern.
In many ways probably a good example of start-up enterprises in that era - full of hope, but not much else - who failed to last more trhan a single year.
If anybody can kindly offer more information about 'The Flying Ground' this will be much appreciated.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
NOTES:
The first advert (second item) for the Cornwall Aviation Company was published in the Hendon and Finchley Times on the 4th November 1927. The second advert (fifth item) was published in Flight magazine on the 25th April 1929: And the announcement (eighth item) of the establishment of Aeroplane Services, was also published in Flight magazine on the 5th April 1929.
Aerial view 2018
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
It might well seem incredible today, but in those days this area may well have been, to start with, fairly open countryside. But, with the astonishing pace of suburbia expanding all around London, this aspect alone may well have forced the closure?
As Mike Holder has pointed out, there is evidence that two almost adjacent fields had been used here.
Location: Near to and presumably west (?) of Holden Road which runs roughly N/S just W of Woodside Park 'underground' station. About 1nm N of Finchley (Central).
It may well not be generally appreciated, except for Londoners of course, that the majority of the London Underground system actually runs above ground. And indeed, did so even in the 1920s and 30s as the network expanded to serve the needs of those moving into suburban developments.
Period of operation: Mid 1920s (?) to 1930s
NOTES: The only mention of this flying site I have come across is from the excellent book, Those Fabulous Flying Years, by Colin Cruddas.
It appears Aeroplane Services Ltd were based here briefly in 1929 operating the Avro 504K G-AAEZ. The company was formed in March 1929 and a Receiver was appointed in December the same year.
It also seems that at some point they moved up to CASTLE BROMWICH in the West Midlands and spent the summer season at Southend where they were in competition with Surrey Flying Services. An altogether much bigger concern.
In many ways probably a good example of start-up enterprises in that era - full of hope, but not much else - who failed to last more trhan a single year.
If anybody can kindly offer more information about 'The Flying Ground' this will be much appreciated.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Local map
An advert
Aerial photo 1925
Another aerial photo 1925
Another advert
Local area map
Aerial photo 1926
An announcement
Google Earth © view
NOTES:
The first advert (second item) for the Cornwall Aviation Company was published in the Hendon and Finchley Times on the 4th November 1927. The second advert (fifth item) was published in Flight magazine on the 25th April 1929: And the announcement (eighth item) of the establishment of Aeroplane Services, was also published in Flight magazine on the 5th April 1929.
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