Tolgarrick Farm
TOLGARRICK FARM: Temporary landing ground, later temporary aerodrome
Note: All four of these maps and pictures have been provided by Mr Michael T Holder
THE ARRIVAL OF SALMET
The thanks for finding this report, from an article published in the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser on Monday 17th June 1912 is due to Mike Holder, such a great friend of this 'Guide'.
M. SALMET IN TRURO
______♦_______
FIRST AIRMAN TO LAND IN THE CITY
________
"M. Salmet, who has been flying through Cornwall, alighted at Tolgarrick Farm, Truro, at about 6.10 p.m. on Thursday, after having flown from Newquay during half a gale of wind. He flew fourteen miles in nine minutes. Those who had the good fortune to witness the airman's flight and descent will not easily forget it. As he arrived sooner than he was expected, the crowd which witnessed his landing was not very large, but when his arrival became known people of all classes flocked to Tolgarrick and the lane was lined with motors, cabs, traps and pedestrians."
"The wind was very gusty and grave doubts were entertained as to whether M. Salmet would risk leaving Newquay on his fifty horse power Bleriot monoplane. "Quite risky enough for flying," was the verdict of one of the officials, but the kite indicating the position of the landing spot was kept aloft and the crowd gradually assumed larger dimensions. Presently the airman was sighted on the horizon, and in a moment all was hustle. The spectators were asked to go as quickly as possible to the further end of the field, so as to be out of all possible danger. The little speck high up in the sky became larger and the humming of the seven cylinder rotary Gnome engine became faintly audible. Passing just over Bucks Head at a good height, but avoiding Truro - M. Salmet met afterwards said that the wind was too gusty to permit of him flying over the City - the airman seemed to alter his course and to steer towards a number of spectators on a hill adjoining the field of the Newham Rovers Football Club, but changing his direction he made a bee line for Tolgarrick. "
"All eyes were anxiously directed towards the machine as it approached the ground from the top end, and a slight cheer was raised, still at a considerable height over the ground towards the Falmouth road. Then there was an anxious silence again as M. Salmet prepared to perform the difficult operation of coming to earth in a strong and gusty wind. Taking a sweeping curve almost over Falmouth road, the aviator again steered towards the landing prepared for him. Once the machine dropped rather rapidly, and it was afterwards stated that the wind had checked the propellor [sic] for a second or so, as the machine turned and faced the breeze. Then, dropping in easy stages, M. Salmet landed lightly after having accomplished a most courageous flight. An outburst of hearty cheering brought relief to the spectatators as they voiced keen appreciation of the pluck of the first airman to effect a landing at Truro."
SOMETHING EXTRA
Note: The first item, and the two part newspaper article, (in two parts to make it easier to read), from the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser published on the 17th June 1912, have been also provided by Michael T Holder. The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
TOLGARRICK FARM IN 1924
What we need to remember today is that many if not most of the spectators had most probably never seen a human being in the sky before? Unless of course they had seen Salmet when he briefly visited in 1912. From memory I don't think earlier balloon ascents had taken place west of Exeter? It is entirely possible that when Berkshire Aviation Tours visited in 1924, quite a few even then had never seen a balloon in flight, let alone an aeroplane. But this time, if they could afford it - they could fly.
This picture from the Royal Institution of Cornwall was scanned from Ted Chapmans excellent book Cornwall Aviation Company published in 1979.
Operated by: Berkshire Aviation Tours
Location: Just W to SW of the A39 and B3286 junction. About 0.5nm SSW of Truro city centre
Period of operation: Thursday 13th June 1912, later March 1924
NOTES:
Regarding the picture the full caption is: "G-EBIN of the Berkshire Aviation Tours at Tolgarrick, Truro, in March 1924. The pilots were Capt. F.J.V. Holmes, Capt. Parkinson and Capt. Sparks."
Michael T Holder
This comment was written on: 2020-05-20 22:56:52The photo was taken looking easterly towards the farm. The farm is in the NE corner of a field and the road on the northern side of the field slopes down as you approach the farm. The photo clearly shows a downward slope and a farm building with the right aspect at the RH side of the picture. Also using the 3D feature on the OS site, the background looks good. So pretty sure they're all in the same field as the farm. Its all gone now - replaced by a new housing estate.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
