Walton Grange
WALTON GRANGE: Temporary aerodrome (Aka AYLESBURY SHOWGROUND)
First note: On the 8th September 1910, Mr G Barnes gave an exhibition of flying here with his Humber monoplane. Without much if any doubt (?) he had his machine transported here by rail and road. If he had flown in, presumably he would have been easily capable of giving a far better flying display.
Second note: The annual showground venue, in and around Aylesbury in those days, moved around various locations.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for both finding this venue and doing the research.
Note: Regarding the first map we now think the flying display took place from the Show Field.
Note: The short article was published in the Bucks Advertiser - Aylesbury News, on the 10th September 1910.
Location: N of the Wendover Road, just SE of Aylesbury town centre
Period of operation: Thursday the 8th September 1910
Note: Mike Holder also found this advert published in the Bucks Herald on the 3rd September 1910.
He also found this account of the flying display published in the Bucks Herald published on the 10th September:
THE AVIATION DISPLAY
"As the time approached for the display of flying by Mr. G. Barnes the utmost interest was occassioned, hundreds of people forsaking the Big Ring for the field in which the machine was placed. So much has been heard of flying machines of late that over 1,000 people took the opportunity of seeing one for themselves during the course of the day, and willingly paid the small sum for the privilege. The machine, which at a distance had the appearance of a hawk with its wings extended, was a Humber 50 h.p. monoplane, with a four cylinder engine, and was an exact type of the machine used by Bleriot when he made his sensational flight across the Channel."
My note: Blériot had crossed the English Channel, or Le Manche as the French prefered to call it, the previous year on the 25th July. The French were far in advance of the British in aviation, and indeed, the French aviator Louis Paulhan had won the Daily Mail sponsored London to Manchester air race in April.
The first major air show in the world, the Grand Semaine d'Aviation had been held at Reims from the 22nd to 29th August 1909. Copycat airshows were then organised in England at BLACKPOOL and DONCASTER, but again the best aviators attending were French.
"The weight of the machine was 600lbs." For younger readers this is 272kg.
"As for the aviator, Mr. Barnes, (mis-spelt here as Harnes in the article), is well-known as a keen airman. He was at Brooklands the previous week participating in a few flights, and a short time ago he was successful in gaining a prize in a competition at Wolverhampton: in fact, he was second in the amount of prize money he won, out of 16 entries. At the present time he is giving exhibitions, and has announced his intention of attempting to fly the Channel for the prize offered by Baron de Forrest, for the first Englishman who is successful in doing so on a British made machine."
My note: In the event the prize was won by 'Tom' Sopwith who became very famous for his aircraft designs in WW1, and whose company later became the Hawker company.
"It should be mentioned that the flight at Aylesbury was taken on Pratt's petrol spirit, supplied by Messrs. W. Stanley and Son, of Aylesbury."
My note: We must remember that in those days very few people owned cars, except the very wealthy, let alone aeroplanes. So the supply of petrol was very limited, especially in more rural areas such as Aylesbury.
"Soon after five o'clock the spectators began to assemble to view the flight, but it was not until after six o'clock that the attempt was made. Hundreds of people were standing in adjoining and along Wendover road for the purposes of viewing the performance, whilst the windows and roofs of Milton-villas were admirable situations for the residents and their friends. Some 3,000 people were present and when Mr. Barnes mounted his machine, and he was given an encouraging cheer as he did so."
My note: What a fabulous account this is - explaining in detail the tremendous degree of excitement and expectation of seeing an aeroplane actually fly! I wonder what the modern equivalent might be? Probably a space rocket or Shuttle launch perhaps?
"There was considerable excitement when the machine shot out from its enclosure, and when after a rapid run of some hundred yards, or so, the monoplane rose in the air, the performance was witnessed with breatless interest. Rising to a height of some 10ft, or 12ft, the aeroplane was turned towards the County Cricket Ground and gradually increasing height in circled around the pavilion and returned to the spot from whence it started. Once again it commenced to circle around but after passing over the hedge near the ladies' pavilion, the machine took a sudden swoop to the ground and disappeared behind the large pavilion."
My note: Today we can only guess at the reason it crashed. Probably a combination of two main factors? Perhaps attempting to bank at too steep an angle precipitating a stall? Possibly combined with the engine failing? We will never know.
"To the disappointment of hundreds of people this concluded the performance, the annoucement being made that no further flight could be attempted owing to an accident to the machine. It was estimated that the greatest height reached by Mr Harnes [sic] during the short fly was about 40ft, and although the spectators actually witnessed a heavier-than-air machine flying much disappointment was caused at its abrupt termination."
My note: This was taking place at the dawn of powered aviation. Little was known about all the elements required. For example: How to correctly rig an aeroplane for flight, how to maintain and tune an engine - and last but certainly not least - how the hell can you actually fly these contraptions!
There were no rule books, no instructors and no knowledge. Everything had to be learned by trial and error, often at great cost in human life as the pioneers slowly forged ahead.
JUST A MINOR COMMENT
When trying to pin down locations for so many of these early flying locations, it can often be quite a tricky business at best. One problem especially being that many were situated quite close to town centres. There were virtually no restrictions regarding how aircraft could be operated. And of course, nearly all towns, let alone cities, have greatly expanded over the last one hundred years. However, in this case Milton Villas stood alone on the Wendover Road, as seen on maps of the period. As this picture shows - they are still there.
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