West Harting
WEST HARTING: Temporary aerodrome (Aka MANOR FARM)
Operated by: Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day, Display Tours
Location: Just W of West Harting village, about 2.5nm SE of Petersfield town centre
Period of operation: 25th April 1933 (No.2 Tour), 29th June 1934
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
In 2022, Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', kindly decided to investigate these two displays. But, as he points out, he cannot be sure about which field was used? But, see below, there appears to be a clue? If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be much appreciated.
Note: The third item was published in the West Sussex Gazette on the 13th April 1933.
Note: The two-part newspaper article, in two parts to make it easier to read, was published in the Hampshire Telegraph on the 28th April 1933.
Note: The tenth item, the newspaper article, was published in the Portsmouth Evening News on the 30th June 1934. The local area view, (item 4), and the area view, (item 12), are from my Google Earth © derived database.
BONUS PICTURE
Note: This advert was published in the West Sussex Gazette on the 20th April 1933.
THE FIELD IDENTIFIED?
Later on Mike Holder found this rather blurred picture featured in the Hampshire Airfields web-site, but, appearing to show a glimpse of the western end of the Manor Farm house? If correct, and what else might it be (?), it does seem to confirm that the field thought to have been used, is correct? The picture of Manor House is from Google Street View ©.
NOTES: The 1933 tour was split into two tours, both starting on the 14th April. This venue, the tenth for the No.2 Tour, started out from HOLT FARM, Southend and progressed via Gravesend, to Maidstone before jumping back over the Thames to the Aldenham Country club at Elstree beyond northwest London. The tour then went to Luton, Hertford and Kings Langley before heading south again via Guildford and Alton to end up here on the 25th April. In all the No.2 Tour was planned to visit 161 venues, flying as far north as Lossiemouth. It ended at MAYLANDS, Romford in Essex on the 8th October.
As stated many times elsewhere, every one of these temporary aerodromes had to be officially licensed, even if only used for one day. Incredibly, the renowned work-aholic Cobham only planned for his crews to have one rest day during this tour, and that was on the 26th May. Probably he considered that a two-day event provided quite enough rest for the crews, and there were, including the first venue, sixteen two day events - but none after the 8th/9th September.
Remarkably there are very few records of any event being cancelled, especially considering typical British weather. As the newspaper article above, (items 6 & 7), amply illustrates, although recent heavy rain made progress by road vehicles nigh on impossible, or indeed impassable, the aircraft had arrived. In those days of course, many if not most country lanes were still basically dirt tracks and remained so until the 1950s and 60s.
The 1934 National Aviation Day Tour saw Cobham retrench to a large extent, organising a single Tour, reverting to two tours again in 1935. But that tour started out as a single tour from the 12th April until the 1st July. For the 1934 Tour PETERSFIELD as it was described, was the 72nd venue. Starting out from Central Park, Dagenham in Essex, this tour was planned to visit 159 venues, ending at MAYLANDS, Romford on the 30th September. Here again only one 'rest day' appears, on the 19th July, and, for this Tour only twelve two day events were in the schedule.
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