Astley Grange
ASTLEY GRANGE: Civil temporary aerodrome initially, later established aerodrome
Operated by: Shrewsbury Aerodromes Ltd (See end of listing)
Location: In Upper Battlefield roughly 2.5nm NNE of Shrewsbury town centre, in a triangle formed partly by the A49 & A53
Period of operation: 1933 to 1937 only? Probably until 1939 and WW2 being declared?
Flying Club: Shropshire Aero Club, previously named Shropshire Aviation Club
Note: The Shropshire Aero Club nearly got established at Wappenhall, just under 2nm N of Wellington, before moving here on the 20th September 1936.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Here once again we have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for investigating this location and providing the following items to illustrate the listing. The first proof found of any aviation activity taking place here being in 1933. Subsequent operations being centred around 1935 to 1937. In 1933 this was the 22nd venue for the British Hospitals Air Pageant taking place on the 4th May.
1933
This article in six parts was published in the Shrewsbury Chronicle on the 21st April 1933. The photo of C W A Scott was obtained from Fleeting Peace.
The inclusion of G-ACCR is of note here because it was brand new. It had had first flown in November 1932 and was introduced into service in April 1933. It would very quickly become the 'backbone' for regional airlines being formed around the UK, despite this period being at the height of the 'Great Depression'.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF AIRCRAFT KNOWN (?) TO HAVE BEEN OPERATED DURING THIS TOUR
There were two Avro 504 types, the 504K G-EBYW, and the 504N G-EBVY. It appears that a BAC Planette also sometimes took place in some displays. A Blackburn Lincock is listed but the identity is uncertain. either G-AALH or G-ABFK? More certain it would seem was the Bristol Lucifer G-EBGA and the Desoutter G-ABGA.
Hardly surprising of course were three de Havilland DH.60 Moth types. The DH.60G G-ACCY, the DH,60M, VH-UQA, and the DH.60X G-EBWI. Other de Havilland types were the DH.82 Tiger Moth, G-ACDY, and DH.83 Fox Moth, G-ACCF. Also listed for the tour was the Fairey Fox, G-ACAS and the General Aircraft ST-4, G-ABUZ.
Although listed for at least some venues was the Handley-Page HP W8B, G-EBBI, but some doubt exists about it actually being used as it appears it was declared WFU (Withdrawn From Use), 24,03.32. Finally we have the Miles Satyr, G-ABVG, and two Simmonds Spartan 3-seaters, G-ABKK and G-ACAF. The former being registered to Pauline Gower and flown by her.
SOMETHING OF A SCANDAL AND A SCAM?
It seems that a rather serious scandal emerged after this Tour ended. It was organised by Messrs. Barker and McEwen King and widely publicised as being a major fund raising project for local hospitals during the 'Great Depression'. The Tour started at Luton on the 1st April and finished at Woolwich in south-east London on the 8th October. As far as we know, most if not all of the 150 planned venues were visited and around sixty people, (including pilots), were employed.
The 'BIG' problem was that after the Tour ended and all the operating costs deducted; surprise, surprise, very little was left over to distribute to hospitals. Being somewhat cynical when it comes to business matters, having been self-unemployed with my wife running two small businesses for around forty-five years, one cardinal rule is when planning: always be pessimistic. In this case it seems to me that the likely outcome could have been foreseen.
Firstly, the likely operating costs could have been calculated fairly accurately. Secondly, the number of visitors to such events could be at least roughly anticipated as records rexisted back to before WW1, and most would not have been arriving with bulging purses and wallets. And anyway, the fees charged for entrance and flights etc, were already set. Therefore, it seems to me, as most people smoked in those days, if Barker and McEwan King had borrowed a used fag packet, a few calculations on the back of one would have predicted this as being the most likely result?
1935
The Article Two in three parts, was published in the Shrewsbury Chronicle on the 26th July 1935.
To date I have not found much information about this Tour, (unlike the 1933 Tour above), which was also organised by Messrs. Barker and McEwan King. It operated between April through to September and venues were planned throughout most of the U.K. mainland, from for example; Bodmin in Cornwall, South Wales, up to Peebles and Pitlochry in Scotland. Plus a diversion at some point into Ireland.
1936
This article in two parts, was published in the Shrewsbury Chronicle on the 17th April. Happily I have found more information about this Tour, once again organised by Messrs. Barker and McEwan King. This venue, on the 23rd April, was the 14th of 111 planned to be visited.
Once again it was wide-ranging in scope. Starting on the 8th April at Luton, it went zig-zagging around Great Britain like a wasp that had just stung itself, before expiring at Birmingham, (presumably CASTLE BROMWICH?) on the 6th September.
THE DISPLAY FLEET AS KNOWN SO FAR (2026)
Here again I have no idea if the whole fleet, (as listed), appeared here? In many ways this was not a happy Tour, see below.
Two Avro 504N type are listed: G-ACZC and G-AECR, and a third 504N, (identity unknown?), is also reported. The BAC Drone G-AEBC apparently took part initially, although it then appears to have crashed, (at a display?), at Hereford on the 1st May, killing the pilot Walter Cadic. Three de Havilland types are given; the DH.80A Puss Moth, G-ABYW, DH.83 Fox Moth, G-ABVI, and a DH.85 Leopard Moth - identity unknown? The Fox Moth was damaged at Ashgate, near Chesterfield on the 13th April. Presumably whilst in transit to or from the display at Sheffield.
Plus the Hawker Tomtit, G-AEES, Short Scion, G-ADDT, and Simmonds Spartan 3-str, G-ABKK operated by Air Trips, the company owned by Pauline Gower. This collided with the Avro 504N, G-AECR, again presumably at the display (?), at Westwood Heath, Coventry, on the 10th May 1936.
Lastly, of much interest to me at least, was the inclusion of two Pou-du-Ciel, (Flying Flea), examples, G-ADPW and G-AEEW. This was designed by Henri Mignet in France for homebuilders, and when the plans became available it soon became something of a craze. There was nothing much wrong with this design - the main problems being that builders were mostly unsupervised and had little if any ideas about the cardinal principals of flight, especially how critical weight and balance is. Many soon crashed, often with fatal results, and the type was banned from flying in the U.K.
This Notice appeared in the Shrewsbury Chronicle on the 18th September 1936. We have not been able to ascertain how long the Club remained here? Presumably longer than just two years? If anybody can kindly offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
1937
This final article from the Shrewsbury Chronicle was published on the 16th April. This Tour was also organised by Messrs, Barker and McEwen King and appears to have been the last "Flying Circus' Tour in the U.K. Heralding the end of an era spanning the 'Great Depression'. Apparently this Tour only lasted from April to July and only around forty towns were visited, the majority it seems in the Irish Republic.
This said, we need to remember that it was the Berkshire Aviation Company who, in the U.K., pioneered the concept in 1919 of having a touring operation. And they kept operating all year round! They however concentrated on providing joy-rides, whereas, to attract the larger crowds for mostly one-day events the 'Flying Circus' operators provided a full flying display, (usually two), designed to be as spectacular as possible. Passenger flights being both between the displays and often into the hours of darkness, squeezing out every last penny of revenue from the spectators.
NOTES:
My first brief notes for this listing included this info. 'The locally well known Greenhous family had a BAC Super Drone G-AEJL kept in a ‘shed’ or ‘hangar’ at ASTLEY - a photograph exists of it assembled with the engine running in front of the ‘shed’. This being registered from 09.06.36 until March 1937. This type had the reputation of being propelled through the air by the sheer volume of noise it created, the propeller simply adding minimal thrust'.
SOME ADDITIONAL INFO
After reading this entry to the 'Guide', Mike Holder has very kindly sent me these additional items. He could not find a picture of G-AEJL, but these two from British Light Aeroplanes by Arthur Ord-Hume clearly show how the type looked.
What is most interesting, to me at least, is this last piece of information. It turns out that Mr Greenhouse was indeed a very enterprising fellow, and Shrewsbury Aerodromes Ltd was clearly (?) an off-shoot of his main motor-based concerns. He obviously had fine future ambitions for his aerodrome until that pesky little Austrian, Herr A. Hitler, stuck his oar in.
Photo One is from Shrewsbury in Old Photographs. The article excerpt and Photo Two were published in the Shrewsbury Chronicle on the 23rd October 1936.
AND FINALLY, A COUPLE OF NOTES
In producing this 'Guide' I find it of great interest how, in so many cases, over the years, a more complete picture starts to emerge and unexpected connections can be then be made. Also, as often pointed out, this 'Guide' is as much about posing questions rather than attempting to provide definitive answers. Indeed, it is a project, or quest if you prefer, that can never be finished.
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