Balls Park
BALLS PARK: Forced landing site, possibly later a temporary Landing Ground?
Location: Just SW of the B1197 and A414 junction, just SE of Hertford town centre
Periods of operation: 1912 certainly, and 1921?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great long-term friend of this 'Guide', to thank for providing the following items. He had noticed that I had a brief mention of the Berkshire Aviation Company operating briefly from Hertford in 1921, (from my HERTFORD flying sites listing), but with no information. So, very kindly decided to see if he could find anything and came up with a very surprising result. He found two examples of evidence of use at BALLS PARK, in1912 and further evidence regarding Hertford in 1921.
TWO PRESS ITEMS FROM 1912
It now appears that the Italian aviator, Signor J B Manio, flying from France to HENDON, got hopelessly lost and landed here on the 5th December 1912. Today of course we have to wonder why, in December, he even contemplated making such a long flight at that time of year? Even today the majority of private pilots around Europe wouldn't even consider it.
The Article One was published in the Evening Standard on the 6th December 1912. Article Two was published in the Daily Express a day later on the 7th December.
FAST FORWARD TO 1921 AND THREE PRESS ITEMS
We do not know where the Berkshire Aviation Company operated from in June 1921. BALLS PARK is a contender, but unlikely as it is heavily wooded? This said, other locations of heavily wooded parks being used have been positively identified, right up to more recent times. The Red Bull air races at LONGLEAT in August 2005, being a fine example. (See listing).
The most likely location, we suspect, is the ex WW1 military aerodrome, but to date, (in 2026), we can find no evidence of where this was located.
If anybody can kindly offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
Article One was published in The Aeroplane magazine on the 15th June 1921. Article was published in the Birmingham Daily Gazette a day later on the 16th June.
The short article appeared in The Aeroplane on the 6th July 1921.
The local area and area views are from my Google Earth© derived database.
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