Bradford flying sites
Note: This map shows the position of Trafalgar Street in Bradford.
BRADFORD see also RAWDON MEADOWS ( Aka APPERLEY BRIDGE)
BRADFORD see also TYERSAL
BRADFORD see also FARSLEY
BRADFORD: Manufacturers airfield
Operated by: Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Co
Location: A field next to the Trafalgar Works, Trafalgar Street, Manningham Lane, Bradford
Period of operation: WW1 only? Possibly from 1916 to 1918?
NOTES: The Phoenix Dynamo Co acted as subcontractors and according to Ron Smith in his book British Built Aircraft Vol.5 built Farman Longhorns, Short 184s and 225s, Felixstowe F.3s and F.5s and just two each of the Phoenix P.5 Cork and Armstrong Whitworth FK.10.
The aircraft were mostly transported by horse-drawn cart and/or rail but Mr Smith maintains quite a few were flown out from a field adjacent to the Trafalgar Works, usually to RAF KILLINGHOLME, which was fairly near and W of Grimsby.
HOWEVER
In January 2022 I was kindly contacted by Rod Hewitt. He had this to tell us that, "....sources different to yours do not mention Trafalgar Works or Trafalgar Street Manningham for the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing C. Ltd. Adverts and written information suggest that Phoenix Dynamo were originally based in Hubert Street and then moved up to the works at Thornbury before WW1. From a Victorian map, upon initial acquisition of the new works, there was quite a substantial amount of land bounded by Upper Rushton Road, Gain Lane and Old Leeds Road, suitable 'by contour' for a flying site."
"Much of this was consumed by the Great Yorkshire Show but left an area I presume to the northern end used for the this 'first airline'. (My note - see the ROUNDHAY PARK listing for more information about the 'first airline').
Not for the first time I am so pleased that I had the good sense many years ago, to call this project a 'Guide'. It still surprises me just how much of this really quite recent history remains clouded in doubt. But of course, one of the principal objectives of the 'Guide' was to both welcome advice, and indeed, sometimes to open up a debate.
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