Buckland Farm
BUCKLAND FARM: Civil Landing Ground (Aka LYMINGTON)
Note: Also an A.A. (Automobile Association) approved Landing Ground
Operated by: Mr W Smith, Buckland Farm, Lymington
Location: “1m NW Lymington, imm. W of Buckland”
Period of operation: 1930s only?
Runways: Many years ago I made these notes: “In the Airfield Review précis, (Aug 1988), of the 1930s ‘A.A. Register of Landing Grounds’ a maximum landing run of 600 yards (549 metres) is given and this must surely be a mistake? Looking at the Landing Ground plan it does seem a singularly inappropriate place to have a Landing Ground. Surely even very highly experienced pilots would think twice before attempting to land here?”
The plan showed landing runs of: E/W 350 yards (320 metres) SW/NE 300 yards (274 metres) NNW/SSE 280 yards (256 metres). As I now realise, although rather tight, landing runs of these dimensions were not uncommon in those days. And of course there was no allowance made for error, every landing had to be pretty much ‘spot-on’. Taking-off was not so much of an issue in those days with the high-lift wing designs normally in use.
Today we are generally advised to make every allowance for landing and take-off distances, and then add 30%. In my experience very sound advice.
Under LYMINGTON I mention that Sir Alan Cobham 'circus' visited, and ask if they might have used BUCKLAND FARM? It now appears that they did. Considering my comments above you might well ask why I would consider this a suitable venue? The pilots employed by Cobham were all first class and would not have been phased as they often displayed from quite small fields. Also the Airspeed Ferry airliner they used was specified by Cobham for use from such fields and had exemplary STOL capabilities.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
In May 2023 Mike Holder, a great long-term friend of this 'Guide', kindly took it upon himself to see what extra information and maps etc might be available to illustrate this listing. He certainly succeeded as can be seen below.
A.A. Approved Landing Ground information.
FLYING CIRCUS VISITS
Although being far from an ideal venue, it seems that three concerns made a visit here. The first being C D Barnard Air Tours in early August 1931, then Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day No.2 Tour on the 1st May 1933, and finally the Sky Devils Air Circus Tour in early September 1934.
The article was published in the Hampshire Advertiser on the 15th August 1931. Advert One was placed in the New Milton Advertiser on the 29th April 1933, as was Advert Two, but on the 1st September 1934.
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LATER ADDITIONS
In June 2026 Mike Holder discovered these two articles, (each in three parts), relating to the visit by Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day No.2 tour on the 1st May 1933.
Article One was published in the New Milton Advertiser on the 29th April 1933.
Article Two was published in the Hampshire Advertiser on the 6th May 1933.
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Mike Holder provided the Google Earth© local view and the local area and area views are from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: In 1933 it appears there was one hangar but it isn’t known if this was available for use by visitors. Fuel wasn’t available at the LG, a common feature in those days, but available from Dawson Brothers, 76 High Street, Lymington as was “transport”, typically a taxi service. A telephone was available at “Buckland Farm, adjoining LG”. Two hotels were listed, both in the High Street; the Angel and the Londesborough. Both appear to still be in business in 2016, although it appears the Angel is now called - The Angel & Blue Pig.
EXTRA NOTE
It appears that the private aerodrome belonging to the Hon. Lady Whitehead, was just north of this location. (See a mention in the first article in the 'Flying Circus' section above). It doesn't seem to appear on any maps and so far we have been unable to find any information about this. If anybody can kindly help here, this will be much appreciated. From the mid 1920s until the late 1930s it was quite common for wealthy people with estates to host 'Garden Parties' for guests to fly into. Sometimes onto the front lawn! No doubt those aircraft with tail-skids making a right mess of it - but then again - that's what you have a team of gardeners for after a jolly good show.
A MATTER OF INTEREST
What really does now interest me today is who would have privately used this Landing Ground, and in what variety of aircraft and how often? Can anybody throw some light on this? Also, I imagine that the fees paid by the 'Flying Circus' operators certainly helped to make the use of this field for aviation purposes, rather than agriculture, a viable commercial proposition?
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