Clay Toll
CLAY TOLL: Temporary aerodrome
Operated by: Aerial Photo Company
Location: Just E of WW1 RFC RAPLOCH, (later A.A. Approved Landing Ground), and just W of Stirling city centre
Period of operation: 10th to 15th September 1921
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Here once again we have Mike Holder, a great long-term friend of this 'Guide', to thank for discovering this little known venue and providing the following items to illustrate the listing.
This article, in three parts, was published in the Stirling Observer on the 13th September 1921.
The local area and area views are from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: One minor point - in the article above the reporter states that the Red Cross Fete at WILLIAMFIELD, (which should be WILLIAMSFIELD) was held in 1917. It was actually held in 1916 - see seperate listing.
The Aerial Photo Company stayed in business for four years, (1919 to 1922), which was quite good going at that time as most concerns mainly involved in giving joy-rides lasted for two or even just one season. The main problem being - how to survive during the winter?
As far as is known (?) they operated six Avro 504K types but as far as I can make out, (by 2026), only four were in use during September 1921. These being; G-EAGB (ex H5173, G-EAGC (ex H5172), G-EAHU (ex E1611) and G-EALE which was originally G-EAGD (ex D5499) but re-registered after a crash in 1919 and being rebuilt. Presumably this was before the Aerial Photo Company was formed on the 18th July 1919? Or maybe not?
These four examples had all been converted to carry two passengers and this work was most probably carried out by the A V Roe (Avro) company. Indeed, that company itself was heavily involved in joy-riding operations after WW1, operating a subsidiary company trading as Avro Transport.
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