Closewood Farm
CLOSEWOOD FARM: Private airstrip
Both of these pictures are from my Google Earth© derived database.
Location: Just SW of Winsham village, about 3.5nm SE of Chard town centre
Period of operation: Presumably from 1946 until 1950?
NOTES: We have Mr Graham Frost, a great long-term friend of this 'Guide', to thank for posing this query. Needless to say there is a fairly large element of guesswork involved, but, I think there is enough evidence to strongly suspect that an airstrip at least may well have been laid out? Or indeed that a large field was used as an 'all-over' Landing Ground/airfield.
The evidence found so far is from the British Civil Aircraft Register, and in those days the records were handwritten. Unfortunately for me at least, there was no requirement for the clerk making the entries to have a style of writing that was clearly legible.
I must also mention that I have been very impressed that Graham managed to notice the connection between two entirely seperate entries in the Civil Aircraft Register. The first entry is for the Auster J/1 Autocrat, G-AGXZ. This was registered, if I have read it correctly (?), to Mr Frederick H Weaton, (Junior) from 24,01.46 until 03.07.46, so barely six months before being sold on and eventually going to South Africa, 22.07.48 as ZS-DAE. In the Civil Register the base for G-AGXZ was given as Chard, Somerset and his address was simply Winsham, Chard, Somerset. So, nothing much to go on regarding a location.
THE VITAL CLUE?
Graham had also noticed that after selling G-AGXZ, which was purchased new from Auster, Mr Frederick H Wheaton, (note different spelling and no "Junior"), but presumably the same person (?), then purchased another new Auster J/1 Autocrat, G-AHHT, that type having a close variant known as the J/1N Alpha. This being registered from 05.07.46 until 10.05.50.
BUT.....the address then included "Closewood" although no base is given. Graham then investigated further and lo and behold there is a CLOSEWOOD FARM situated just south-west of Winsham village. So, putting two and two together and hopefully not making five; hence the reason for adding this listing to the 'Guide' which is as much concerned with posing questions as it is for trying to give definitive answers.
As always, if anybody can kindly offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
