Dorchester
DORCHESTER: Civil aerodrome/regional airport (Also known as MIDDLE FARM)
Note: These two pictures of road signs in Poundbury, taken by the author in October 2016, may well be the only proof in recent times that this airfield existed?
British airline user: 1930s: Provincial Airways
Location: On the southern edge of Poundbury, a new town in quasi-Georgian style, situated to the west of Dorchester and just E of the A35 and A37 junction. But, where exactly was the airfield? My guess is that it was perhaps on the flattish area, now part of the town, just to the north of present day Middle Farm? If anybody can offer advice, this will be most welcome.
NOTES: DORCHESTER was the intended 62nd venue on the Sir Alan Cobham’s 1929 Municipal Aerodrome Campaign. Starting in May and ending in October one hundred and seven venues were planned to be visited. Mostly in England two venues were in Wales and eight in Scotland. In the end, due to a couple of crashes and other setbacks, he visited 96 venues, which was of course a magnificent achievement.
The aircraft Cobham used for this Tour was the DH61 'Giant Moth' G-AAEV, named 'Youth Of Britain'. The punishing schedule he set himself seems astonishing today. See STOCKTON-on-TEES for more information. The Tour did result in many aerodromes / regional airports being commissioned - and indeed, a year later in Dorchester. It appears he was correct in anticipating some potental, as Provincial Airways offered a service - presumably a summer only service? - in the 1930s.
MAIDEN CASTLE FARM
When Cobham visited on the 26th August 1929, he chose to land at Maiden Castle Farm, just to the west of MAIDEN FARM. This being in fact, his 65th venue. See below.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The two part newspaper article, which I have divided into two parts to make it easier to read, was published in the Western Gazette on the 30th August 1929. One aspect of this article is that it gives details of, it seems (?), all the local dignitaries Cobham took for a flight around the local area. Following this he took selected school children for flights, the cost being sponsored by, at the time, an anonymous donor. Who we now know was Lord Wakefield of Castrol Oil fame. It appears that he had offered Cobham to pay the costs of flying 10,000 children during this Tour.
Note: The last item, the area view, is from my Google Earth © derived database.
On the 23rd July 1931 it appears the CD Barnard Air Tours “Flying Circus” visited Dorchester.
Does anybody now know the exact location(s) used? Any advice on this will be most welcome.
MORE INFORMATION
In July 2022, Mike Holder found this article, published in the Western Gazette on the 12th June 1931.
NOTES: As far as I can make out, the emergence of the major 'Flying Circus' era started in 1931. Pretty much when the 'Great Depression', (commencing in the USA in 1929), really hit the UK. What of course we need to bear in mind is that any major economic downturn hits the working classes first. Many of the middle classes are not too much affected, and indeed, the upper classes can profit considerably during such times, only a major war seems to quickly massively increase their wealth.
So, getting back to this era in 1931, it appears that there were only four major companies involved. Aviation Tours Ltd, Modern Airways Ltd, (The Crimson Fleet), North British Aviation Co Ltd, and C D Barnard Air Tours Ltd. With much help, mostly from Mike Holder, we are trying to find where these venues were taking place.
The C D Barnard Air Tours extent of operations, it appears, started at LUTON on the 1st April and ended at HANWORTH AIR PARK on the 11th October. We have found 63 venues, mostly it seems involving a two day stay. That Tour ranged from southern England up to southern Scotland and this venue seems to be the 53rd venue.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
