Hatch Court
HATCH COURT: Private Landing Ground?
These three pictures are from my Google Earth© derived database.
Operated by: The Hamilton-Gault family
Location: Just N of Hatch Beauchamp village, about 5nm SE of Taunton town centre
Period of operation: Unknown, but if used probably from 1929 until WW2
NOTES: This 'Guide' has always been as much concerned with posing questions rather than always seeking to provide answers. In this case Mr Graham Frost, a great long-term friend of this 'Guide', has come up with a real 'corker' of an example. He has also done the lions share of the background information.
To begin with, we have found, (to date in May 2026), no positive proof that the Hamilton-Gaults did actually use this location as a private Landing Ground. It is just that Graham and myself find it so unlikely that they didn't? If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be very much appreciated. Without any doubt, the large flat field just to the west of the house, orientated NE/SW, so into into the prevailing winds and with landing runs up to 500 metres, would have been ideal.
It is reported that the Gipsy Moth, based at STAG LANE in London, was also based at YEOVIL aerodrome when they came home. That would also make sense because hangarage and any servicing or repairs could be handled there.
THE BACK STORY
It appears that the Hamilton-Gaults lived here, (at least partially), from 1923 until 1958, and Lieut. Col. (later Brigadier) Andrew Hamilton-Gault, born 18th August 1882, was a leading local figure being the MP for Taunton from 1924 until 1935. And, here comes the most unusual twist in their story, because he lost a leg on active service in France during WW1 and during the 1920s his wife, Dorothy, learnt to fly. Perhaps or more probably at STAG LANE with the de Havilland School (?), before acquiring a Gipsy Moth in 1929, with which they both toured extensively around Europe.
Due to his considerable commitments in London, it is reported that they frequently flew back and forth between Somerset and London. No doubt the 'charms' of open cockpit flying around the year soon wore off and a cabin Leopard Moth was acquired in 1934, followed by two faster Percival Vega Gulls.
THEIR AIRCRAFT
No doubt a sign of the times in those days, when married women were still largely denied much if any worthwhile legal status in the financial affairs involved in a marriage, all these aircraft were registered to Lieut. Col. Andrew Hamilton-Gault.
G-AAGA: de Havilland DH60G Gipsy Moth. Registered 08.04.29 until ? Presumably 1934?
Based at STAG LANE.
G-ACSI: de Havilland DH85 Leopard Moth. Registered 15.06.34 to 07.06.37
Based HATFIELD and sold to India as VT-AJC in June 1937.
G-AEIF: Percival P.10 Vega Gull. Registered 11.05.36 until April 1938
Based at GRAVESEND and sold to France as F-AQMZ in April 1938.
No doubt a story behind this happening? Perhaps an offer made hard to refuse?
G-AFEM: Percival P.10 Vega Gull. Registered 24.01.38 until 19.03.40
Based at HESTON and impressed as X9392 12.03.40. Scrapped in 1943.
CONCLUSION?
Make of this what you will. My final answer is maybe? Or perhaps probably is better? When I learnt to fly I was always told - "Don't assume - check".Much the same applied when often driving big trucks around Europe for over forty years. Easy enough to say of course, but when it comes to aviation history, check what? This is all recent history but by heck so much of the information, assuming it existed (?), can be very difficult to find.
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