Hell Meadow
HELL MEADOW: Temporary aerodrome (Aka STENSON FIELDS, STENSON ROAD and STENSON LANE)
NOTE: We cannot be be certain that exactly the same field was used, especially in the 1930s.
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: Berkshire Aviation Company 1919, later Berkshire Aviation Tours, 1926.
Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day display Tours: 1933, 1934 and 1935?
C.W.A. Scott's Air Display and British Empire Air Display, 1936
Location: Near Stenson Lane, N of the modern A50, about 3.25nm SSW of Derby city centre
Periods of operation: Berkshire Aviation Co. 25th to 30th August 1919. Berkshire Aviation Tours from the 17th to 28th June 1926.
Sir Alan Cobham's NAD Tour venues: 5th June 1933, 6th 1934, and possibly 5th June 1935?
Note: The 1935 venue was certainly listed, but, no mention of this display taking place can be found in the local press. Who knows? Perhaps they got fog-bound at their previous venue at Coventry? Very thick fog developing, even in the summer months, even today can affect parts of eastern England especially and spreading westwards rapidly. I well remember just scraping into BOURNE in Cambridgeshire on a flight south from TOLLERTON, in August 2002.
C.W.A. Scott's Air Display: 6th May 1936
British Empire Air Display: 14th August 1936
NOTE: It appears almost certain that these venues were only used for displays, and not used in between times by other pilots?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
The advert was placed in the Derby Daily Telegraph on the 23rd August 1919.
The local area view is from my Google Earth© derived database. What we don't know is if, in 1919, HELL MEADOW had been planted out as a wood. If not, the temporary aerodrome area may well have been larger.
LATER INFORMATION FROM MIKE HOLDER
One never ending, but always of interest aspect of producing this 'Guide', is how, over the years, extra information can be discovered.
The Advert One was placed in the Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal on the 11th June 1926.
The Notice regarding the hopeful provision of bus services was published in the Derby Daily Telegraph on the 1st June 1933. These events attracted very large crowds so clearly local bus companies were very keen to take advantage of the sudden demand. Advert Two was placed, also in the Derby Daily Telegraph, but on the 6th May 1936.
The Article One, in two parts, was published in the Derby Daily Telegrath on the 2nd June 1933. The short article, also published in the Derby Daily Telegraph, was published three years later on the 14th August 1936.
This article in four parts, was also published in the Derby Daily Telegraph, but this time on the 7th June 1934.
NOTES: In May 2020, (see 'Comment' below), Mike Holder also sent me a copy of The Derbyshire Advertiser published on the 26th June 1926. It advertises The Berkshire Aviation Tours venue, with flights from 5 shillings (£0. 5. 00d). In those days the average wage was not much more than £1 a week.
What Mike and I agree upon is, during the Sunday "Wonderful Exhibition Of Flying", weather permitting in June 1920, they would be displaying a 6 horse power motor glider. A machine neither of us has heard of before. Can anybody kindly offer advice?
Michael T Holder
This comment was written on: 2020-05-23 12:11:15From The Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal – Friday 11 Jun 1926 – An advertisement for The Berkshire Aviation Tours flights at Hell Meadow, Stenson Lane, Derby, including Mrs Sophie C. Eliott Lynn – the only Lady Pilot on Tour. At the bottom was “You’ll all be under the earth one day. GET OFF IT!” Hell Meadow is a wooded area but the field next to it (between the wood and the railway) looks suitable. Position52 52 37”N 001 30 51”W. Quite a way out of Derby – about 4 miles – and 1.5 miles from North Stafford Junction Railway Station
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