Seaview
SEAVIEW: Seasonal joy-riding site. Later occassional private use.
Operated by: Mostly it appears, Avro (?) (1919 to 1922)
But also Brompton Motor Company in 1921
Location: On the beach at low tide just N of Duver Road. Just WNW of Seaview village, and about 2nm E of Ryde town centre
Period of operation: Joy rides from 1919 to 1922(?)
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The second item, an advert, was published in the Isle of Wight Observer on the 23rd August 1919.
Note: The fifth item was published in the Isle of Wight Observer on the 21st May 1921.
The ninth item, an advert, was published in the Portsmouth Evening News on the 5th July 1921. The eleventh item is an article published in the Isle of Wight Observer, this time on the 23rd April 1921. This last item was published in The Tatler on the 13th September 1933.
BONUS PICTURES
Note: Mike Holder also found these pictures published in Flight magazine on the 2nd June 1921.
This picture was obtained from my Google Earth © database.
NOTES: There are two aspects here. The first being the venues for joy-rides listed in the second item above. Of the six venues listed, four were really quite close together, RYDE and SEAVIEW, and SANDOWN and SHANKLIN - so why?
Perhaps the answer is that those going on holiday to the Isle of Wight travelled by train and ferry. Therefore, any attraction needed to be within walking distance.
The second aspect involves the Avro 504 aircraft type, without doubt the most favoured type for joy-riding operations. Designed and built just before WW1 it became, arguably, one of the most versatile types of aircraft ever. It was used in WW1 for duties ranging from basic trainer to bomber! And, ended up, still in the RAF, for specialised duties in WW2.
The favoured models were the 504K especially, and the 504N. Both of which could easily be fitted with floats for beach based operations. Another very important aspect was that the Avro 504 could be quickly and quite cheaply converted, by Avro, to have the front cockpit modified to seat two passengers - therefore doubling passenger revenue on most flights.
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