Trafford Park Aerodrome (Manchester)
Encyclopedia
Trafford Park Aerodrome was the first purpose-built airfield in the Manchester
area. Its large all-grass landing field was just south of the Manchester Ship Canal
between Trafford Park Road, Moseley Road and Ashburton Road and occupied a large part of the former deer park
of Trafford Hall
. Today's Tenax Road runs north-south through the centre of the site of the old airfield, which was 0.7 miles northeast of today's Trafford Centre
.
The first known use of Trafford Park airfield was by Henry Melly on 7 July 1911 when he flew his Blériot
monoplane, with A. Dukinfield-Jones as passenger, from his base at Waterloo just north of Liverpool
to meet Alliott Verdon Roe
for lunch at Trafford Hall. By prior arrangement, A.V. Roe had laid out white sheets on the aerodrome to indicate the location of the landing area. Melly's return flight later that day was the first heavier-than-air flight to depart from Manchester.
At the end of July, the remaining competitors in a 'Round Britain Air Race' reached Trafford Park from Edinburgh via Carlisle to be greeted by a large crowd of spectators. French aviator Lt Conneau arrived first in his Bleriot, leaving for Bristol and Brooklands
to win the race. Only three others completed the course, including James Valentine of Mottram
Hall who reached Manchester in his Deperdussin on 29 July.
arrived first in his Bleriot
monoplane, being greeted by the Lord Mayor
of Manchester, who stepped on a bracing wire, which broke on takeoff, and put Strange out of the race, which was won by a French airman. Other competitors included John Alcock in his Farman
biplane.
The airfield latterly saw little use and closed during 1918.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
area. Its large all-grass landing field was just south of the Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
between Trafford Park Road, Moseley Road and Ashburton Road and occupied a large part of the former deer park
Deer Park
Deer Park may refer to:* Medieval deer park, parkland originally used by the nobility for hunting deer.- Place names :Australia* Deer Park, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, located within the City of BrimbankCanada...
of Trafford Hall
Trafford Hall
Trafford Hall was a country house standing to the east of the village of Wimbolds Trafford, in Cheshire, England. It was built in 1756 for George Edward Gerrard. A ballroom was added in the 19th century. As of 2011 the building is used as a hotel and conference centre, and since 1995 has...
. Today's Tenax Road runs north-south through the centre of the site of the old airfield, which was 0.7 miles northeast of today's Trafford Centre
Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre and leisure complex situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, close to the Trafford Park industrial estate and approximately 5 miles from Manchester city centre. It is the highest valued shopping centre in the...
.
Operations in 1911–1912
Manchester Aerodrome Ltd was formed in late 1910 to rent the land and prepare the surface for flying and this work was completed by summer 1911.The first known use of Trafford Park airfield was by Henry Melly on 7 July 1911 when he flew his Blériot
Blériot Aéronautique
Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few cyclecars from 1921 to 1922.After Louis Blériot became famous for being the first to fly over the English Channel in 1909, he established an aircraft manufacturing company. This company really took...
monoplane, with A. Dukinfield-Jones as passenger, from his base at Waterloo just north of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to meet Alliott Verdon Roe
Alliott Verdon Roe
Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe OBE, FRAeS was a pioneer English pilot and aircraft manufacturer, and founder in 1910 of the Avro company...
for lunch at Trafford Hall. By prior arrangement, A.V. Roe had laid out white sheets on the aerodrome to indicate the location of the landing area. Melly's return flight later that day was the first heavier-than-air flight to depart from Manchester.
At the end of July, the remaining competitors in a 'Round Britain Air Race' reached Trafford Park from Edinburgh via Carlisle to be greeted by a large crowd of spectators. French aviator Lt Conneau arrived first in his Bleriot, leaving for Bristol and Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
to win the race. Only three others completed the course, including James Valentine of Mottram
Mottram St. Andrew
Mottram St Andrew is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census, the village has a population of 629 people. It is an affluent village set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside...
Hall who reached Manchester in his Deperdussin on 29 July.
Operations in 1914–1918
A major public event was held at the aerodrome on 20 June 1914, when it was the turning point for a Hendon-Birmingham-Manchester and return air race. A crowd of 100,000 persons witnessed the flying. Louis StrangeLouis Strange
Louis Arbon Strange DSO OBE MC DFC was an early English aviator, World War I and World War II airman.- Early life :Louis Strange was born in Dorset and was educated at St Edward's School Oxford, joining the school's contingent of the Dorset Yeomanry.Strange spent his childhood at Tarrant Keynstone...
arrived first in his Bleriot
Blériot Aéronautique
Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few cyclecars from 1921 to 1922.After Louis Blériot became famous for being the first to fly over the English Channel in 1909, he established an aircraft manufacturing company. This company really took...
monoplane, being greeted by the Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Manchester, who stepped on a bracing wire, which broke on takeoff, and put Strange out of the race, which was won by a French airman. Other competitors included John Alcock in his Farman
Farman
Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were...
biplane.
The airfield latterly saw little use and closed during 1918.