Situated within the Parish of Purleigh, near Maldon in Essex, stand the remains of buildings that once made up a front line Home Defence Aerodrome. Built by the RAF towards the end of the First World War the aerodrome was abandoned in 1919 and has remained within the ownership of the same farming family ever since. The majority of the original buildings remain but have been adapted to a small extent over the years for farming use. This has not however changed the essential feel of the place and visitors are always amazed at how atmospheric the site remains.

The aerodrome was the home of 37 (Home Defence) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and then after the 1^st April 1918 37 Squadron Royal Air Force. It has many local connections that may also be visited.

The site has now been purchased by Mr Steve Wilson and Mr Russell Savory of RSPerformance. Mr Wilson and Mr Savory are bespoke vehicle builders who plan to move their business to the site. Their company manufacture in the region of just eight vehicles per year for specific clients.

The new owners are also aviation and history enthusiasts who plan to restore this unique site to as near its original state as possible. They emphasise that this is not a development project for short term gain but a sympathetic restoration for visitors from home and abroad to enjoy for the long term future.

It is estimated that the restoration will take two years to complete and when finished will provide an authentic taste of the atmosphere it originally held during its operational existence from 1916 to 1919. The site itself is believed to be fairly unique in that few, if any WW1 dated sites exist in their original form. Others have either disappeared or have been developed since the end of the Great War and bear little resemblance to their original appearance.

Upon the sites completion it is planned to provide a Museum plus guided tours and lectures on the sites history. Mr Savory also has a keen interest in wildlife so in addition to the historical facilities it is planned to have a visitors centre for the study of local nature and wildlife.

The site is currently being cleared. A website is being launched on or about the 19^th February 2009 to keep interested parties up to speed with the project. A webcam will be available to view the work on site. A history and any project updates will also appear.

This is an exciting project for historians, aviation and wildlife enthusiasts alike. It will provide a unique facility within not only Essex but the Country as a whole and it is hoped that it will plug a gap in the architectural history of the nation. It is also hoped that such a unique site will draw visitors from near and far, benefitting the local community as a whole.

Please visit the website for more news as and when it becomes available on or about the 19^th February. WWW.stowmaries.com.

Ivor Dallinger . Stow Maries Aerodrome Consultant and Museum Curator

Ivor

Welcome to the forum

All sounds very promising. Please keep us updated

Andy

Ivor
I don't live too far away; I look forward to being able to visit!
I hope the credit crunch doesn't cause too many headaches!

Adrian

Ivor

Is the site visible on Google Earth? If so, can you give me some pointers to find it?

If you have no objections, I will add the site to the collection of existing Great War sites in the UK - see this thread for more details of the project Great War Sites in the UK

Regards
Brian

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=Purleigh&...42:18|Purleigh| ??
There is a possible small clue!

David

David

Either the area to the north of Hackmans Lane (water tower at western end) - or the strange mowed area 1 mile ESE of the village (next to a wood) - either of those??

Brian

(I have a mild cold today so that's my excuse if I am missing something obvious!)

PS - now I understand!

Its http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=5...mp;t=h&z=17

Zoom in. You will see how much is left. Only the grain tower is new. (thats coming down) and we are looking for two twin aeroplane sheds for the site. Any idea where there might be some please?

Brian, Please feel free to add it to your site. It is probably the best preserved RFC/RAF site in the country as far as original buildings go. Keep an eye on www.stowmaries.com for further up dates

Ivor

Thanks - I have added the site to the Great War Sites in the UK map.

Regards
Brian

Hello Ivor. Haven't heard about you for some time. I too live very near - Maldon - and my forthcoming book on Maldon, Heybridge and the Great War will feature the activities of 37 (HD) Squadron - mainly Goldhanger - but Stow, Rochford and Woodham Mortimer will get a mention.

Regards.
SPN
Maldon

Hello Stephen, I have been keeping a low profile. Look forward to seeing the book.

Best wishes

Ivor

Thanks Ivor - let's keep in touch.

Best regards.
Stephen.

This forum thread may interest you, the last remaining Bessoneau WW1 hanger at RAF Odiham has recently been condemned by the MOD, but that is not to say that it is not very saveable given the right attention.

WW1 Bessoneau Hanger

Guy

Fascinating! well worth comparing the modern day satellite with the old OS maps at

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/indexmappage2.aspx

enter co-ordinates 581700 200100 [maps 5, 1924 (Zoomable) & map 6, 1922]

Look forward to viewing the website and watching progress; good luck with the project.

NigelS

This is absolutely fascinating. I am a pilot who flies from North Weald, which was another 1916 Home Defence aerodrome. On our CAA charts - both 1:500,000 and 1:250,000 - Stow Maries was marked as a glider cable-launch site until the last year or so, and I have always avoided the area for that reason as cables are an obvious danger. But it seems that all it has been used for is model flying.

The charts also show disused airfields, of which there are many in the surrounding area like Birch, Boreham, Rivenhall and Bradwell Bay. Some of these are only visible as crop marks with small bits of peri track still used. Definitely a mystery that Stowe Maries wasn't shown thus. On the current charts it is left off altogether.

Richard Flagg's website has some excellent pictures:

http://www.airfields.fotopic.net/c1614513.html

Having been brought up on a farm in deepest Wiltshire I can understand how buildings have survived as farmers just tend to leave things and make use of what they can. Even so, this is an amazing site and should definitely be preserved.

Good one TJJ. I agree that we are really lucky in this area for aviation history. Not really for this forum but the other sites you mention are equally facinating not least Birch and the US link with the Normandy Landings and Bradwell Bay with Bostons and Mosquitos. It's great to see it all from the air. One of Bader's men crash landed at Stow during the Battle of Britain.

Regards.
SPN
Maldon

I visited the public exhibition yesterday and it looks like a really exciting project! Congratulations to evrone who have got the plan this far! The best part was hearing that the money to cover the cost is already in the bank - no trusting to grants and handouts - the usual stumbling point of restoration projects. I will certainly follow the progress through the website, but how about a TV programme, anyone got any contacts? If we are subjected to the joy of watching paint dry while makeover programmes decorate someones lounge - how much better to watch the makeover of a WW1 Airfield?

The website is now open at http://stowmaries.com/

Some of the information and the filmed tour on display yesterday is available to watch.

Thank you to everyone who attended. It was great response and very encouraging.

The website is still undergoing additional work but it is hoped to be fully operational soon.

In the meantime all the very best from Stow Maries and RSPerformance.

Ivor - brillant website. Well done - you are doing the place proud.

Regards
SPN
Maldon

Thanks Stephen, More to come with more updated features etc. Site Cam coming too so you can watch the work.

Best wishes

Ivor

Ivor

Fab we site, I am very impressed!

Do you intend to operate any aircraft from the site, and on what basis?

Guy

Ivor - just a thought. If in the future you ever fancy holding lectures on site - I am up to giving a talk on my book 'Maldon, Dengie and Battles in the Skies (1939-45)' which mentions the BoB incident at Stow and (all being well re. publication) my forthcoming 'Maldon, Heybridge and the Great War (1914-1918)' which will mention 37 (HD) Squadron at Goldhanger and the Mick Mannock story.

Keep that in mind and all power to you re. the work.

Regards.
SPN
Maldon

Thanks Stephen, once we get underway I will let you know and make the arrangements.

Very best wishes

It is hoped to replace the two twin aeroplane sheds. Then aircraft can be stored safely. It is hoped to attract period aircraft on a prior permission basis. There have been offers but it really depends on the permissions being granted.

As soon as I have more news then I will post it here. We go to Shuttleworth next week to look at the set up there.

Just to keep everyone updated on the progress. Work on the land drainage has begun. We have approached RAF Odiham re the Bessanaeu Hanger that they are removing . Its a wee bit complicated at the mo but we are trying. I shall keep you updated.

Ok, here is the current situation with the Bessaneau. We are informed that there is a distinct possibility that it will go to New Zealand. An approach has been made by a Company who wish to move it to the other side of the world to go with their vintage aeroplane collection. We have informed the MOD of our interest but cannot match the owner of the New Zealand company for finance.

Our view is that it should stay in this country where it will be erected on a genuine WW1 aerodrome in the exact location of a previously wartime erected Bessaneau, for all to see.

We are seeking support in this view.

If you share our view please say so or the hanger might be lost.

I'm not sure that a vote on this forum is likely to sway the MOD.

But for what it's worth, I would prefer it to stay in the UK

A useful link for you though

Bessaneau

Guy

Thanks for this Guy, If all else fails.............

Pity it didn't get listed building status like the airship hangar frame at Farnborough.

(see http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...t&p=1091464 particularly the first link)

Do the Department for Culture, Media and Sport know of the possible loss to New Zealand? they certainly liked blowing their own trumpet over the listing at Farnborough.

NigelS

Edit - Stow Curator: any knowledge or comment about North Benfleet? http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...t&p=1130781

Some aerial views of the Stow Maries site taken today. The area which has been mowed has a windsock and is used by the model flyers. It certainly looks impressive from the air. Good luck with the search for the hangar.







TJJ

The landing ground site at Gardeners Farm, Goldhanger also used by 37 Squadron at the same time as Stow and Rochford (now Southend Airport),



TJJ

Great news, and fascinating project. Good luck with the work, i'd be very interested in visiting (and if there's any events I could arrange for RFC uniformed personnel and replica static aircraft to be there)

There may be other suitable buildings still extant. A few years ago I borrowed a book from Essex libraries that detailed all WW1 landing sites and other associated buildings. This listed about a dozen Hangers that were mostly still in use. About one quarter of them were largely complete, almost all of them were disguised and not obviouse for what they were (re-cladding or extended or incorporated into another building).
Unfortunately I cannot remember the title of this publication but it was published about 12-15 years ago.
There was also a wooden WW1 ex RAF building only a short distance from Stow Maries at Sparrow Wick farm at Mundon, it is quite possible that this building still exists.
With regards to the Bessaneau, what if as many people as possible contact their M.P.'s about the situation we might get the export stopped.

At Moreton, near Ongar is a structure which is believed to be a WW1 aeroplane shed from North Weald. Stow are aware of this as well.

This is typical of the buildings I was talking about. Do you have any idea what type of hanger this is?
Would it be helpfull if anybody could post an illustration or photo of the different types of hanger used in WW1?

There are some contemporary pictures on the Hainault Farm website. This landing ground was set up at the same time as North Weald and Suttons Farm and originally housed 39 (Home Defence) Squadron.

http://www.prcraig.com/hainaultfarmAerodrome.htm

Do you mean 'Fields of the First' by Paul A. Doyle (published in 1997 by Forward Airfield Research Publishing)? It covers the history of all the aircraft landing grounds in Essex used during the First World War. Ivor and myself are acknowledged for helping out on the Goldhanger (both), Rochford (me), and Stow Maries (Ivor) sites.

Regards.
SPN
Maldon

Yes I think it may well be, it also included the building at Sparrow Wick farm which is only a short distance away from Stow Maries.

Thanks for this. We are looking at the Sparrow Wick Farm building. I shall update shortly.

Thanks again.

I am familiar with some of the history of this building. It arrived at Sparrow Wick farm in the early 40's it may have been as accomodation for land army girls or POW's working the land, after the war it was used as a battery hen house, then it stood empty for a few years and then it was used by Maldon model railway club from the 1970's until about 1994. It seems quite remarkable that in view of the uses it has been put to it still survives.

Re. the building at Sparrow Wick farm, I have just taken a look at it on Google Earth, and it appears to be in regular use. There appears to be a surfaced area in front of the building (for parking?). When I knew the building it was deep mud every time it rained!

Paul Doyle describes the building as "typical of the hutting to be found on First World War Flight Stations". Apparently the "second side panel has been brushed by bushes, indicating that the hut has been dismantled for moving".

SPN
Maldon

I can explain about the comment from Paul Doyle. The photograph was taken c. 1987 when the hut was being used by the Maldon model railway club. The bush was removed and the panel was creosoted by myself together with other members of the model railway club soon after the photograph must have been taken. That entire side of the building together with the back end and roof was done at the same time.

Great stuff - you like that building don't you! Do you live in Maldon?

SPN
Maldon

I lived in Burnham-on Crouch from 1984 to 1989. I now live in Basildon (it was easier to commute) I knew of Stow Maries and all ways hoped to be able to do what the current owners are doing but I'm still waiting for the right lottery ticket!

Join the club! Well done for what you are doing and your interest and think of me if you ever win!

SPN
Maldon

I think it is a fabulous project, and the new owners of Stow Maries should be applauded for their willingness to embrace our heritage.

Too many people nowdays have little sense of history, and the many buildings and difficult repairs could so easily be brushed aside in the name of progress and cost.

All over the country our airfields of both WW1 and WW2 are threatened by business and developement. Too few people recognise the significance of what we have, often till it is too late.

I for one will be watching what happens at Stow Maries with great interest, and I wish them every success.

Guy

The shed at Sparrow Wick farm. I have been told that it has reverted to being a hen house. When Maldon model railway club took over the premises they had to remove over a foot of chicken manure! A nice smelly job on a hot day.

I have tried to trace a copy of "fields of the first". Essex libraries have about 2 dozen copy's in stock.

Sorry Phil - not with you. I think it's out of print but do you mean you have managed to track it down via the library?

Regards.
SPN
Maldon

They still hold plenty of copies, I think that Maldon library has a copy. I have asked my local library to get a copy for me.