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The control tower of Croydon Airport in 1939, with the Imperial Airways de Havilland DH 91 Albatross Fortuna alongside
The control tower of Croydon Airport in 1939, with the Imperial Airways de Havilland DH 91 Albatross Fortuna alongside

Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout South London is the southern part of London, England. The area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. The London Borough of Croydon ( is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. The London Borough of Sutton ( is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London. Croydon was the first airport in the world to introduce air traffic control, in 1921. Air traffic control ( ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct Aircraft on the ground and in the air It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in north west Greater London, England. Gatwick Airport is London 's second largest Airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow.

It originated as two adjacent World War I airfields - Beddington Aerodrome, one of a number of small airfields around London, which had been created for protection against the Zeppelin raids in about May 1915, and Waddon Aerodrome of 1918, a test-flight aerodrome adjoining National Aircraft Factory No 1. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Beddington is a settlement between the London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon. A Zeppelin is a type of Rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century based on designs he had outlined Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Croydon Airport's Aerodrome Hotel is part of Croydon Vision 2020 regeneration plan. Croydon Vision 2020 is a regeneration programme by the London Borough of Croydon aimed at the centre of Croydon in South London.

Contents

In the 1920s

At the end of that war, the two airfields were combined into London's official airport as the gateway for all international flights to and from the capital. Croydon Aerodrome opened on 29 March 1920. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar

It stimulated a growth in regular scheduled flights carrying passengers, mail and freight, the first destinations being Paris, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Paris - Le Bourget Airport (Aéroport de Paris - Le Bourget is an Airport located in Le Bourget and Dugny, 12 km north-northeast (NNE Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west Rotterdam (pronounced) is the 2nd-largest City by population in the Netherlands, located in the province of In 1923 Berlin flights were added. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For the United States Air Force military use of this facility see Tempelhof Central Airport Berlin-Tempelhof Airport also It was the operating base for Imperial Airways, remembered in the road name Imperial Way on the site today. Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to

In the mid 1920s the airfield was extended, some adjacent roads such as Plough Lane being closed to allow heavier airliners to land and depart safely. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada A new complex of buildings was constructed adjoining Purley Way, including the first purpose-designed air terminal in the world, the Aerodrome Hotel and extensive hangars, at a cost of £267,000. Purley Way is a section of the A23 Trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon A hangar is an enclosed structure to hold Aircraft in protective storage Although the first day of operation using the new building and layout was 30 January, the official opening was not until 2 May 1928. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The buildings

The terminal building, the booking hall within it with its gallery balustraded in the geometrical design typical of the period, and the Aerodrome Hotel were built in the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 1930s. Art Deco was a popular international design movement from 1925 until 1939 affecting the decorative arts such as Architecture, Interior design, and Industrial The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. A further item that caught the eye of visitor and traveller alike was the time zone tower in the booking hall with its dials depicting the times in different parts of the world.

Aviators, pioneers, and aircraft

The aerodrome was known the world over, its fame being spread by the many aviators and pioneers who touched down at Croydon, such as

The major aircraft used by Imperial Airways were the Handley Page HP42/HP45 four-engined bi-planes. Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to Handley Page Limited was founded by Frederick Handley Page (later Sir Frederick in 1909 as the United Kingdom 's first publicly traded aircraft manufacturing WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The first monoplane airliners used by Imperial Airways were the Armstrong Whitworth Atlantas, intended for use on the African routes. In 1938 larger four-engined monoplanes, Armstrong Whitworth Ensign series (G-ADSR) came into service. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

World War II

In November 1938 the Chamberlain government decided that Imperial Airways, which served Empire routes, should be merged with British Airways Ltd, which served European routes. Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 &ndash 9 November 1940 was a British Conservative Politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to British Airways Ltd was a private airline company operating in Europe formed in 1935 The new company was known as British Overseas Airways Corporation, BOAC. The British Overseas Airways Corporation ( BOAC) was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 The British Overseas Airways Corporation ( BOAC) was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 British Airways Ltd operated from Croydon only from March 1937 to May 1938, when it moved to Heston Airport. British Airways Ltd was a private airline company operating in Europe formed in 1935 Heston Aerodrome, in the west of London, UK was operational between 1929 and 1946

Citing “The Great Days, Croydon Airport 1928-1939”, Cluett, Nash, Learmonth, p190:

Incidentally, this may be a convenient point to note the recurring popular error that it was from Croydon that the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, flew and to which he returned, with his famous “piece of paper” at the time of the Munich crisis in 1938. It is also sometimes said that it was at Croydon that he made his “Peace in our time” speech. The aerodrome concerned was, in fact, Heston, and it was not on arrival that he made his speech but a short while later on his return to Downing Street.

When war was declared in September 1939, Croydon Airport was closed to civil aviation. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It played a vital role as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain and was attacked in the first major raid over the London area. The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and Factories in its immediate vicinity were almost destroyed with the loss of six airmen and over 60 civilians. In 1944 Croydon became the base of RAF Transport Command, and in due course civil aircraft operations began again. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In February 1946, the airport returned to civilian control. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Later developments and final closure

Gradually it became clear that with technical advances, post-war airliners were going to be larger and the use of airports serving capital cities would intensify. Croydon had no room for further expansion and would shortly be too small to meet evident travel demands. Heathrow was therefore designated as London's airport and a decision to close Croydon was made in 1952. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire and Northolt Aerodrome in Middlesex also served airlines operating European scheduled flights during the 1950s. Blackbushe Airport, in the Civil parish of Yateley in the north-east corner of the English county of Hampshire, comprises an airfield Wildlife Hampshire has wildlife typical of the island of Great Britain RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in north west Greater London, England. Middlesex is one of the 39 historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. Croydon's last scheduled flight departed on 30 September 1959. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The De Havilland Heron outside Airport House
The De Havilland Heron outside Airport House

Much of the site has been built over, but some of the terminal buildings near Purley Way (the A23) are still visible, clearly identifiable as to their former purpose. Purley Way is a section of the A23 Trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon The A23 road, in its original form was a major road in the United Kingdom running between London and Brighton, East Sussex. A De Havilland Heron (a small propeller-driven British airliner of the 1950s), is currently (2007) displayed outside Airport House on struts flanking the entry path. The De Havilland DH114 Heron was a small Propeller -driven British Airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The Heron is painted as G-AOXL of Morton Air Services, which was the aircraft that flew the last passenger flight from Croydon on 30 September 1959. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1959: Events Unknown The Canadian Golden Hawks aerobatic team A Tiger Moth in RAF training scheme livery is suspended within the preserved booking hall, which functions as a dining room when required. A memorial to those lost in the Battle of Britain stands slightly to the south. The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and

Although Croydon has long ceased operation, the two ends of Plough Lane have never been reunited, the area having been developed instead into parkland, playing fields and the Roundshaw residential estate with its roads aptly named after aviators and aircraft. Roundshaw is a housing estate and park in south Wallington on the eastern edge of the London Borough of Sutton.

The area is still known as Croydon Airport for transport purposes and was the location for Croydon Water Palace. The Croydon Water Palace was an indoor water park complex that opened in 1990 on Purley Way in Waddon in the London Borough of Croydon opposite Croydon

External links

References

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