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Amid the concrete jungle of Croydon in south London lies an Art Deco gem of a building, which reveals the dawn of aviation and a glimpse of luxury and adventure. Everything you take for granted about air travel started here, and is kept alive by knowledgeable volunteers.
Croydon Airport was Britain’s major airport during the interwar period and greatly influenced the development of commercial air transport. Operational as London Airport from March 1920 until September 1959, it began life using buildings and an airfield constructed in 1915 during World War One.
Britain’s first airport expansion act of parliament in 1925 led to the redevelopment of the airport during the following year. The new airport introduced to the world two types of specialised building – the integrated airport terminal and the air traffic control tower.
The magnificent terminal building set a new standard for air travel and was the world’s biggest and most advanced airport building. It
was designed, built and operated by the Air Ministry around the two key airport functions – departure and arrival.
The architects brought all key airport functions and processes together in one super-efficient building for the first time, sequencing each step of the airport process through designated zones.
Croydon Airport developed air traffic control, using radio triangulation to know where the planes were in the air, and had the first control tower built in 1928.
Croydon also used radio telephony for the first time instead of Morse code. And in 1923, when senior radio officer Fred Mockford was asked to come up with a distress call, he proposed “mayday, mayday, mayday”, because most of the flights were from Croydon to Paris and the word mayday would be understood by his French counterparts as it sounded like “m’aidez”.
The museum features displays about the history of the UK’s first international airport, including its role in World War One and World War Two, as well as its history as a civilian airport. The displays show everything from the first airline tickets, posters and route maps to early styles of airline seats. Not to mention the story of Amy Johnson, Charles Lindbergh and the many other pioneers who helped develop the practicalities of air travel.
The airport eventually closed in the late 1950s, as Heathrow with its concrete runways and wide open spaces could be developed for the bigger, heavier aircraft that the world needed.
The only aircraft on show at the museum is a de Havilland Heron – a small propeller-driven British airliner of the 1950s – which flanks the entrance of the airport building. The Heron is painted in the same style as was used on the last passenger flight from Croydon, which left the airport on 30 September 1959.
Sadly, this gem of a museum is only open on the first Sunday of every month. Additional open days are held at various times in the year, so keep an eye on the website.
For more details, see: www.croydonairport.org.uk
Five things to see
1. Spectacular vistas: The panoramic views beyond south London from the world’s first air traffic control tower are extraordinary.
2. Aerospace artefacts: The visitor centre displays Amy Johnson’s helmet and flying bag, which were donated to the museum by her sister.
3. Into the air: The museum features a flight simulator which enables visitors to experience what it was like to pilot a 1920s aircraft.
4. Lest we forget: Located a short walk away from the museum is a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives during World War Two.
5. Delightful departures: After visiting the displays, enjoy a gin and tonic in the bar and pretend you are waiting to embark on a plane.