Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Europe's largest surviving World War One airfield, is facing permanent closure because the main access public road to the site has been closed without warning.

Located off Hackman's Lane between Maldon and Chelmsford in Essex, the aerodrome faces what its owners describe as a “catastrophic” situation.

In April 2024, Essex and Suffolk Water began significant water mains work on Hackman's Lane which has necessitated road closures and diversions around the area.

A Stow Maries Aerodrome statement said: “Initially the water company advised some local households that the work would last for up to ten days. Instead that figure has been revised to 100 days.”

The statement continued: “The aerodrome has seen a 50% drop in income as hundreds of potential visitors give up trying to navigate the labyrinth of – often very poorly signed – diversions to get to the museum.

“While the trustees of the charity and its 100-plus volunteers recognise that both the work and the necessity to ensure the workforce on the roads are kept safe are very important, they are extremely critical of Essex and Suffolk Water's failure to engage with businesses in advance of the work beginning.”

Ian Flint, Stow Maries Aerodrome Charity CEO, said: "We had no notice of the works – in fact, we only found out they were happening when we were passed a note from a neighbour.

“That note quoted a 10-day period of works, which was bad enough. We then discovered that it was actually going to be over 100 days. When we finally got representatives on site, they admitted they had no idea of our existence.”

Flint continued: “With the drop in visitor numbers caused by these works, the survival of the museum is now really in question.”

The museum says there have been “frustratingly unsuccessful” attempts by museum staff to engage with Essex and Suffolk Water and Essex Highways, the roads division of Essex County Council, to mitigate the effects of the closure with far better signage.

Flint commented: “The conversations we have initiated have given us no encouragement that things will improve. Essex and Suffolk Water and Essex Highways are pointing the finger at each other for the deficiencies in the operation. Meanwhile our lifeblood is draining away.”

Flint emphasised: “The only thing that can save the museum and secure this priceless facility for the community and nation is for the people of East Anglia to fight through the diversion and get to us.

“We need them to visit. We need them to buy a coffee, maybe grab a snack. We need them to visit one of our events or come on a regular Friday, Saturday or Sunday open day.

“If we don't see a lot more people on site very soon, Essex and Suffolk Water and Essex Highways will have succeeded in doing something the Kaiser's air force failed to do. They will have shut us down.”

The historian Dan Snow, a long-time Patron of the museum, commented: “It horrifies me to see such a vital part of our heritage in this situation. We cannot afford to lose Stow Maries after all the amazing work that has been done to preserve it. We need to resolve this issue urgently, before it is too late.”