Over the last 10 or more years the Barton Industrial estate has continuously expanded and been modernized, so much so that little or no evidence of its former life remains.
After asking around in the village (which I was born in and now live again) it seems most villagers are unaware it even existed let alone some of the important links it has to aviation and the 1930’s….
Over the last month or so I have spent many hours following up information about the site but as always the more leads I get the more I seem to be chasing my tail so any help would be greatly appreciated, and help make available in the village library a documented history to remember all that took place.
Can anyone enlighten me as what would be ‘normal’ for an airfield of this size as grass runway?, would there have been more than one or would be an ‘organized free for all’?… could any still active aerodromes in this area be looked at as a guide like Old Warden, Denham, White Waltham etc etc
From the records the airfield was granted a license on 1st January 1937 and the Bedford School of Flying opened just 14 days later under the management of Capt’ Marendaz and Dorothy Summers, has anyone any information on any of these people or the flying school?
The airfield was used as a turning point for the 1938 Kings Cup, there must be loads of photographs taken but so far I can only locate just one… please help!
9th June 1938 Amy Johnson was guest of honor at the flying schools dance, again no photographs or print seems to have survived?
The photographic information indicates Luton Aircraft was on the site before the flying school but no physical evidence, any ideas?
The ATA took over the airfield as part of No’5 ferrypool, I have requested info from the ATA archive but as yet noting has turned can anyone shed any light on the ATA and especially that of Lutons’ all women No’5 pool and the use they made of Barton.
thanks
Jenna
By: avion ancien - 2nd January 2022 at 10:53
It’s probably not helped by the fact that there is a Barton & District History Group (q.v. Jenna’s post of 3 May 2012), with an online presence, whose sphere of interest is Barton-on-Humber, in North Lincolnshire, rather than Barton-le-Clay in Bedfordshire!
By: feroxeng - 1st January 2022 at 23:17
I was in touch with her years ago, but failed to contact her in more recent times. I added some of her research to my own and published it in my book on Captain Marendaz ‘The All British Marendaz Special’. Available on Ebay for around £13 these days.
Regards to all,
Graham
By: bazv - 1st January 2022 at 23:06
There is a ‘Barton-Le-Clay History Society’ page on FB – I do not know if ‘Jenna’ has put anything on there – there are a few aircraft pics just from a quick look.
By: buster_the_bear - 1st January 2022 at 20:40
I wonder what happened to all the work Jenna did on this airfield. None of the image or PDF links work, nor does www.bartonleclay.org sadly.
By: avion ancien - 19th July 2013 at 17:29
…..are you yet able to do so, Jenna?
By: Jenna - 3rd September 2012 at 10:51
I will update this thread soon, I have loads more dates to add and I am happy to say I have found the original hand drawn map of the proposed airfield expansion in 1939
By: Jenna - 3rd May 2012 at 13:26
I can not believe its been a year from the last update on this thread, sorry!
Research on the history of the aerodrome is still ticking on however I have also been pulled into researching the whole Special Operations Executive (SOE) operation in WWII which has a little slowed up the aerodrome side.
I will do a follow up on the aerodrome soon.
I should also let everyone know that I instigated establishing a Barton & District History Group… the first meeting is to be held in the village hall on the 31st May.
Barton & District History Group
Thursday 31st May 2012
7.30pm
Barton Le Clay Village Hall (MK45 4JY).
Everyone is welcome and I hope we can establish several long term project which will include the villages aerodrome.
more information on this is on the village website… http://www.bartonleclay.org/
By: Jenna - 6th March 2011 at 18:30
Hi everyone.
Not a problem T-21, Banupa, we had a really great turnout so much so we had shift some of the library shelves to get people in which cant be bad.
Plans are for a follow on in July which will be on a weekend afternoon and that will coincide with an airfield walk either shortly before or after…. hopefully we may have a very splendid new location too. We hope to widen the presentation up a little with a lot more technical information and even go a little interactive!
If you want to read more on the progress of the presentation then the link below will help.
http://www.bartonleclay.org/forum/Bartons-Lost-Aerodrome
I cant thank every one enough for the help in this thread, its been instrumental in getting us as far as we have.
I have some new information on the airfield, and I can confirm some dates so expect a few new posts in the next day or so.
By: Banupa - 2nd March 2011 at 17:48
Meeting
Sorry I missed the meeting Jenna. Unfortunately work overruled my plans to be there. Any more planned?
By: T-21 - 2nd March 2011 at 07:59
How did the event go ? I was sleeping off night shift so unable to attend.
By: G-ASEA - 26th February 2011 at 12:24
On thursday My son booked a seat for my father at the presentation, He was told that ther was only one seat left. Two people had cancelled. So please check before turning up, if you havent booked for a seat. Looking forward to the event.
Dave
By: Jenna - 26th February 2011 at 11:48
I have also just added a post in the models section of the forum that may interest anyone that likes 1/4 scale modelling.
thread link….
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=107129
By: Jenna - 26th February 2011 at 09:59
just a quick reminder, anyone in the local area that’s interested there is going to be a presentation in the village library about the aerodrome this Tuesday…
1st March, 2.30pm, Barton le clay library.
more information will be posted on the village community website, we are also looking at the possibility of sound recording/videoing so that the presentation can be archived and pod-cast from the community website in the near future.
Barton-Le-Clay Community website can be found here or click the signature link.
By: Jenna - 20th February 2011 at 15:06
lmao you cant miss the big white furry mutts.
I’ve never been convinced that Luton aircraft were in the nursery in Hollybush Lane, the owners know nowt about it (either aircraft or wartime engineering!) so I was doing some digging and Hawkridge Aircraft seam to pop into the research with to many coincidences.
They had a postal address in Dunstable (just like Luton Aircraft had) they were in Oxford Road Denham (just like Luton Aircraft had been) and they seem to have been doing the work that Luton Aircraft had in that area just a couple of years after the business stopped.
what’s more the address on Oxford Road WAS a nursery!… so could people be getting this confused with the one in Hollybush Lane round the corner?
The site is now under a garden centre so nothing left on the ground.
By: G-ASEA - 20th February 2011 at 13:34
No that was my son, he thought it was you!
I have a small amount on Hawkridge Aircraft. Including One of there glider’s. I also know someone who worked for them.
Dave
By: Jenna - 20th February 2011 at 13:21
lol was that you on the roof the other afternoon by chance!
ok i’m looking into another lead and could with help with any information on:
Mr. H.E. Bolton
Hawkridge Aircraft Company Ltd
many thanks
By: G-ASEA - 18th February 2011 at 17:05
I sent my son to Barton library, as its just up the road form where we are working. They are taking bookings for seats as they are expecting alot of people to turn up. So he has booked seats for us..
Dave
By: Banupa - 17th February 2011 at 16:26
Meeting
I’ll try to get to the meeting and I have mentioned it to some friends, one of whom grew up in Barton and now flies exec jets, as well as Tiger Moths…
By: TheMightyOz - 12th February 2011 at 23:00
Luckily I’ve got half a day of holiday from work left that I need to use before the end of March. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to use it and the talk at the library seems as good a reason as any. 🙂
By: Jenna - 12th February 2011 at 17:12
that’s a shame ds but depending on local interest the whole project may move forward, so there may be a follow up.
I’m keen to get the airfield to become a continuous project for the village, maybe even kick off a historical group to document things before they disappear under yet more houses!
I’m also looking at:
running a schools project to build/show models, pictures etc of the aircraft designed/built here.
a one off large scale accurate model of the Buzzard, we have several model aircraft clubs to get it in the air (my be from the original airfield).
re-opening the airstrip for one day as a fly-in, you could still get 650mts on stubble with a little organising!
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