Heathrow Airport September 1948

They put a cover over it when it rained…..????

In the second photograph it looks as though Heathrow is out in the country.
I suppose in 1958, it was to an extent.

The cockpit must have flooded when it rained.

I wonder how they tied that down? I don’t see any obvious fixings?

I photographed this Supermarine float-plane, atop the Queen’s Building at LAP, in 1958.

Mark

British Pathe archives have a lot of heathrow footage. By 1958 there were playthings on Queens Building.

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/airport-playground/query/Terry+Parker

Well thank you all for your very helpful comments. I don’t actually remember the sandpit as I was only 3 in 1948. However I have just had another look at my aunt;s diary and we went to Heathrow (rather than Northolt) on Saturday 18th and again on Saturday the 25th, She said there was ‘lots on’ because it was Nattle of Britain week. I feel fairly sure this would have been a sandpit within the visitors enclosure. I am now wondering if there was a Static B of B exhibition. I became a spotter in 1956 and I do remember going to see the B of B static display at Heathrow in 1959. Well thanks again everyone and if anybody happens to spot a sandpit in a picture or runs across a photo of the B of B Static display for 1948 I’d love to see them.
Regards
Ian

There’s a longish thread on the Northside enclosure etc here https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?94767-London-Airport-in-the-1950s&highlight=Heathrow+enclosure

The post-war tents were at Heathrow some 3 miles from Heston Aerodrome a completely separate airfield which was still active until 1948 (and later :-))

If you remember a sand-pit, there was one! Later there was also a fairground of sorts, roundabout , rides etc. There are photos from the control tower looking west https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/air-aero-1920-2-folders/_AHKpBWTGb5S9Q and looking east https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/air-aero-1920-2-folders/CgGB2aSVSqwnPA ( the flying DC-4 is a fake add-on) In Peter Berry’s abpic photos https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/photographer/P%20Berry the Lockheed 14 and Tudor are on display for the public enclosure. Airliners were often put on display and some military…I’ve seen photos of a B-29 being viewed by the public around 1948

It is perfectly feasible. Although way, way before my time both Heathrow and Northolt had public enclosures in the late 40’s. There were also pleasure flights in Rapides into the mid 50’s. I believe on BofB weekends there were static aircraft on show, certainly in the 50’s.
Video from 1948, shows a sign to the visitors enclosure.
Some interesting photos of the era here https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/search/?q=heathrow&f=airport&exact=1&type=&registration=&operator=&code_number=&construction_number=&airport=&country=&photographer=&date_taken=&airshow=&military_unit=&information=&search_type=simple&f=airport&sort=date_taken_formatted&order=asc

I went there around 1953/4 on a school trip, returning from Hampton Court. There was I remember the control tower with the Queen’s building probably still under construction. On one side there was a car park (just ground level) with a low fence separating us from the aircraft! I remember Sabena and BEA? Dakotas being loaded and serviced in front of us.
A Tannoy announced each arrival and departure. I was too interested in the aircraft to look for a play ground but as has been suggested may be it was builders sand.
mmitch.

A sandpit in 1948 at Heathrow? The Queens Building didn’t open until 1955. Photos and vine film I’ve seen of post war Heston Aerodrome were military style canvass tents. Having a sandpit for children to play in sounds unlikely when you consider the facilities available at the time. Perhaps it was a pile of construction sand?
My mother worked for BEA circa 1950 and spoke of very sparse facilities. I have her diary from 1953 and some photos in a box somewhere.

https://archive.org/details/london_airport_TNA