Hornchurch Lives Again?

There was a show there earlier in the summer – classic vehicles and aircraft and a ‘Glenn Miller’ style dance. It was the same day as the England/Portugal game so I didn’t go down there, but I kept leaving the TV to rush into the garden to see what was flying about. There were a couple of Spitfire displays and a number of Stearman’s displaying as well, so while we might not see anything ‘interesting’ based there I guess there’s always the chance of a repeat of the show. If so, I think I’ll get myself down there 🙂

At least now I know what it’s called as well

View from

Damyns a long way from Hornchurch

No, Damyns hall is probably 2 miles south of where the old aerodrome was.…. i was parked down there earlier on in the summer, where i watched a display by a harvard that was visting and the locally based stearman. Fantastic stuff.

Geezer…… Dunno where you get your sense of direction from ? but to quote some of 74 Sqdn’s pilots based there “Your flying up **** Creek” (their description of the pathetic looking River Ingrebourne, which runs basically alongside the old RAF base).

” 2 miles South of where the old aerodrome was ” puts you (basically) between both Rainham & Wennington marshes, just East of the old ‘Purfleet Rifle Ranges….& spitting distance to the River Thames itself….not even close to Damyns Hall.

Like I said, it’s well to the West of the River Ingrebourne & the Berwick Pond – then Berwick Pond Farm & Gerpins Lane itself, (i.e. West of the R.A.F. base, Tesco’s & ‘The Good Intent’).

Good to know that you’ve seen some interesting stuff from there, though it’s sheer lack of size diminishes your chances of seeing much…. (makes Stapleford look like Heathrow !!!!).

Sadly, I sold my beloved Chavmobile just weeks before moving (2.8 injection Capri, mint – in Silver), so don’t knock it !!! :dev2: :dev2:

Whoever is driving around in my ex – ‘ A 564 RKO ‘…..LOOK AFTER HER 😎 😎 😎

No, Damyns hall is more Rainham than it is Hornchurch and is probably 2 miles south of where the old aerodrome was. i was parked down there earlier on in the summer, where i watched a display by a harvard that was visting and the locally based stearman. Fantastic stuff.

i beleive the farmer has a fascination with historic aircraft so who knows what may come and go.

Thanks for clarifying that guys. From that TV programme a while back, it looked like the original site was completely re-landscaped, but I thought there might be a chance that a bit of it was left. The callsign Hornchurch Radio is very misleading!

Can any Essex Boy or Girl tell me if this on part of the old RAF Hornchurch?

Like Mark V said, nothing (at all) to do with the historic old site.

That’s now part housing estate/ part ‘Country Park’ (sadly).

In past times, taking the dog for a walk, or out cycling, we’ve seen microlights taking off & landing in the distance, whilst resting at the top of the man-made hill….. which is the highest vantage point on the old Spitfire base, which itself overlooks two of the original concrete reinforced defence pill-boxes (still intact) on the Western side of the River Ingrebourne.

The grass strip you refer to is near the ‘Gerpins Lane’ council rubbish tip (how appropriate !!!), although the aircraft that use it, take off & land from the other direction…. over Warwick Lane (between Rainham & Aveley).
That’s gotta be 2 to 3 miles East of the old R.A.F site (formerly known as Suttons Farm).

Damyns Hall has been around for years but has received some investment recently. The callsign is born more out of nostalgia then geography, its not on the site of the historic aerodrome.