Leysdown (Shellbeach)
| Also known as: | Leysdown Aerodrome / RAF Leysdown / RNAS Leysdown |
| County: | Kent |
| Current Status: | Hotel / Leisure activity / Open land / Restaurant |
| Date: | February 1909 - November 1937; minor use to 1940s |
| Current Use: | Disused |
| Used By: | RAF / RNAS / Civil |
| Landing Surface Types: | Unpaved |
| Prominent People: | J.T.C. Moore-Brabazon / Francis McClean / Eustace Short / Horace Short / Oswald Short / Orville Wright / Wilbur Wright |
Leysdown, on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, is widely believed to be Britain’s first airfield (although records point towards Fambridge as having the stronger claim). It certainly became the world’s first ever factory airfield and was founded by the Short Brothers and the Aero Club. The first officially recognised flights in Britain were made here at the turn of April/May 1909 by J.T.C. Moore-Brabazon.
Leysdown closed in its initial capacity as an aircraft manufacturing site in the spring of 1910. It was however used for many years afterwards as a recognised airfield by the military for training duties until November 1937. Throughout WW2 the area served as a major bombing and firing range.
Muswell Manor, the clubhouse of the Aero Club, still exists today as a holiday park and various aeronautical memorabilia can be seen on display.
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):
- Leysdown Parish Council
- Muswell Manor Holiday Park
Main unit(s) present:
- Aero Club
- Air Armament School
- Gunnery School Flight
- Pilots & Observers Aerial Gunnery and Aerial Fighting School
- School of Marine Observers
- Short Brothers
Photographs from the unveiling of the ABCT marker at Leysdown on 22 February 2009:
Looking across the former airfield at Leysdown.
Plan of Leysdown, 1918. Courtesy of Ed Andrews
| Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s): | |
| Successor Airfield(s): |