Woodford Airfield Develops

1920s 1930s

On Sunday September 22nd, 1925, The Lancashire Aero Club (LAC) organised an Air Display, which included RAF participation with Bristol F.2Bs and Armstrong Whitworth Siskins and an Air Race which attracted 18 entries. The air race winner was Flying Officer Waghorn, of Schneider Trophy fame. This was the first Air Display and Race to be held in the area, attracting a crowd of some 25,000 spectators.

By 1926 LAC was expanding and so decided to rent part of a barn in New Hall Farm and converted into a Clubhouse. A year later with orders increasing a copse in the middle of the grass airfield was cleared by Mr. Greenwood, the local coal merchant, levelled and rolled, giving the appearance of a proper airfield but with persistent drainage problems. With the arrival of H.R.H. Prince George and his pilot Flt. Lieutenant E.Fielden on 12th May 1931 Woodford received its first Royal visitor, the first of many.

Woodford continued to develop the site with Hanger 2 built by 1934, Hangar 3 in 1936, filling the space between Hangars 1 & 2and a Canteen was also built onto the end of Hangar 2.

In October of 1938 excavation began at the northern end of the aerodrome in preparation for a huge Assembly Plant. Yew Tree Farm on Chester Road being demolished to make way for the entrance.

Messrs Kelvin Construction of Glasgow commenced construction and completed the 69,000 sq. ft. Assembly Building in 16 months, subsequently known as Woodford New Assembly. Hangar 4 was completed in 1938 and in May 1939 Avro established an Experimental Flight Department at the new Ringway Airport. This allowed Woodford to concentrate on the mass production of aircraft for the war.

Woodford New Assembly gradually came operational, together with 'sister' plant at Chadderton. The grass runways were replaced in 1940 and further lengthened during the war years for Lancaster operations.

(Monochrome Photograph showing) - Aerial view of the main Hangars in 1938, prior to Woodford New Assembly being constructed. The Aircraft are RAF Bristol Blenheim Fighter Bombers.
Copyright BAE Systems