Monument record 8130/1 - First World War Emergency Landing Ground at Clipston

In 1916 The War Office decided to make a landing ground at Clipston for emergency use by Home Defence Force aircraft. A body of Canadian soldiers took less than a week to fell hundreds of trees and level hedges and ditches for the landing ground, which lay somewhere between Clipston village and its railway station, nearly two miles to the east. The ground was probably used only about five times, including routine visits on the 29/08/1917 and 01/06/1918. An area east of Clipston, the location of the village playing field since the 1950s, is depicted on an Ordnance Survey map of 1901 as having multiple field boundaries which have gone on post 1918 maps. This area may therefore be the location of the landing ground.

{1} Documentary reference "a landing ground was also established north of Clipston for emergency use by Home Defence Force aircraft." Date circa 1917. No other details but presumably located in Clipston or an immediately adjacent parish?

{2} An area east of the village, now the playing field, is depicted on 1901 2nd edition six inch OS map with multiple field boundaries present. Later maps show area cleared of field boundaries. The date at which this removal occurred is uncertain as the 1920s (possibly 1926/7) six inch edition has yet to be checked. Sports use of the site was not formalised until the 1950s. This area is thus a possible location for the landing ground.

{3} Entry for 1916: The War Office decided to make a landing ground for aircraft at Clipston. A body of Canadian soldiers were sent down, and within a week on the land between Clipston and Clipston station hundreds of trees were roughly felled. Hedges and ditches on the landing ground were also levelled. The ground was used probably only about five times: two of which were 29/08/1917 and 01/06/1918 when the ground was used for routine visits.

<1> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1901, Second Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (23NE), (unchecked) (Map). SNN108901.

<3> Fisher E.L., 1926, Clipston, (checked) (Book). SNN108900.

Record last edited

Jan 7 2020 9:42AM