Monument record TQ 57 SW 232 - Early Aircraft Hanger and Test Track (Site of), Baldwyns Park, Old Bexley Lane

Summary

In 1891 Hiram Maxim, inventor of the Maxim Gun, moved to Baldwyns Park and gained permission to build a hanger to store and work on his flying machine and lay 1800 ft of track. From a photograph the hangar was retangular in shape with a pitched roof and two large sliding doors at the front leading to the rail track. It seems that it was constructed of wooden planks. The track and hanger were presumably removed when the site was taken over by London County Council and Bexley Hospital built. The site of the hangar was used to build the hospital's West Villa now also gone.

Location

Grid reference TQ 50805 72743 (point) Centred
Map sheet TQ57SW
County KENT
District DARTFORD, KENT
Civil Parish DARTFORD, DARTFORD, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

<1> RCHME, 1993, Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England: Compilation of Kent Hospitals Record Sheets, RCHME Report 1993 (Unpublished document). SKE6841.

<2> Miscellaneous Information of Harim Maxim's Flying Machine and Tests at Baldwyns Park, Dartford, Bexley (Miscellaneous Material). SKE12007.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Unpublished document: RCHME. 1993. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England: Compilation of Kent Hospitals Record Sheets. RCHME Report 1993.
  • <2> Miscellaneous Material: Miscellaneous Information of Harim Maxim's Flying Machine and Tests at Baldwyns Park, Dartford, Bexley.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Aug 21 2019 4:25PM