Monument record TR 06 NW 1078 - Leysdown (Shellbeach) Airfield, Isle of Sheppey, Kent

Photographs (1-7).

Leysdown (Shellbeach) Airfield, recognised as the first flying field in Kent to be prepared as such, it may even lay claim to the title of first aerodrome in Britian. The Short brothers were based here building Short Wright planes (under licence from the Wright brothers) until they moved to Eastchurch in 1910 (see TQ 96 NE 1000). It was also home to the Royal Aero Club, who used Mussel Manor as a clubhouse (see TR 06 NW 1015). The flying field's buildings consisted of new corrugated iron clad sheds and a number of old cottages near the Coastguard station were converted for members. The less than ideal terrain at Shellbeach prompted the aviation pioneers to move to Eastchurch (see the early airfield record TQ 96 NE 1000). During World War One the Field served as an emergency landing strip, until 1917 when it was redeveloped as an aerodrome. With new buildings and aircraft from Eastchurch a new unit was formed known as the Pilot and Observers Aerial Gunnery and Aerial Fighting School (se area), on April 1st 1918 (the date the RAF was formed); bombing and gunnery ranges had been established off shore in 1917. The School was closed in 1919, although a station was kept on to adminster the ranges off coast and to maintain an emergency landing strip for Eastchurch (see the later airfield record TQ 96 NE 41). This strip was particularly busy during World War Two. After the war the airfield remained Ministry of Defence property, although parts of it including the Manor were released, until the site was finally cleared by 1978 and disposed of in 1981 [8].

The Wessex coastal survey placed the early flying field south of Mussel Manor. This does not tally with the map or AP evidence and their monument points have been deleted and the sources amalgamated with this record [9-12].

The site of a First World War airfield at Leysdown (Shellbeach). An airfield had originally been built on the site in 1909 next to the Short Brothers aircraft factory, however in 1917 Leysdown was developed into a military training airfield. After the First World War it remained under military ownership and between 1932 and 1937 it was a satellite for the Air Armament School. The airfield continued to be used in the Second World War as part of the coastal ranges and it remained a military site until it was decommissioned in 1981.
The First World War site consisted of a number of buildings including two Bessonneau hangars and it housed various aircraft when the Gunnery School at the nearby Eastchurch base was transferred to Leysdown. In 1918 this unit became the Pilots & Observers Aerial Gunnery and Aerial Fighting School, which was replaced later that year by the Marine Observers School. This soon closed and the airfield was used to administer the local coastal ranges and as an emergency landing airfield. (13)

<01> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10217.

<02> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10211.

<03> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10210.

<04> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9947.

<05> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9593.

<06> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9503.

<07> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9450.

<08> Ashword, Chris, 1985/1990, Action Stations 9: Military Airfields of the Central South & South East (Monograph). SKE8330.

<09> Barnes, C. H., Shorts Aircraft since 1900 (Bibliographic reference). SWX9264.

<10> Anon, 1919, Short Brothers: Sheppey, Leysdown (Photograph (Print)). SWX9288.

<11> Anon, 1919, Short Brothers: Sheppey, Leysdown showing landing strip (Photograph (Print)). SWX9287.

<12> Anon, c.1919, Mussel Manor and Shellness showing landing area (Photograph (Print)). SWX9286.

<13> 2005, THE MILITARY AIRFIELDS OF BRITAIN; SOUTHERN ENGLAND, KENT, HAMPSHIRE, SURREY AND SUSSEX (Unspecified Type). SWX21105.