Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome

About

Originally opened in 1916 as home to B Flight of No 37(HD) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, the aerodrome saw the birth of the Air Defence of Great Britain in response to the first raids by Zeppelins and Gotha bombers on London and the South East. It played a key role in the Battle for Britain (the first London Blitz) the following year. It was at Stow Maries that No 37 Squadron transitioned from the Royal Flying Corps to the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. It continued in its dedicated role until Spring 1919 – when the RAF closed its doors forever.

The site reverted to Flambirds Farm and its age-old farming role. The existing buildings were repurposed or converted to residential and agricultural use and the airfield turned over to pasture.

Following its re-discovery by a private concern, the site was designated a conservation area in 2009 and in 2012 all 23 surviving buildings were listed Grade II*. Because of the site’s condition and importance, it was included on the English Heritage “Buildings at Risk Register” in the same year.

The site has significant natural heritage value and is in Natural England’s Higher Level Environmental Stewardship scheme. Ponds and a meadow have been created and the land supports declining farmland species such as brown hare, corn bunting, yellowhammer and a variety of owls, including barn owls and wintering short-eared owls.

The site is an accreddited museum,  boasting a number of award-winning exhibtions housed in original buildings. These cover a wide range of topics from early military aviation to the early wireless technology, including much of the social history and politics of the time.

A shop, all run by volunteers, sells novel gifts and goods that spark interest and nostalgia. . Alongside a bustling flying events program, the site works with regional and national funders on its learning and education programs for all manner of topics – including, but nor restricted to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Conservation and Heritage Construction.

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Winner of Queens Award for Volunteering Service 2019