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Brooklands Aerodrome

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Brooklands Aerodrome, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 202526 sources
Brooklands
Company typePrivate
IndustryMotorsport, Aviation
Founded1907
FounderHugh Fortescue Locke King
Headquarters
Weybridge, Surrey
,
United Kingdom
ProductsMotor racing circuit, Aerodrome, Aircraft manufacturing

Brooklands was a motor racing track and aerodrome located near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom, measuring 2.767-mile (4.453 km) in length. Established in 1907, it holds the distinction of being the world's inaugural purpose-built 'banked' racing circuit. Prior to Brooklands, several venues hosted automobile races, but these were originally constructed for other uses, such as horse racing; examples include the Milwaukee Mile (1903), Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville (1904), and Aspendale Racecourse near Melbourne (1906). Additionally, Crystal Palace, London featured a cycle track that was also utilized for motorcycle competitions. Alongside its role in motorsport, Brooklands became one of Britain's earliest airfields and evolved into the country's largest aircraft manufacturing hub by 1918. The site produced military planes like the Wellington and commercial aircraft including the Viscount and VC10.

The final motor race at Brooklands took place in August 1939. Presently, a portion of the original circuit is incorporated into the Brooklands Museum, which serves as a prominent museum dedicated to aviation and motoring history, as well as a location for vintage automobile, motorcycle, and other transport-related gatherings.

Origins

The creation of the Brooklands motor circuit was initiated by Hugh Fortescue Locke King, marking it as the world's first motor racing track specifically designed with banked curves. After the implementation of the Motor Car Act 1903, a nationwide speed restriction of 20 mph (32 km/h) was enforced on British public roads. At a time when nearly half of the global automobile production originated in France, concerns arose that Britain's emerging car industry would struggle due to the inability to conduct extended high-speed trials.[1] To address this, King engaged Colonel Capel Lofft Holden from the Royal Artillery to design the track, with construction commencing in 1906.[2]

To meet both speed demands and ensure good visibility for spectators, the Brooklands circuit was constructed as a 100 ft (30 m) wide, 2.767 mi (4.453 km) long oval with banking reaching nearly 30 feet (9.1 m) at its highest points. Additionally, a "Finishing Straight" bisected the oval, extending the total length to 3.369 mi (5.422 km), with 1.250 mi (2.012 km) of banked surface. At its peak, the venue could accommodate as many as 287,000 spectators.[3]

Due to challenges associated with applying tarmacadam on banked surfaces and the high costs of using asphalt, the track surface was constructed from uncoated concrete. Over time, this resulted in an uneven driving experience caused by differential settling of the material.

A distinctive feature running along the centerline of the track was a dotted black marking known as the Fifty Foot Line. Drivers could theoretically navigate banked corners without steering input by maintaining their position over this line.

The circuit officially opened on 17 June 1907 with a luncheon attended by most British automobile manufacturers. During this event, Mr Locke King—on whose property the track was situated—acknowledged Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Hugh Owen, Julian Walter Orde (secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland), and Colonel Holden as key contributors to making Brooklands a reality.[4] This was succeeded by an informal opening procession featuring 43 cars, including one driven by Charles Rolls.[5] The first competitive event took place on 28–29 June where three vehicles attempted to set a new world record for distance covered within 24 hours. The inaugural race meeting occurred on 6 July and attracted an audience exceeding 10,000.[6]

Inspired in part by developments at Brooklands,[7] the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed shortly thereafter and hosted its first race in August 1909.

The Mountain Circuit

The Brooklands Mountain Circuit comprised a brief segment of the course, measuring approximately 1.168 mi (1.880 km) per lap. This section extended from the Fork to the back of Members' Hill before looping back. Established in 1930, it was constructed using temporary barriers.

24-hour event

Just eleven days following the circuit's inauguration, on 28–29 June 1907, it hosted the globe's inaugural 24-hour motor race. Selwyn Edge led a team of three Napier vehicles, each specially adapted by D. Napier & Son, as they navigated the track. The groundwork for this challenge had been laid in 1906, and Edge undertook a dedicated physical conditioning regimen to prepare. His vehicle, designated "804," underwent significant modifications including a custom fuel tank, stripped-down bodywork, and a unique windscreen. To illuminate the circuit overnight, over 300 red railway lamps were installed, while flares delineated the track’s upper limits. Unlike his teammates—Henry C. Tryon/A. F. Browning and F. Draper/Frank Newton—who alternated driving shifts, Edge remained behind the wheel for the entire duration. Over the course of the event, he covered 1,581.74 mi (2,545.56 km) at an average velocity of 65.91 mph (106.07 km/h), surpassing the prior record of 1,096.187 mi (1,764.142 km) set at Indianapolis in 1905.

Female competitors were barred from participation for several years following this event. Notably, Dorothy Levitt, who was S. F. Edge’s principal driver and recognized as the first English woman to compete in a motor race in 1903 as well as holding the Ladies World Land Speed Record, was denied entry. Edge achieved a total distance of 2,545 km at an average speed of 106.06 km/h—a record that remained unbroken for seventeen years. The circuit hosted its first official race meeting shortly thereafter, on 6 July.

One-hour records

In 1912, George E. Stanley set a new one-hour record at Brooklands by riding a Singer motorcycle, becoming the inaugural rider of a 350 cc machine to exceed 60 miles (100 km) within one hour.

The milestone of covering 100 miles in one hour was first achieved by Percy E. Lambert at Brooklands on 15 February 1913, driving his 4.5 litre sidevalve Talbot. Lambert actually managed to travel 103 miles and 1470 yards (167.1 km) during that hour. Footage documenting this accomplishment is available at the Brooklands Museum.

Youngest driver to complete a lap at Brooklands

Ivy Cummings is believed to hold the distinction of being the youngest individual to drive a lap at Brooklands. In 1913, aged approximately 11 or 12, she started her father Sydney Cummings' vehicle while he observed aircraft and proceeded to navigate around the circuit.[8][9]

Distance records

During July and August of 1929, Violette Cordery and her sister Evelyn undertook a journey covering 30,000 miles in under 30,000 minutes (roughly 20 days and 20 hours) in a 4.5 litre four-seater Invicta. They maintained an average speed of 61.57 mph, earning Cordery her second Dewar Trophy awarded by the Royal Automobile Club.[10]

World War One

During World War I, Brooklands ceased motor racing activities as it was requisitioned by the War Office and repurposed as a military-controlled flying training facility. It quickly developed into a significant hub for the manufacturing, testing, and distribution of military aircraft.

Inter-war years

Count Zborowski with Chitty Bang Bang 1 at Brooklands, 1921

After extensive repairs to the track, racing recommenced in 1920. In 1926, Henry Segrave established Grand Prix motor racing at Brooklands following his triumphs in the 1923 French Grand Prix and the San Sebastián Grand Prix, both won driving Sunbeam Racing Cars, which had notable success at Brooklands under various owners. The inaugural British Grand Prix took place there in 1926 and was won by Louis Wagner and Robert Sénéchal, who shared driving duties in a Delage 155B. The subsequent British Grand Prix occurred in 1927, prompting enhancements to Brooklands’ facilities.

In 1930, the Daily Herald introduced a trophy for the fastest driver during an event at Brooklands. That year, Birkin competed against Kaye Don; Birkin drove a Bentley Blower tourer while Don piloted the Sunbeam 'Tigress' 4 litre, with Don securing victory at 137.58 miles per hour (221.41 km/h). Birkin later claimed victory in 1932 behind the wheel of his red "Monoposto" Bentley Blower No.1, recording a speed of 137.96 miles per hour (222.03 km/h).[11] This record remained unbroken for two years until surpassed by John Cobb driving the massive 24 litre Napier-Railton, which still holds the all-time lap record at 143.44 mph (230.84 km/h).

The British 1000 Miles Race was organised by the Junior Car Club in June 1932 and held over two days.[12] The event was won by Mrs E. Wisdom and Miss Joan Richmond[12] driving a Riley Brooklands 9.[13]

In the late 1930s, Brooklands also hosted massed start events for cycle racing, organised by the National Cyclists' Union, which prohibited such races on public roads. The track served as a filming location in 1939 for the Will Hay movie Ask a Policeman.[14]

A chapter set at Brooklands appears in Johannes V. Jensen’s novel Gudrun published in 1936.[15]

Racing activities ceased with the onset of World War II in 1939 as the venue was repurposed for military aircraft production. Bombing raids inflicted damage on the track, and a new access route to the Hawker factory was constructed from Oyster Lane. Temporary dispersal hangars were erected over other parts of the circuit.

1909–1914

Brooklands Aero-Club car badge

Brooklands ranks among the earliest airfields established in Britain. In 1908, Alliott Verdon-Roe conducted the initial taxiing and towed flight experiments of a British full-scale powered aircraft piloted by a British aviator at this site. The first officially recorded powered flight at Brooklands took place on Friday, 29 October 1909, when French aviator Louis Paulhan flew his Farman biplane. This landmark occasion drew a crowd of 20,000 spectators and marked the inaugural public aviation demonstration at Brooklands. Operating from a specially prepared area within the Race Track and housed in his own aeroplane hangar, Paulhan completed multiple flights over the subsequent days, reaching an altitude of approximately 720 ft (220 m) on Saturday and establishing a new British endurance record of 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 20 seconds on Monday.

By 1910, Brooklands had quickly evolved into a significant hub for aviation in Britain. That summer, Hilda Hewlett and Gustave Blondeau inaugurated the nation’s first flying school at Brooklands. Hewlett and Blondeau also founded their aircraft manufacturing firm, Hewlett && Blondeau Limited, initially based there before relocating to larger facilities in Clapham, London. Later that year, the Bristol Aeroplane Company launched its own flying school at Brooklands; its inaugural instructor and test pilot was Archie Low. Additionally, Roe established a flying training school on-site. On 20 January 1912, Vickers commenced a flying school with R. Harold Barnwell among its first instructors; over time, 77 students—including Hugh Dowding—received flight instruction until the school's closure in August 1914.

In February 1912, Thomas Sopwith opened his flying school at Brooklands. By June, he and several partners founded the Sopwith Aviation Company there, although their manufacturing facilities were located in Kingston upon Thames. Before the outbreak of World War One, other aviation innovators arrived at Brooklands, such as Prince Serge de Bolotoff, who attempted to construct a large tandem triplane within a shed in 1913. Companies like Blériot, Martinsyde, and Vickers later manufactured military aircraft at Brooklands, which had become Britain's largest aircraft production centre by 1918. Numerous flying schools operated before 1914, establishing the aerodrome as a key training facility during the interwar period.

World War I

With the onset of World War I, motor racing at Brooklands ceased as the War Office took control of the site. In 1915, Vickers Aviation Ltd established a factory there, transforming Brooklands into an important manufacturing, testing, and supply centre for military aircraft. Civilian flying schools either closed or consolidated into a single Military Training School, with flight instruction continuing through at least late 1915. Several Royal Flying Corps squadrons—including Nos. 1, 8, 9, and 10 as well as Reserve Squadrons Nos. 2 and 23—were formed or reformed and briefly stationed at Brooklands during the war years. Building on pioneering air-to-ground wireless communication trials initiated by a Marconi team from 1912 onwards, various RFC units conducted testing and training with airborne wireless equipment at the aerodrome. Notably, in 1915 Brooklands witnessed the successful transmission of the world's first voice message from air to ground via wireless.

Significant developments occurred within the Flying Village late in 1917 with the erection of three expansive 'Belfast-truss' General Service Sheds designated for a new Aircraft Acceptance Park (later known as No. 10 AAP). This facility managed assembly and testing operations for large quantities of newly produced aircraft and remained operational until early 1920.

Inter-war years

In 1931, Brooklands Aviation Ltd was established with Percy Bradley, Duncan Davis, Fred Sigrist, and Ted Jones serving as Directors. The company took charge of managing the aerodrome and enlisted the renowned British airport architect Graham Dawbarn to create the Art Deco-style Brooklands Aero Clubhouse, which officially opened its doors in May 1932. Alongside this, Brooklands Aviation operated the resident Brooklands School of Flying, which was incorporated as a limited company in 1931 with Duncan Davis and Ted Jones as Directors. The company also managed flying schools at Lympne, Shoreham, and Sywell Aerodromes during the late 1930s. The original pre-World War I Brooklands Aero Club was revived by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) in May 1930 under Percy Bradley’s management. Subsequently, the Brooklands Flying Club was founded by Brooklands Aviation in early 1933. Securing a War Department contract, Brooklands Aviation provided pilot training for the Royal Air Force and inaugurated No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School at Sywell on 10 June 1935, where a fleet of 20 de Havilland Tiger Moths was used for instruction. By 1937, an RAF Volunteer Reserve School was also established at Sywell, equipped with an additional 16 training aircraft. During the Second World War, Brooklands Aviation served as a contractor to the Civilian Repair Organisation, focusing on repairing various damaged aircraft types, notably Vickers Wellingtons. After ceasing RAF flight training operations in 1946, the company diversified into manufacturing plywood and glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) cabin cruiser boats designed by Alan Eckford, continuing this line of production until 1974.

The inaugural flight of the Hawker Hurricane—a fighter aircraft later instrumental in the Battle of Britain—took place at Brooklands on 6 November 1935.

World War II

During World War II, the site resumed its role in military aircraft manufacturing, producing models such as the Vickers Wellington, Vickers Warwick, and Hawker Hurricane. Extensive camouflage measures were implemented, including planting trees across parts of the concrete track to obscure the Hawker and Vickers factories from aerial observation. Despite these precautions, the Vickers factory suffered a severe bombing raid by the Luftwaffe on 4 September 1940, resulting in significant damage and nearly 90 fatalities among aircraft workers along with at least 419 injuries. On 9 September, five unidentified victims were interred in unmarked graves at Burvale Cemetery in Hersham; one was later identified as William E Hunt, aged 36. On 10 March 2016, local residents and supporters facilitated the dedication of permanent memorials to Hunt and the other four civilians by Reverend Martin Fletcher and Elmbridge Borough Councillor Mary Sheldon. Among those present were relatives of Eric S Powell, a Vickers factory worker who perished during the same bombing at age 26 and is believed to be one of the remaining unidentified casualties buried at Burvale.

Two days after this attack, the Hawker factory was also bombed and damaged; however, there were no casualties or significant interruptions to Hurricane production. On 21 September 1940, Lieutenant John MacMillan Stevenson Patton of the Royal Canadian Engineers displayed exceptional courage by leading a team that manually moved an unexploded German bomb away from the Hawker factory at Brooklands and into an existing bomb crater where it detonated harmlessly. For his valor, he was awarded the George Cross. The pivotal contribution of Brooklands to the Battle of Britain in 1940 is further detailed through exhibits at Brooklands Museum.

The Vickers factory at Brooklands

Following the September 1940 bombing raids on Brooklands, Vickers-Armstrongs’ Design Department—including notable figures such as Rex Pierson and Barnes Wallis along with several hundred staff—was relocated to a secret site near Burhill Golf Course east of St George’s Hill in Hersham. Meanwhile, their Experimental Department under George Edwards moved temporarily to Foxwarren on Redhill Road in Cobham, Surrey. Both relocated facilities played vital roles in developing the 'Upkeep' mine—commonly known as the 'bouncing bomb'—invented by Barnes Wallis and famously deployed during No. 617 Squadron RAF’s Avro Lancaster raid led by Guy Gibson against Germany’s Ruhr Valley reservoirs on the night of 16–17 May 1943.

Post-1945

Following the conclusion of the war, the circuit was left in a deteriorated state and was acquired by Vickers-Armstrongs in 1946 to continue operations as an aircraft manufacturing facility. A range of new aircraft models, such as the Viking, Valetta, Varsity, Viscount, Vanguard, 1-11, and VC10, were subsequently developed, produced, and delivered from this location.

In 1951, the creation of a new hard-surface runway necessitated the removal of a segment of the motor racing circuit's Byfleet Banking. This modification enabled Vickers Valiant V bomber aircraft to be flown out to nearby Wisley Airfield, which provided a longer runway and less urban encroachment compared to Brooklands. Wisley Airfield had been established as a flight test centre for Vickers in 1944 and remained in use until 1972, later operated by BAC.

The 1950s witnessed significant growth due to rising commercial success, culminating in the Vickers factory reaching its maximum scale by the early 1960s. This expansion supported the VC10 production programme and coincided with the site becoming the headquarters of the newly formed British Aircraft Corporation in 1960. During this period, substantial investments were made, resulting in numerous new constructions and modifications to existing buildings. Initially, in the mid-1950s, a new assembly hall designated 'B.1' was erected for the Vickers Viscount. This structure likely comprised several repurposed wartime B.1-type hangars alongside some T.2 hangars, reconstructed into a lengthy double-bay building running parallel to the runway.

By 1962, a spacious 60,378-square-foot (5,609 m2) flight shed was completed to accommodate the prototype VC10 airliner. A larger adjacent flight shed measuring 98,989-square-foot (9,196 m2) was added by 1964, probably ranking as Europe's largest aircraft hangar at that time. Locally, these hangars became known as "The Cathedral" for the larger one and "The Abbey" for the smaller. The extensive Brooklands facility continued to design and manufacture notable aircraft such as the BAC TSR.2, One-Eleven, and key components for Concorde.

However, setbacks emerged with the cancellation of the V-1000 transport project in 1955, followed by the Labour government’s termination of the TSR-2 programme in 1965. Additionally, underwhelming orders for both VC10s and Concorde contributed to a contraction of factory operations during the early 1970s. The site became integrated into British Aerospace upon its formation in 1977 and shifted focus towards manufacturing parts for other aircraft models. Despite this, closure was announced on 29 July 1986 and ultimately took place on Christmas Day 1989. The site's successor company, BAE Systems, continues to operate a logistics centre at Brooklands.

In November 2009, Brooklands gained television exposure through an episode of BBC’s James May's Toy Stories. In this programme, May undertook an effort to reconstruct the original circuit using Scalextric. The show documented his challenge of laying out the plastic track while navigating around numerous modern obstacles that now occupy the site—including a pond, a four-lane road, multiple houses, fences, as well as corporate campuses belonging to Sony and Procter & Gamble.

Brooklands Museum

Main article: Brooklands Museum

The Brooklands Museum Trust was established in 1987, with Sir Peter G Masefield appointed as Chairman, to document, study, conserve, and interpret the full history of the site. The initiative for the Museum arose following a well-received temporary exhibition about Brooklands held in 1977 by Elmbridge Museum in Weybridge. Supported by British Aerospace, Elmbridge Borough Council, Gallaher Ltd, and numerous committed volunteers, a 30-acre heritage area was designated in the northeast section of Brooklands, adjacent to the former Paddock and Finishing Straight. Since the mid-1980s, the Museum has hosted a variety of aviation, automotive, and other themed events. From 1991 until 2003, it also organized regular fly-in gatherings for light aircraft on the northern portion of the original tarmac runway, all managed by an entirely volunteer workforce.

Brooklands gained television exposure when it appeared in the 1990 episode titled The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim from Agatha Christie's Poirot, featuring Hercule Poirot investigating a crime involving a racing driver. The banked track was also utilized as a filming location for an episode of The Bill, where CID officers prevented an armed robbery culminating in a shootout. On 1 November 2015, Brooklands was depicted in an episode of the British drama series Downton Abbey, although the actual filming took place at Goodwood Circuit. Additionally, American automobile enthusiast Barry Meguiar, President and CEO of Meguiar's, showcased Brooklands on his Speed Channel program Car Crazy.

Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands

In early 2004, DaimlerChrysler UK Retail acquired the central part of Brooklands—including the hard runway and sections of the remaining circuit—and subsequently opened Mercedes-Benz World to visitors on 29 October 2006. This facility features vehicle test tracks incorporating segments of the original Campbell Circuit as well as an off-road course. It also houses a conference centre alongside extensive Mercedes-Benz showroom spaces.

Earlier efforts led by The Brooklands Society (an organization separate from Brooklands Museum) resulted in certain buildings—such as the 1907 BARC Clubhouse, the 1911 Flight Ticket Office, and the 1932 Brooklands Aero Clubhouse—along with various structures and remaining track sections receiving preservation orders beginning in 1975. These protections were reviewed and enhanced by English Heritage and the DCMS in 2002. In 2003, English Heritage commissioned DCUK consultants Terence O'Rourke to prepare a draft Brooklands Conservation Plan on behalf of DaimlerChrysler. To address growing conservation challenges, a Brooklands Heritage Partnership (BHP) was formed in 2010 as an informal collaboration between Brooklands Museum, Elmbridge Borough Council, English Heritage, and Surrey County Council. In April 2013, English Heritage (now Historic England) awarded a grant of £32,540 to enable BHP to engage professional consultants to research and produce an extensive reference document covering all aspects of Brooklands' heritage. A draft version of this document was made available for public review through Elmbridge Borough Council and Brooklands Museum between July and August 2017.

On 25 September 2013, the final flight took place for the last flying VC10 aircraft—a Royal Air Force K.3 tanker with serial number ZA147 (initially constructed as a Super VC10 airliner)—marking the conclusion of this model’s remarkable 51-year service life. Although this plane was scheduled for scrapping, its sister aircraft ZA150 was secured by Brooklands Museum on the previous day for preservation at nearby Dunsfold Aerodrome; it was delivered there by an RAF crew from 101 Squadron. This particular VC10 was the last one manufactured—first flown at Brooklands on 16 February 1970—and originally operated by East African Airways; it also represents one of the final complete aircraft produced at Brooklands—the last full aircraft built there being BAC 1-11 D-ANNO which first flew on 19 December 1970. The retirement of these two VC10s marked the end of a century-long era during which aircraft constructed at Brooklands served within British military forces.

Centenary

The Brooklands motor circuit marked its 100th anniversary on 16 and 17 June 2007. To honour this milestone throughout the year, Brooklands Museum organised a series of special commemorative events. Highlights included the reopening of the Byfleet Banking for the first time in nearly seven decades, a Formula One demonstration featuring a McLaren-Mercedes car driven by Gary Paffett in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz World, and a 24-hour slot car race celebrating S.F. Edge’s historic 24-hour drive averaging over 60 mph (100 km/h).

Legacy

Section of The Members' Banking, 2007

Brooklands Museum preserves notable aircraft such as a Vickers Wellington bomber salvaged from Loch Ness in 1985, the UK's first production Concorde, British Airways Concorde G-BBDG (c/n 202), and also owns the 40% scale Concorde replica "G-CONC." This model served as a gate guardian at Heathrow Airport for many years until its removal in 2007. Following restoration and repainting, it was installed at Brooklands Museum’s main entrance on Brooklands Drive on 29 September 2012 to perform a similar role.

The museum’s collection includes both civil and military aircraft like the Vickers Vanguard, Viscount 800, and Standard VC10. Most of these exhibits were either constructed at Brooklands or have strong connections to the site. The VC10, built and first flown there in 1964, served airlines British United (registration G-ASIX) and later British Caledonian Airways before becoming a VIP transport for Sultan Qaboos of Oman in 1974. After retirement on 6 July 1987, it was donated to Brooklands Museum by the Sultan’s Royal Flight.

Although driving on the Circuit is no longer possible, it remains accessible virtually through the detailed recreation in the 1999 PC and Dreamcast game Spirit of Speed 1937. Additional video games also feature Brooklands, while the museum’s Formula 1 simulator includes an accurate computer model of the pre-war race track.

In 2009, BBC Top Gear presenter James May revealed plans to reconstruct the entire length of Brooklands using Scalextric tracks and cars.[16] This ambitious project involved around 350 volunteers assembling an extensive Scalextric track that navigated ponds and roads while closely following the original circuit’s route. The effort set a Guinness World Record for the longest Scalextric track ever constructed, intended to replicate the original 2.75 miles (4.43 km) length but ultimately measuring 2.95 miles (4.75 km) due to detours around modern obstructions. The build was featured on BBC2 on 17 November 2009 as part of James May's Toy Stories.

In July 2009, BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow filmed episodes at Brooklands Museum,[17] which were later broadcast as two programmes on 10 and 17 January 2010.

Beyond the museum’s exhibits, several memorials honour Brooklands’ heritage. The 'Brooklands Memorial' was erected by Vickers-Armstrongs to commemorate the Motor Course’s fiftieth anniversary and was unveiled by Lord Brabazon of Tara in July 1957.[18] This striking concrete monument featured bronze lettering, a plaque summarizing the site’s history from 1907 to 1957, and was originally situated at the aerodrome’s northern end. Designated as a Scheduled Monument in 2002, it was later relocated east of the River Wey within the museum grounds to accommodate the Mercedes-Benz World complex opening in 2006. Although its original bronze elements were stolen during the 1970s, the plaque was recovered and is now displayed inside the former BARC Clubhouse entrance.

A separate memorial dedicated to Brooklands’ aircraft design and manufacturing legacy was created by British Aerospace in the late 1980s upon closing its final factory there. This consists of a large engraved acrylic panel located at the southern end of the old runway near Community Park and a children’s nursery. After years of neglect and overgrowth, it has recently been rediscovered and remains in good condition.

In the early 1990s, developers Trafalgar Brookmount Ltd commissioned an artist to create two substantial brown terracotta 'gate statements' positioned at Wellington Way’s eastern end and Sopwith Drive’s southern end. These artworks depict iconic images reflecting Brooklands’ pre-1940 history including the Napier-Railton, Vickers Vimy, and both former Clubhouses.

Prince Michael of Kent officially inaugurated a new Garden of Memories at Brooklands Museum in 1993. This garden features an increasing collection of commemorative plaques honouring individuals connected with Brooklands over more than a century.

The setting for much of J. G. Ballard’s novel Kingdom Come, published in 2006, is based on Brooklands.[19][20]

In February 2015, plans were announced for a multimillion-pound refurbishment of Brooklands.[21] Supported by a £4.68 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant, this £8.5 million Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project involved relocating and restoring the Grade II Listed Bellman Hangar from 1940 with an extensive new "Aircraft Factory" exhibition inside,[22][23] along with constructing a new two-storey Flight Shed housing archives and workshops below with another aircraft display hall above. Restoration work also included revealing much of the largely intact 'lost' section beneath the hangar floor along the northern part of Finishing Straight. The project concluded successfully and was officially reopened by Prince Michael of Kent on 13 November 2017.[24][25]

In addition, a new Conservation Management Plan for Brooklands Heritage Partnership was completed in 2017 with funding from English Heritage (now Historic England). This document established updated guidelines for preserving and repairing surviving sections of the historic race circuit where feasible. Further financial support from Historic England in 2018 enabled professional contractors to clear extensive undergrowth from much-neglected western portions of Byfleet Banking. By February 2020, Marks & Spencer and Tesco had overseen successful clearing operations removing leaves, moss, and weeds from Byfleet Banking's central section.

Notable individuals

Template:Sources Template:Colbegin

Sir Barnes Wallis (engineer)

Count Louis Zborowski(motor racing competitor) Count Theodore Zichy(pilot and motor racing competitor) Template:Colend

Gallery

  • Exhibits at Brooklands Museum
  • Vickers Vanguard - G-APEP
    Vickers Vanguard - G-APEP
  • Vickers Viscount 800 - G-APIM
    Vickers Viscount 800 - G-APIM
  • Engine from a Morgan three-wheeler
    Engine from a Morgan three-wheeler
  • The Napier Railton
    The Napier Railton
  • A record-setting bicycle
    A record-setting bicycle
  • A Napier Lion engine
    A Napier Lion engine
  • Concorde BAC Concorde G-BBDG on exhibit
    Concorde BAC Concorde G-BBDG on exhibit
  • Jackson Shed displaying historic Formula 1 vehicles including a McLaren MP4/6 showcar
    Jackson Shed displaying historic Formula 1 vehicles including a McLaren MP4/6 showcar
  • 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre with Vanden Plas coachwork. Originally fitted with Le Mans racing bodywork, it participated in the inaugural Double 12 event driven by its owner, H. N. Holder, alongside Henry Birkin, a prominent British racing driver of the 1920s and early 1930s.
    1929 Bentley 4½ Litre with Vanden Plas coachwork. Originally fitted with Le Mans racing bodywork, it participated in the inaugural Double 12 event driven by its owner, H. N. Holder, alongside Henry Birkin, a prominent British racing driver of the 1920s and early 1930s.

Footnotes

References

  1. ↑ "How Brooklands started". Autocar. Vol. 127, no. 3731. 17 August 1967. p. 43.
  2. ↑ "Birth of Brooklands". Brooklands Museum. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  3. ↑ A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of the Borough of Elmbridge Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Molesey History Archived 8 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Opening of the Brooklands Race Track, The Motor Cycle, 26 June 1907, p522
  5. ↑ The Brooklands Motor Track. The Times (London, England):Issue 38362, Tuesday, 18 June 1907, p. 4;
  6. ↑ Automobilism. The Times (London, England): Issue 38379, Monday, 8 July 1907; p 6;
  7. ↑ Fisher, Jerry M. (Oct 2014). The Pacesetter: The Complete Story. FriesenPress. ISBN 9781460245378. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ivy Cummings - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  9. ↑ "Commercial Times » The World's Largest Collection of Automotive Art" (in ქართული). Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  10. ↑ Template:Cite ODNB
  11. ↑ "Record Breaking at Brooklands 1920-1939". Brooklands Museum. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "J.C.C. British 1000 Miles Race 1932". classiccarcatalogue.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "1000 mile Brooklands". racingsportscars.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Ask A Policeman". IMDb. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  15. ↑ Template:Cite Q Pages 126–129.
  16. ↑ "May to attempt Scalextric record". BBC. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  17. ↑ Talbot, Charlotte (2 July 2013) [1 June 2009]. "Antiques Roadshow visits Brooklands". Surrey Live. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  18. ↑ Venables 2007, pp. 252–253.
  19. ↑ Le Guin, Ursula (9 September 2006). "Revolution in the aisles". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  20. ↑ Baker, Simon (23 September 2006). "Brooklands goes ballistic". The Spectator. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  21. ↑ "Facelift for Brooklands, birthplace of UK motor racing". BBC. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  22. ↑ Re-Engineering of Brooklands gets Budget Boost Archived 7 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine www.brooklandsmuseum.com
  23. ↑ Re-Engineering Brooklands Archived 21 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine www.brooklandsmuseum.com
  24. ↑ "BROOKLANDS MUSEUM". TFP. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  25. ↑ "Brooklands Museum | Restoration | Crofton Consulting". crofton.consulting. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named committee

Further reading

  • Beauchamp, R. H. (1984). 25 Years at Brooklands Track. London: Regency Press. ISBN 0-7212-0619-0.
  • Gardner, Charles (1956). Fifty Years of Brooklands. London: William Heinemann Ltd.
  • Lynch, Brendan (2009). Yesterday We Were in America - Alcock and Brown - First to fly the Atlantic non-stop. Yeovil, England: Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-8442-5681-5.
  • McSwein, Donald R. Brooklands Aircraft (1993 research paper, unpublished; copy available in the Brooklands Museum library).
  • Venables, David (2007). Brooklands - The Official Centenary History. Yeovil, England: Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-8442-5329-6.
  • Spooner, Nigel (2024). A History of Aviation at Brooklands in 100 Objects. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword Airworld. ISBN 978-1-52679-091-0.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brooklands.

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