Stag Lane Aerodrome

Stag Lane Aerodrome
Company type	Private airfield
Industry	Aviation, Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1915
Defunct	1933
Headquarters	Edgware, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom

Stag Lane Aerodrome operated as a private airfield from 1915 until 1933 in Edgware, located in north London, UK.

History

In October 1915, the London & Provincial Aviation Company (founded by Warren and Smiles – Michael Geoffrey Smiles of Bonnington passed away in 1921) acquired the land to establish an aerodrome. During the First World War, the site was utilised for pilot training purposes. However, London & Provincial halted flight operations in July 1919 following a disagreement with the Department of Civil Aviation (see United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority), which declined to grant them a licence.

By 1920, Stag Lane had become the principal facility for The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited, who secured ownership of the freehold in 1922. Initially, the company refurbished surplus military aircraft, and throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, they designed and manufactured numerous aircraft models at this location. In 1934, de Havilland relocated to a more expansive factory and airfield at Hatfield Aerodrome, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

The aerodrome was sold off for residential development in 1933, although a modest portion of approximately 15-acre (61,000 m²) remained dedicated to factory and office use by the de Havilland Engine Company Limited. The final flight from Stag Lane was conducted in July 1934 by a de Havilland DH.87 Hornet Moth, registration G-ACTA, by which time manufacturing operations had already transitioned to Hatfield.

British Telecom

In 1976, the GPO—which later became British Telecom—commissioned the world's largest international telephone exchange on this site. This was a temporary measure due to delays in completing their new facility at Mondial House. The exchange utilised Plessey "De Havilland" TXK2 and Ericsson "Mollison" TXK5 analogue switching systems. The installation ceased operations in 1988 as the analogue equipment became obsolete.

Aircraft built at Stag Lane

References

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