Greenhill Camp airfield 1917-1919

[Postal Historian]

Can anyone point me towards any into about Greenhill Camp? This was active as an airfield during the 1917-1919 period. It later became known as Coal Aston Aerodrome.

[RLongden]

I take it you've already seen the photos on Picture Sheffield?

Picture Sheffield - Coal Aston Aerodrome

More aerial pictures on Britain from Above

Britain from Above - Coal Aston Aerodrome

 

[Edmund]

Archives ref 523/3 described as:

In August 1919 a successful air exhibition was held at Coal Aston. It was later reported that the aerodrome was to be sold. A conference of local manufacturers was held to discuss the Air Ministry's offer to sell the Aerodrome. Powers were granted in the 1920 Sheffield Corporation Act to buy the site. However the plans came to nothing when in 1922 the government decided that it was not going to grant financial assistance to local authorities to develop civil aviation facilities

The Sheffield archives holds ref no CA648 described as:

City of Sheffield Municipal Aerodrome Site, comprising: Report by Sir Alan J. Cobham, K.B.E. on An Examination of all land in the vicinity of Sheffield with notes on sites having possibilities and recommendations as to the best possible site for development as a municipal aerodrome; Supplemental report by Sir Alan J. Cobham, K.B.E., on the development of Coal Aston Airport Site, 2 Feb 1931; The Estate Surveyor's, Report on the further acquisition of land and estimate referred to in Sir Alan Cobham Report of 2 Feb 1931; City Treasurer’s Report on Expenditure involved in development of Aerodrome Site at Coal Aston 20 Jul 1931

Further items at the Archives iclude:

CA670/7: Copy statement of views of the Air Ministry on the undermentioned sites [Coal Aston and Todwick] that have been suggested for a municipal aerodrome for Sheffield

CA621: Correspondence and papers relating to powers under the 1920 Sheffield Corporation Bill for the Corporation to run a municipal aerodrome and the purchase of Coal Aston Aerodrome

CA647/32: Report of a meeting between the Town Clerk, City Surveyor and representatives of the Air Ministry regarding Coal Aston Aerodrome

Some newspaper articles:

 

[lysander]

Sheffield had two landing sites during WW1...Redmires and Coal Aston. The latter had a detachment of the RNAS based there as well as A flightno.33 squadron RFC...tasked with nocturnal sorties as part of the anti-Zeppelin defences....but was mainly engaged in training. With the signing of the armistice in 1918 the aerodrome was used for the storage of aircraft and became No.2 ( Northern) Aircraft Depot. ( the first aircraft be stored hadn't flown in but had travelled by road and rail). Flying weeks were held throughout the 1920's and a Vickers Vimy ...the type which had successfully flown non-stop across the Atlantic made a flight to London in 95 minutes. Sir Alan Cobham and his "flying circus" paid several visits and it was he who following a letter from the Air Ministry suggesting to the Corporation that they should consider opening a civil airfield was tasked with the job of finding a suitable site.

This he did and chose Coal Aston out of a list of nine possibilities. The Corporation made compulsory land purchases but in the end ( as so very often) gave up on the idea and the land was chosen to be the site of Sheffield's southern hospital. In the end, housing took priority.

[southside]

At least one of the Hangar type buildings was still in use in the late 50s early 60s !

Motor dealer Shukers  used one of the hangars for repairing commercial vehicles,  we would stop and watch the panel beaters at work as we made our way to Jordanthorpe School.

 

[Old rider]

Coal Aston Airport is still there and is used by light aircraft weekend fliers. There is even an old Tiger Moth that flies over my house towards the landing strip. It is right on the top above the road leading to Apperknowle, In fact Apperknowle would be a better description of the site than Coal Aston. A friend was considering removing a tree in his garden a couple of years ago but was asked not to because the pilots used it as an aid to finding the grass landing strip. See attached picture.

[lysander]

Sheffield had two landing sites during WW1...Redmires and Coal Aston. The latter had a detachment of the RNAS based there as well as A flightno.33 squadron RFC...tasked with nocturnal sorties as part of the anti-Zeppelin defences....but was mainly engaged in training. With the signing of the armistice in 1918 the aerodrome was used for the storage of aircraft and became No.2 ( Northern) Aircraft Depot. ( the first aircraft be stored hadn't flown in but had travelled by road and rail). Flying weeks were held throughout the 1920's and a Vickers Vimy ...the type which had successfully flown non-stop across the Atlantic made a flight to London in 95 minutes. Sir Alan Cobham and his "flying circus" paid several visits and it was he who following a letter from the Air Ministry suggesting to the Corporation that they should consider opening a civil airfield was tasked with the job of finding a suitable site.

This he did and chose Coal Aston out of a list of nine possibilities. The Corporation made compulsory land purchases but in the end ( as so very often) gave up on the idea and the land was chosen to be the site of Sheffield's southern hospital. In the end, housing took priority.

[lysander]

Sorry, but the original airfield at Coal Aston is nowadays largely under the Jordanthorpe housing development... as I indicated.

 The site you are referring to is known as Coal Aston and, as you rightly stated, is actually nearer Apperknowle. The site is owned by a local farmer from whom, the last I heard, needed to give permission to land...and to move a few cows when required (?). Originally used by United Steels the landing strip was, some 30 years ago, suspected, for a time, of being used for smuggling and a local pub landlord was asked by Customs and Excise to report movements . Its current designation is EGCH and, as a matter of interest, I flew from the airstrip, by helicopter, around 1990 and, as far as I know, traffic is very light at best...but I left the area over 15 years ago...so it may have become busier.

There are a number of Tiger Moths based at the Sheffield Aero Club in Netherthorpe( EGNF) and one regularly takes a paying passenger ( complete with leather flying jacket, helmet and goggles) over Derwent Dams... for a fee!

 

[boginspro]

You just pipped me to it lysander  Greenhill camp would have been the large Coal Aston Aerodrome which was situated off Dyche Lane and not far from the Norton Hotel. Picture (c) Picture Sheffield ------------      http://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s15316&pos=23&action=zoom&id=18097

Other links here    --------       http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw020382?keyword=11669&ref=75

and here   -------------         http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/coal-aston-i-greenhill-sheffield/

[madannie77]

1924 6-inch map showing the aerodrome, although very little of what was a very large site seems to remain.

Some more info and maps at http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/5642-coal-aston-aerodrome-and-alcock-and-brown/#comment-34747