'Old' names for British airports
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From: London
'Old' names for British airports
The ones I can remember... Ringway (Manchester), Speke (Liverpool), 'London Airport'... wasn't Gatwick called 'Croydon Airport' ?
Any idea where the 'non city' names came from? e.g. Ringway?
Any idea where the 'non city' names came from? e.g. Ringway?
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From: Wet Coast
Croydon was a separate airfield, located in er.. Croydon.
Most were named after the nearest village.
Aberdeen - Dyce
Edinburgh - Turnhouse
Newcastle - Woolsington
E.Midlands - Castle Donington (Derby - Burnaston before that)
Birmingham - Elmdon
Coventry - Baginton
Bristol - Lulsgate
Cardiff - Rhoose
can't remember any more
Most were named after the nearest village.
Aberdeen - Dyce
Edinburgh - Turnhouse
Newcastle - Woolsington
E.Midlands - Castle Donington (Derby - Burnaston before that)
Birmingham - Elmdon
Coventry - Baginton
Bristol - Lulsgate
Cardiff - Rhoose
can't remember any more
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Scotland
OK, thats 3 old names for Glasgow, including mine.
If the Abbot could only muster 1 inch, then no wonder they changed the name!!
I'm happy to stand corrected, if anybody else can confirm which is right. Maybe they all were/are.
Answers on a postcard to.....:confused
If the Abbot could only muster 1 inch, then no wonder they changed the name!!
I'm happy to stand corrected, if anybody else can confirm which is right. Maybe they all were/are.
Answers on a postcard to.....:confused
Last edited by Jockflyer; 20th April 2002 at 23:36.

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From: UK
AFAIK, the 'old name' for the present Glasgow Airport is 'Abbotsinch'. Nearby 'Renfrew Airport' had been used for scheduled air services, but it lacked the space to cope with the increase in air travel in the 1950s. Services were therefore moved to Abbotsinch, which was renamed Glasgow Airport, and Renfrew eventually closed in 1966. I believe it is now the site of a retail park.
None of the above, of course, to be confused with Glasgow (Prestwick) Airport !!!
None of the above, of course, to be confused with Glasgow (Prestwick) Airport !!!
Last edited by spekesoftly; 21st April 2002 at 00:37.
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From: Middle East / UK
Abbotsinch was the correct old name for Glasgow International. I believe it still says ABBOTSINCH in the grass to the left of rwy 23. The site of Renfrew airport's runway, is now part of a large straight portion of the M8 which passes the David Lloyd centre. Hillington was never the name of any of the 2 airports. (As far as I am aware.)
Incidently, Abbotsinch was an RAF base during WWII home to 602 (Glasgow) Squadron. You can still see some of the old buildings belonging to the base. They are now largely outwith the boundry of the existing airport,m on the western edge, but if you travel along the perimiter road towards Erskine, you will see them on your left.
Eff Oh
Incidently, Abbotsinch was an RAF base during WWII home to 602 (Glasgow) Squadron. You can still see some of the old buildings belonging to the base. They are now largely outwith the boundry of the existing airport,m on the western edge, but if you travel along the perimiter road towards Erskine, you will see them on your left.
Eff Oh
Last edited by Eff Oh; 22nd April 2002 at 17:05.
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From: Alba sor
Renfrew airport had a magnificent terminal building and modern (for its time) control tower. The Tesco supermarket at Renfrew now stands on the actual site of the terminal. The M8 when it was built in the late 60's cut through the old runway location, but there are hangers from Renfrew still visible in the Hillington area.
A visit to the supermarket is worth it to see the painting Tesco commisioned of the original terminal building, lovely painting and a superb building. Glasgow Airport also have scale models of both Renfrew & Abbotsinch.
A visit to the supermarket is worth it to see the painting Tesco commisioned of the original terminal building, lovely painting and a superb building. Glasgow Airport also have scale models of both Renfrew & Abbotsinch.
Last edited by Meeb; 22nd April 2002 at 19:39.


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From the memory banks
Try these
Coventry - Baginton
Leeds/Bradford - Yeadon
Teeside - Middleton St. George
Newcastle - Woolsington
Barrow - Walney Island
Chester - Hawarden
Wolverhampton International - Halfpenny Green
Bristol - Lulsgate Bottom (Yes it was!)
I could go on but my anorak is getting a bit hot......
Coventry - Baginton
Leeds/Bradford - Yeadon
Teeside - Middleton St. George
Newcastle - Woolsington
Barrow - Walney Island
Chester - Hawarden
Wolverhampton International - Halfpenny Green
Bristol - Lulsgate Bottom (Yes it was!)
I could go on but my anorak is getting a bit hot......
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From: SURREY, U.K.
If memory serves me correctly, I believe Heathrow and Gatwick were named after their respective villages. Hounslow Air Park was a separate place, along with Heston Airpark, and Kenley Air Park, which later became RAF Kenley (Now the home of 615 Volunteer Gliding School). Chichester/Goodwood was previously RAF Westhampnet, and London Stansted is named for the local village, Stansted Mountfitchet.
Tailwinds
Tailwinds
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From: Brighton, MI, USA
I can tell that this has to be the place to ask these two questions:
1) Does Sherburn-in-Elmet airfield still exist, and if so can anyone provide some form of directions? Searching a bit hard from this side of the pond.
2) Is there yet any evidence of the airship station at Howden in Yorkshire?
Thank you muchly.
llater,
llamas
1) Does Sherburn-in-Elmet airfield still exist, and if so can anyone provide some form of directions? Searching a bit hard from this side of the pond.
2) Is there yet any evidence of the airship station at Howden in Yorkshire?
Thank you muchly.
llater,
llamas



