Long Marston Airfield

Long Marston Airfield was a Royal Air Force base between 1941 and 1954, situated approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) south west of Stratford-upon-Avon near the village of Long Marston in Warwickshire.

Long Marston Airfield
Summary
Airport typeCivilian
LocationLong Marston
Elevation AMSL155 ft / 47 m
Coordinates52°08′15″N 001°45′09″W
Map
Long Marston
Location in Warwickshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 0 0 Grass
04/22 0 0 Asphalt
11/29 0 0 Asphalt
16/34 0 0 Asphalt

It is now managed by Anthony Hodges, and is home to:

  • Second World War airfield buildings
  • Unusual F.C. Construction 'Mushroom' pillboxes
  • Microflights Flying School
  • Avon Microlight Club
  • Freedom Sports Aviation - club and flying school; Chief Flying Instructor Simon Baker)
  • MotorGlide - gliding club specialising in motorgliders
  • the Shakespeare County Raceway dragstrip
  • the Long Marston Clay Shooting Ground.

It is also well known as a venue for summertime music festivals, including Godskitchen Global Gathering, the Bulldog Bash, and the Phoenix Festival.

In 1981 the tv series Crossroads filmed there, ATV relocated the set of the Crossroads reception area to the Airfield to set light to it as part of the motel fire storyline.

In 1983 the Evesham Motorcycle Club hosted held the British Masters Grasstrack Championships at the Airfield.

Runways

Main runway, hard surface: 04/22 (of which the SW third is used as a drag strip)
Grass strip: 02/20
Disused runway, hard surface: 11/29 (buildings, Sunday market, etc.)
Disused runway, hard surface: 16/34 (used for aircraft movements to hangars, driver training, etc.)

History

The airfield was previously RAF Long Marston a Royal Air Force station used for training during the Second World War. The station closed during 1954.[1]

Future

On 26 November 2015, a Stratford District Council planning committee approved plans by CALA Homes to build 400 houses on the site, part of their proposed development scheme which aims to eventually feature 3,500 houses.[2] As a consequence, the remaining airfield buildings will be demolished, the runways and drag strip removed and the businesses will be forced to close or relocate.

References

https://grasstrackgb.co.uk/evesham-1983/

Citations
  1. "RAF Long Marston". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  2. "Green light given to plans for 400 homes on Long Marston Airfield". Stratford Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
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