The Blowick Aviation Ground (where was it exactly?)
During some recent research, I happened to stumble across several newspaper articles concerning what was referred to as the Blowick Aviaition Ground or Aerodrome as it was also known. Many of you will be aware of the Hesketh Park Aerodrome which of course was where Hesketh Road now stands, the section leading to the coast road between the Municipal and Hesketh Golf Courses; indeed, those of you that walk the area will be aware of the remains of concrete underfoot, just before entry onto the old 1892 embankment which runs through the Hesketh GC to Marshside Road and beyond and I am sure there is an information board in the vicinity too.
I won’t pretend here to be an expert on aviation history in Southport as I am far from it, but it must be known that our town and the surrounding area, does have a rich & interesting aviation history. Some of you will be aware of John Mulliner’s book, Sun, Sand & Silverwings, which tells the story from 1910 to 2003. In chapter one of the book, he mentions a ‘new flying field at Blowick’ and describes the site as being- ‘next to the Southport-Manchester railway line and close to the level crossing in Meols Cop Road’.
Harry Foster. in his 2012 book, Southport’s Inner Suburbs, also refers to the location provided by Mulliner, which, although there is accuracy in the description, the exact site still remained a little vague. Upon reading this at various times recent years, I have found myself scouring the excellent National Library of Scotland maps website, paying particular attention to the OS map surveyed in 1909 and published in 1911. When perusing the 25 inches to the mile scale map, what instantly jumps out is the large Southport Athletic Ground, now the site of Meols Cop High School & playing fields. The athletic ground opened in 1895, after the former ground on the site of Larch St/Sussex Rd & Hart St, passed into the hands of the builders in 1894.
But where in this vicinity was the Blowick Aviation Ground situated exactly? At which side of the railway line did it lie and how close to the level crossing? Other sources too, fail to provide an exact location. One source alluded to it being where the industrial estate is on Crowland Street. The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust website simply states- ‘location not known’. A recent YouTube video entitled Why did Southport have so many Airfields? appears to visually pinpoint the airfield as behind the present Meols Cop School site, but also audibly gives the same vague description as told in Mulliners book.
The Blowick Aviation Ground was an enterprise set by the Southport Corporation to celebrate King George V Coronation in 1911. During the summer months, aviation displays were scheduled to take place, led by the top celebrity aviator of the day- Claude Graham-White. The Southport Guardian reported on 21st June 1911 that the ‘Aerodrome at Blowick is rapidly approaching completion’ and was under the stewardship of the hon. ground director Leonard Williams. Fences separating fields etc had to be removed, ditches bridged across plus huge canvas hoardings erected at what turned out to be a whopping 55 acre site.
The report continued with the following sub-heading describing the site in great detail-
A Spacious Aerodrome: An Experts View
The Aerodrome includes the Athletic Ground and the ground of the Central FC in Ash Lane, together with the land between these two enclosures; on the Scarisbrick New Road side the two fields between the Athletic Ground and the temporary road constructed when the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show here have been enclosed; and on the Scarisbrick side, the two fields between the Athletic Ground and Fine Janes Brook. Canvas hoardings have been erected along the extension of Norwood Road, along the boundary of Fine Jane’s Brook; and along the Scarisbrick New Road side of the ground, and a fine enclosure, 55 acres extent is now prepared. The hanger, a structure 80 feet by 55 feet, capable of holding the two machines is located at the corner of the ground near Norwood Road.
Also, within the site, temporary racetracks were constructed to host ‘various sports events’ at what appeared to be a celebratory event on a grand scale. The Guardian continued with-
‘The Scarisbrick side of the enclosure is entirely reserved for the aviator, and in order to give him clear run for his take off, on starting his flight and a convenient area for alighting, a space 200 yards in length is provided without any obstruction, the ditches having been bridged over and the fences removed’.
Captain Delacombe, a leading authority of the Royal Aero Club inspected the site and rendered it quite satisfactory for an expert aviator such as Mr White.
So, it can be seen that the entire site encompassed what is now the whole of Meols Cop High School & grounds, the vast majority of the KGV college site, and Southport Football Clubs Haig Avenue ground. The mention of a temporary road is also interesting. The site of the Royal Lancashire show took place on the former show grounds, now the site of Falkland Road, bound by Everard Road, Southbank Road and the rear boundary of the properties on the inland side of Rutland Road. In 2024, I demonstrated that it was actually on this former show ground site where Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show rolled into town in September 1904, and not the Athletic Ground, as had been previously published.
The description of the hangar is also of great interest and suggests it would be positioned very close to the Athletic Ground. It would appear that the runway was parallel to Fine Jane’s Brook, which may suggest that the hangar was to the Fine Jane’s Brook side of the Athletics Ground, however, as I said earlier, I am no aviation expert. The map surveyed in 1909 shows which houses were present at the time within the immediate vicinity of the grounds, including the row of terraced houses on Haig Avenue sometimes referred to as ‘Railway Cottages’, due to the early occupants all being employed in some way on the railway.
The flying displays, which took place during June, July & August were of a mixed success- some had to be cancelled, often due to adverse weather conditions. Complaints were made as to the conveying of spectators via trams, which could not cope with the demand, and many folks opted to simply watch from the surrounding throughfares, bypassing the need to pay an entrance fee into the various areas within the enclosure. However, one thing is for sure, it was these early flying events which helped Southport firmly establish itself in the story of British aviation history.
Like what I do? You can show some appreciation for my work here- buymeacoffee.com/secretsandland
©David Walshe (Secret Sand Land) 2026
Books used-
Mulliner, J. (2003) Sun, Sand & Silverwings
Foster, H. (2012) Southport’s Inner Suburbs
Main online resources (others mentioned within the text)-
British Newspaper Archive
National Library of Scotland (Maps)
Comments