Just outside of Leysdown-on-Sea on Sheppey's east coast is Muswell Manor, or Mussell Manor as it is otherwise known. Here, the Royal Aero Club was shifted in 1909 and the Short Brothers, Frank McLean and others built two airfields on the lands nearby. Muswell Manor is today a private residence, with a bar inside, for the local campsite. Visitors are welcome and memorabilia inside the bar testifies to the aviation activities that happened on the manor's doorstep - literally!
2107 Isle of Sheppey Muswell Manor
The photograph that led to my researching this unlikely corner of aviation history. It is known as 'The Founding Fathers' and was taken on 4 May 1909. From left, standing: T.D.F. Andrews, Oswald, Horace and Eustace Short, Frank McLean, Griffith Brewer, Frank Hedges Butler, Dr W.J.S. Lockyer and Warwick Wright. Seated from left: J.T.C. Moore-Brabazon, Wilbur and Orville Wright and Charlie Rolls. This copy is on display at the Eastchurch Aviation Museum. There is a large copy on display at the FAA Museum at Yeovilton in recognition of these guys' considerable contribution to aviation.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch Founding Fathers
The entrance to Mussell Manor in front of which the previous photograph was taken. This leads into the bar.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Muswell Manor door
A memorial stone near the manor's entrance.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Moore-Brabazon memorial
The site of the former Leysdown airfield, which was built in 1909 and became RAF Leysdown. Nothing remains. The field at left was the flying field and there were buildings following the line of trees in the distance. This is looking away from Mussel Manor toward Leysdown-on-Sea. Because of their proximity to one another, people get Leysdown and Shellbeach airfields confused; they were two separate airfields established at around the same time.
2107 Isle of Sheppey RAF Leysdown site
This is the former site of Shellbeach airfield, where the Short Brothers built the very first production line of aeroplanes built under licence; six Wright Flyers were built here for export, three of them being bought by Moore-Brabazon, Charlie Rolls and McLean. The Founding Fathers photograph was taken on the Wright Brothers' inspection of the facilities built by the Short Brothers. The flying field was to the left of the green diagonal line stretching from left to right, with the factory sheds at middle background. There were buildings at the right next to the circular green patch. After it was discovered that the land at Leysdown was too swampy after a few aviators, including Rolls had spills in the ditches, flying activities were permanently moved to Eastchurch, a couple of miles away.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Shellbeach landing ground
The Short Brothers' statue outside Mussell Manor, with the former Shellbeach field in the background to the right. I took the previous photograph from the car park visible at the end of the line of powerlines. Direction wise, Leysdown airfield was behind where I was standing; the statue facing the campground and Mussell Manor out of shot to the right.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Short Brothers Memorial
The seaside resort of Leysdown-on-Sea is proud of its aviation heritage. The sign at the town's entrance.
2107 Isle of Sheppey Leysdown sign
Next, the historic dockyard at Chatham.