RAF Kenley - a rare chance to discover what is inside the Blast Pens
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 13. 09. 2023
- A trip to Kenley Aerodrome (always enjoyable) as part of the 2023 Open House Festival (programme.openhouse.org.uk/) where they opened up two Blast Pens, numbers 3 and 11. I now have the honour of being the first member of the public to see inside #3! đ
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#kenley #kenleyaerodrome #rafkenley #blastpen #shelter
Phil, You take me back to my very enjoyable teenage years living in England with your videos! The Hamsey Green to Riddlesdown walk was such a pleasure, I felt like I was walking along with you. Because of my father's job relocating back to the States, my parents and I left Kenley and moved back to the New York suburbs in the late summer of 1969. We had lived on Langham Dene which is less than a mile NW of RAF Kenley. In the 1960's, the Aerodrome was not open to the public. None of the recreational paths existed. It was just an abandoned, quickly becoming derelict, leftover property from WWII. There were no historical markers or monuments. And, most regretfully for me, the civilian gliding club was not in operation at the airfield when I lived so close nearby. I had to wait till 1979 before I flew my first inside loop and barrel roll in a single engine prop U.S. Navy T-34 trainer aircraft. I could have got a head start in gliders over the South Downs as a young teenager if what you have now at Kenley Aerodrome existed when I lived there. Last time I visited London was 1988. If I ever get a chance to return, I will be sure to give you a call before making the nostalgia trip to my teenage home.
Hi Edward, I thoroughly enjoy hearing stories like yours, and the fact that it makes a connection to a time long ago. New York will have certainly changed in that time, too! I am currently editing another walk in the Hamsey Green area, it is a very special place to me and lends itself well to nostalgia trips from both the creator and viewer perspective too. Please do get in touch if you come over, it would be great to meet up!
In 1964 and 65, The BBC had a weekly television program called "All our Yesterdays." It recounted what was going on exactly 25 years earlier week by week. It was an education in history for me as an eleven year old American to view the Pathe news reels of 1939 and 40, experience the politics and society of Britain at that time recounted as it actually played out, and know the visceral threat your parent's generation felt from the Nazis being on the other side of the Straights of Dover with the Luftwaffe over their heads. Americans' understanding of history has scant knowledge of the Napoleonic Wars, and WWII started for the American public on 7 December 1941. The concrete reality of the War and how recent it was, manifested itself in the hidden pillbox I found where Higher Drive turned into Cullesden Road 100 yards from my house. You ought to spend the whole day at the RAF Museum at Hendon NW9 and do a full video. It's well worth the trip and will be very interesting for all your viewers, both at home and Anglophils living abroad. "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when. But I know we'll meet again some sunny day."
@EdwardTBurke-pv3qr fascinating, I do plan a trip to Hendon. Duxford was great when we went last year. We are spending a few days in Hythe, Kent next month and will visit some of the historic locations in that area
Will have to visit
They are open again this weekend!
We had boys in our class (Caterham Valley County Secondary School) whose dad's were seconded to RAF Kenley.
Just remember an Australian boy and a Scottish boy đ
Have you done a series on Watson Ponds? I lived there from 67 to late 70âs. Always intrigued by the stories of the pond that was infilled but never seen any images. Supposedly big enough for full sized barges.
I will probably cover it in due course because I plan to film some of the areas that connect to central Croydon and have their own history but also I have given talks on the history of Croydon waterworks and this is also connected to that story
We used to climb the fence near the shooting range to collect spent cartridges - there was also a number of chestnut trees where we would collect the nuts to roast. Had to be careful not to get caught - it was scary fun in the mid to late 60. We would then cross back to the Common, get a fire going and roast the chestnuts. Had to be mindful of the common keepers!!
Sounds like great fun, we were all much more active in those days I think
Hmm! Impressive! And as always love the sympathetic sound track! I toured around Kenley aerodrome many years ago when I lived in Beddington just along from the Purley Way and the infamous 5 Ways junction where the Propeller pub was located, frequented by many a pilotđ back in the day no doubt! What surprised me more the the aerodrome and the resident glider club was the state of the RAF personnelâs accommodation and how it had been left to deteriorate especially given the lack of housing in the borough! Probably still owned by MOD who wonât release it! Any news on that Phil?????
Keep up the interesting work!
An Old Croydonian (retired!)
Hi Keith, the property was bought by a developer and they have planning permission to do a development that will retain much of the original structure, as I understand it. That said, it would be good to see some progress as it needs serious attention. Thanks for your kind comments!
Dubious memories of mooching about the airfield in the late 50s. Lots of aircraft carcasses to play with!
Sounds like a fun time!
Thanks for sharing mucker, ex forces myself.
Have you seen the recent one about the Canadians? Some incredible stories there
@@philswallow I will take a look my friend, I find the E-Pens rather interesting, along with the Battle of Britain as a whole.
Fantastic video. I had no idea these were by the blast pens. Great to see they are still around and not filled in. Would make great bat houses :) Was the second one, No 11 a different design as seemed no corrugated iron? Thanks for making and sharing. Never has so much been owed to so few, by so many.
Thanks mate, the shelters are built in to the rear of the pens with access from both the front and back. There are variations in design/dimensions but broadly they were constructed as seen.
Yes it would make sense to refurb whatâs there as the MOD accom would have been built to a good standard!
On another subject: have you done a walk around the Whitgift Almshouse on George Street on the Old Palace???? Iâm sure your subscribers would find it fascinating! In fact a snap shot of all the Croydon Alms Houses and potted histories would be great! I used to live opposite the one in Scarbrook Road in the 60âs and 60âs! It was kept immaculately, but sadly went downhill in the 70âs/80âsđ.
Iâm going to the Almshouses tour in Saturday as part of Open House, followed by a tour of the Town Hall building. Iâve been in part of Old Palace and keep looking out for a tour there. There are usually restrictions on filming in these locations which I do respect. Looking forward to seeing the Almshouses as I worked in the bank opposite for over four years in the 1980s so it will be great to see inside after all this time.
@@philswallow I was at the school next door to the Old Palace when the nuns were still teaching there! When we lost our ball over their wall we were to frightened to go an get itđ€Ł. You may, or may not, know that the Scar Brook, from whence Scarbrook Road got itâs eponymous name, fed into Our Lords Pond, which was used to supply the Old Palace with itsâ fish for Fridays!!! The Archbishop of Canterbury would,often stay at the Palace on his way up to Lambeth Palace! My school was the Parish Church School and is now part of the Old Palace school. We go to the Parish Church on high saints days and have a half day afterwards! But we had to have our 1/4 of milk before we went home! I usually went via Surrey Street market , always a hive of activity in the 50âs and early 60âs! Not the ethnic hotpotch it is now! After the mornings rush most of the market stall holders would be found in the Pub on the street, one of the oldest in the town I believe, or the betting shopâŠ.or bothđđ€Łđ. A lovely childhood for myself and two older brothers! The flyover blew the roots out of the community, and in a strange twist our house was compulsorily purchased to make way for the flyover and now they have built flats on the very same spot!!!! So that, after 60 years, is progressđ€Łđđ€Łđ€Ł.
Keep âem coming!
Regards, Keith
By all accounts, Old Town was quite something before the flyover came. Iâve got a talk on The history of the various Croydon Water Works and Reservoirs and Lauds/Scarbrook ponds feature in that (not in a good way!!) - I may bring it to film one day particularly as all the research is in my slide pack đ
@@philswallow The pump house behind Surrey Street we always referred to as âthe castleâ because like many Victorian edifices it seemed to hark back to the Arthurian legends, thanks mainly to the arts and crafts movement no doubt! We were always fascinated by the water tower in Park Hill park off Barclay Road!!! Oh, and the labyrinth of the 7 alleys behind Park Hill leading eventually to Lloyds Park!!!!!! Lots of scrumping opportunities there!!!
Great memories! Croydon is having it tough at the moment but itâs history is rich and thankfully much of it remains and is accessible.
Sorry Waddon Ponds