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Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome
A unique period aerodrome in the heart of rural Essex. This site gives an unrivalled insight in to the way of life of the Officers, Airmen and Airwomen who provided part of the nation’s home defence during the First World War. Now preserved for the nation as a living memorial to the original “Few” who took on the Zeppelins and Bombers of the Imperial German armed forces.

World War One
As a response to the threat posed by Zeppelin airship raids on the British mainland the War Office established additional Squadrons for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the aerodromes for them to operate from. Stow Maries Aerodrome was one of these new aerodromes being established in September 1916 on land acquired from Flambirds Farm as part of the new home defence of the British Isles. Along with its sister aerodromes of Goldhanger and Rochford, Stow Maries had the task of protecting the eastern approaches to London. No 37 Home Defence (HD) Squadron was formed initially at Orfordness Suffolk then transferred to the three new aerodromes, Stow Maries becoming home to ‘B’ Flight with ‘A’ Flight at Goldhanger (no longer in existence) and ‘C’ at Rochford (now London Southend Airport).Control of the Flights was conducted from the Squadron Head Quarters located in "The Grange" at Woodham Mortimer. The aerodrome was, and still is, set over a 79-acre site and it developed to consist of 47 buildings made from a mixture of brick and wooden structures. The brick buildings housing some workshops, administration, communications, the Messes (food halls) and accommodation for Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned ranks (Sergeant – Warrant Officer). The wooden buildings housed additional workshops, the Hangars and the Junior Ranks accommodation. After the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the first of April 1918, ladies of the newly formed Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) took up residence at Stow Maries Aerodrome. The WRAF worked alongside their male counterparts in clerical, domestic and transport roles with additional brick accommodation being built for them although only a few female civilian workers took up residence. The WRAF were all recruited locally and were bused in to the aerodrome from their homes and returned at the end of their shifts. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918 all three Flights of 37 Sqn were based at Stow Maries until March 1919 when No 37 Sqn moved to Biggin Hill aerodrome in Kent and all operational duties ceased. This was shortly followed by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919 which brought The Great War (WW1) to its conclusion.

Post War
With the drawdown of all branches of Britain’s armed forces post war only a few domestic aerodromes were needed by the RAF and the site was decommissioned in June 1919. Put up for disposal it was bought back by Mr Turner of Flambirds Farm. Unlike most aerodromes when returned to the plough, with the buildings pulled down and infrastructure ripped out, the brick buildings were retained to act as cattle sheds, grain and feed stores as well as garaging and storage for farm vehicles and machinery. Some of the buildings were also converted to become homes for the farm workers and their families. The wooden buildings were dismantled with the material being utilised for other uses or they were simply left to rot.

Preservation
With the site laying largely forgotten with many buildings having fallen into disrepair and a few demolished, in the late 1970s local historians and aviation enthusiasts recognised the importance of the site and set about attempting to preserve it. The Royal Commission for Historic Monuments (England) (now Historic England) conducted a survey of the site (date?) its report being published in 1997. In 2007 the site was acquired by a small commercial company who restored the engine and dope workshops for their business use. The new owners realised the importance of the site and with the local historians and a few volunteers began a programme to conserve the remaining buildings. In 2010 a small memorial was built to honour the 37 Sqn aircrew who lost their lives whilst operating from all three aerodromes. In August 2012 Government approval was given for all remaining 24 buildings to be listed as Grade 2. When the site was put up for sale again in late 2012 a campaign was launched supported by Essex County Council and Maldon District Council with the aim to acquire it for the nation. This was successful and the completion of the sale in December 2013 by the charity Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Ltd with support from Historic England and the two councils ensures its long-term preservation.

Uniqueness
Many of the buildings are unique as they were not adapted for further military use post war. All other examples around the country having perished over time due to their single course of brick construction. Functionality for the duration of the war was the requirement of these buildings. This gives Stow Maries the largest known group of original RFC buildings on a WW1 aerodrome anywhere in the UK.

Wildlife
In addition to the historic importance of the site there is also a fascinating variety of flora and fauna including all five species of British Owl, a rarity in one location, along with an additional 22 red listed birds which have been sighted. This is largely due to the site lying dormant during the years following closure and with the majority of it being preserved as open grassland with woodland on two sides. All of the building restoration work is being delivered within a Site Biodiversity Conservation plan, in conjunction with the Essex Wildlife Trust and the Hawk and Owl Trust.

New use
Of the nine buildings currently restored two house museums, the first is the Home Defence Museum which was opened in 2016. The B Flight administration offices house the second museum focusing on the men and women of No 37 (HD) Sqn at Stow Maries, being opened in May 2017 by the Duke of Gloucester. The Pilots Ready Room located next to the flight line is again used by resident and visiting pilots as well as two of the rooms being displayed as they would have been in 1918. The last room now houses the flight simulator for WW1 AHT. Also, the Airmans Mess has returned to its foodie origins as well as doubling as a lecture hall. The other restored buildings are in the process of becoming additional museums or in the case of the Royal Engineer (RE) building it is to be a centre of technical learning supporting local schools and colleges in STEM subjects.

Aeroplanes
The site houses a number of replica aeroplanes several on loan from various collections.

Bleriot XI – Bianchi Collection

Morane-Saulnier N – Bianchi Collection

Sopwith Camel – Bianchi Collection

Fokker E.III – Bianchi Collection

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 (BE2e) – TVAL via WW1 AHT

Nieuport 17 – Privately owned

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 7/8 scale (flying) – privately owned

Sopwith Pup – SMGWA (non-flying)

Airco DH.2 7/8th scale – SMGWA (under construction non-flying)

Vehicles
Included in the collection are three period vehicles, two replicas which were used in the film “Oh What a Lovely War” and an early example of an Electric Lorry, although built in the early 1920s it is to a pre-Great War design.

Associates
The museum is supported by several other collections which have loaned objects for display. The original Great War aero engines seen in the Home Defence Museum have been loaned by Herr Oliver Wolf from his collection in Bonn, Germany, and consist of two examples of rotary 9 cylinder engines, a Le Rhone and a Clerget plus a Wolseley Viper V8. Herr Wolf has also loaned a few (deactivated) machine guns as used on the aeroplanes of the period. A good friend to the site is WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust Ltd (WW1 AHT) which has provided a valuable historic input and through links with The Vintage Aviator Ltd (TVAL) three replica aeroplanes. These consist of a Sopwith 7F1 Snipe, RAF BE2e and Albatros DVa (German fighter). Negotiations are on going to provide additional and different aeroplanes from the same source. Another supporter and friend to SMGWA is Bianchi Aviation Film Services (BAFS) who have loaned some of their replica aeroplanes as used in many feature films along with original and replica uniforms, deactivated and replica weapons, examples of doped fabric and models.

Trustees
The aerodrome is administered by the charity Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Ltd which is overseen by a board of trustees who make contact with patrons and potential patrons to ensure that funds are forthcoming, allowing the site to progress toward the ultimate goal of complete restoration.

Volunteers
Looking after the site and museums are a team of dedicated volunteers who are divided in to groups and given the RFC/RAF title of “Flights” and subsequently sub divided in to small “Sections”. “C” Flight (Curatorial) is responsible for the museums and all objects displayed as well as those retained in storage awaiting display which are looked after by the Objects Section. This Flight also has the small Photographic Section along with the Armoury Sect, the Guides/Explainers Sect and the Research Sect. “E” Flight (Estates) is also divided in to sections and consists of Buildings Sect ensuring all aspects of the building preservation work is carried out in a timely and accurate manner. Grounds Sect attend to the groundworks including drainage, access routes, parking, the woodland and meadow areas also making sure the whole site is to a highly presentable condition for the visitors. Many of E Flight consist of qualified tradesmen whose expertise is invaluable. “R” Flight (Retail) is responsible for ticket sales and the site shop and as such are the first point of contact the visitors have with the site. “M” Flight (Mess) provides hot and cold refreshments for the visitors in the original Airmans (Junior Ranks) Mess giving an extra experience and an additional brush with history.

Official website
www.stowmaries.org.uk