Radford Aerodrome

My husband was born and bred in Radford. He remembers playing on the airfield that backed on to the Daimler in Sandy Lane during the 1940s. He would like to know if anyone knows any of the history of the airfield.

Incidentally Radford Aerodrome was used as a minor fighter base during 1914-15 to enable Daimler to get its planes in and out. Daimler made a range of military vehicles. More info here: I found this written on Barkers' Butts Final Year Book site Hope this helps you it's all I could find hope your husband finds it interesting, there was another site which was used as an aerodrome but they built the first council estate there Moseley Avenue way Coventry was one of the first to build council houses as a new project so as children had somewhere to play with gardens, shame this doesn't still apply for children to be able to play in their gardens in some parts of this city now.

Thanks Morgana, Alan found this very interesting, we will look at the Daimler website soon. You are quite right about children having nowhere to play these days. From the back of my husbands house he said he could walk across the fields for miles to the Daimler, he said they were great places to play. Mods note : Morgana's link to the Daimler website has since disappeared

You're welcome Tricia, hope he enjoys it, yes we used to be able to play on fields and have dens too, perhaps your hubby too had a den, my daughter is in a old weaver's cottage owned by Midland Heart which used to be Cash's with communal gardens, she asked could she put a little play house before she moved in as I had bought it my granddaughter for Christmas, they agreed she now recently had a letter telling her to remove it or they'll take it down, if kids can't play on their own little piece of turf where can they play, yet people's dogs can mess on the lawns preventing her to play on the front one, I am disgusted after Coventry was the first to build council estates with gardens where children could play but these big corporations come in and bulldoze our history out the window, or why put young families in such properties in the first place. I do know it's the council who decides who lives where perhaps someone ought to be employed who has common sense instead of employing within or who you know.

Yes Morgana, my husband did used to play dens on the fields. He also remembers football matches lasting all day; he says that he used to go in for his dinner and rejoin the game after. I agree with you about the lack of space for children to play. It's a shame that your granddaughter can't play outside in her playhouse, she would have lots of fun! Councils don't appear to be getting much right, do they Tricia

I thought he would have played in dens, yes footy used to last all day, also agree about being out all day playing we weren't allowed to stay in or to listen to gossip, we had pieces of land close by to play in quite a few places now they are built on. I was told the other day by a council worker it's not what you know it's who you know to get to work for the council and I know the jobs like in the hospitals have to be advertised but are already taken within. Most of the council people have no common sense as they have never known want and those that have, think they're above you with attitude.

I know there have been half a dozen general comments on the subject of Radford Aerodrome, but does anyone remember the 440 yards cinder running track which was there? When was it built? Why was a track built there of all places? On the occasions I used it, there were never any markings on the track, nor were there any pitches marked out on the grass and neither was there anything resembling changing rooms. I know Barkers Butts Girls School used it for their sports once a year [my wife told me!], did the Barkers Butts Boys School also use it?

Harrier, I wouldn't know where to look for the running track. There's four great views of the Radford area on 'Britain from Above'. They were taken in 1931, so they may not be of use for your 'track search'. I've linked one though, it may be of interest to you and others. Aerial View of Radford, 1931

I was involved in local football in the late 60s and 70s and Radford Aerodrome was a frequent venue for matches. The Coventry Youth League used the pitches there every week, and I do seem to recall there was a track there, although I cannot remember it being used. The pitches there were at the better end of the municipal venues, considerably better than places like Memorial Park, Hearsall Common and Coundon Hall Park. There were certainly changing rooms there. I remember them as a long wooden building with reasonable facilities. Radford was one of our preferred venues. I was also a referee and did some schools games there too. I don't know when it ceased to be used.

I need some help here please. A friend of mine has asked me to find out the route that the Radford Aero runway ran (hopefully with a map?). I am told that it will run to the Daimler but please bear with me as I know next to nothing about this. This is a chance for all you clever people to astound me with your knowledge. Thank you.

It wouldn't have had a runway as the kind of aircraft which used the aerodrome didn't require one! The aerodrome occupied the area to the north of the factory shown on this post-war map: Old-Maps.co.uk

Thank you very much for the extremely speedy response I have passed on the link and relevant information to my friend.

I can remember going to the aerodrome for a sports day when I was at Hill Farm Correctional Institute. I wasn't one for sport so I don't think I was picked for anything except General Humiliation. I had relations in Owenford Road and their garden overlooked the grounds. The last time I went over that way was as a quick way to the Foleshill Road shops, across the Black Pad. The Asian fabric shops are very good there.

I know this is rather stupid but could anyone tell me the exact location of Radford airfield during WW1.

I think it was at the bottom of Owenford Road next to the railway line, my grandmother used to live the just the other side of the railway in Marion Road, just off Kingfield Road, Alan H