Farnborough: Introduction

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The 24 foot wind tunnel (courtesey of FAST)




The 1911 portable airship shed in its original form (courtesey of FAST)




Scientists testing a delta wing aircraft in the transonic wind tunnel (courtesey of FAST)


Save Farnborough for the Nation

Farnborough, long famous for its air show, led the world as a pioneer of flying. The Royal Aircraft Establishment which grew to occupy 180 acres was nothing less that the cradle of flight in Britain and the spiritual home of aviation in these islands.

The purpose of this report is to focus attention on the historic core of the site - the twenty odd acres which must be preserved and made accessible to the public. If this core does not survive, with the wind tunnels and all the equipment inside, Britain will have betrayed its role as a pioneer of industrial archaeology and preservation.

Farnborough is needlessly at risk because of a failure by public authorities to protect it properly. If County Councils still had the power to designate conservation areas, then Hampshire would have probably drawn a protective line on the map long ago. As it is, Rushmoor dithers, focusing on new development and failing to recognise the contribution that historic Farnborough can make to the whole site.

This is not a call for the whole historic core to become a museum site. Of the dozen principle historic buildings in the historic core, the majority can be adapted in whole or in part to other uses - principally offices or other light industrial uses which will enable them to earn their keep.

If preserved and made accessible the historic core can become an attractive and lively urban village serving the thousands of people who will come to work in Slough Estate's sleek new American style business park. A restaurant and a few shops in the preserved aviation buildings will add an extra dimension to the whole site - a place people working on site could walk to at lunch time rather than driving off in their cars.

All major companies are looking for unusual places to hold events, receptions and launches. Few more dramatic venues exist than the 24ft wind tunnel.

Historic buildings are often seen simply as a problem. Here they represent a major opportunity to add value to the whole enterprise, acting both as a gateway and national landmark.

The historic buildings which must be open to the public are the 24 foot wind tunnel (which can be a restaurant or a space for commercial displays and event), the transonic wind tunnel, which must be preserved intact, though the upper floors could be let as offices, and R52, which houses the FAST collection and already forms a remarkable display.

 

Marcus Binney

President, SAVE Britain's Heritage