Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Second World War Royal Air Force Station astride Thong Lane, Gravesend. This was a pre-war civilian airfield taken over for war service as a satellite for RAF Bigging Hill. It was enhanced with the runways and administrative buildings, living accommodation,aircraft dispersal points and fuel stores needed for RAF operations. The pre-war control tower was retained in RAF use. There were dispersed accommodation areas away from the airfield either side of the Watling Street at Cobham. The air field resumed civilian operations post war, but became a housing estate after 1956 and little remains of its structures. A commemorative plate is at the entrance to the Cascades Leisure Centre which occupies part of the site.

Monument Types

• MILITARY AIRFIELD (Destroyed 1960, Modern - 1939 AD? to 1946 AD?)

Full description

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Second World War Royal Air Force station astride Thong Lane, Gravesend. This was a pre-war civilian air field (also used for reserve service pilot training from 1937), taken over on the outbreak of the Second World War as a satellite station for RAF Biggin Hill. A variety of types of aircraft were based at the station, including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Defiants, Typhoons, Lysanders, Blenheim bombers, mosquitoes and others. The civilian air field was enhanced with the facilities which a military airfield required. These included Somerfield tracking for run ways, concrete perimeter roads with dispersal points for aircraft, fuel stores, administrative buildings, living accommodation, air raid shelters and anti-aircraft guns. The pre-war control tower continued to be used. Some civilian buildings in Thoing Lane were taken over for temporary living accommodation. Dispersed accommodation camps were set up outside the immediate area, on either side of the Watling Street at Cobham. After a resumption of civilian use in post-war years, the site was sold off in 1956 and became a large housing development, now known as the River View Park estate. Subsequently the Cascades Leisure Centre was built on part of the site. Nothing remains of the airfield, except some open spaces it once contained. There is a commemorative plate near the entrance to the Cascades Leisure Centre.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey : The air field is no longer extant but its former open spaces may be seen within the grounds of the Cascades Leisure Centre
Tourism Potential : It might be feasible to include a photographic display on the history of the airfield within the reception space of the Cascades Leisure Centre
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit : 02/02/06

F.R. Turner, Gravesend Airport 1939 to 1945 (ISBN 1901132-15-3] (Bibliographic reference). SKE14001.

F.R. Turner, Gravesend Airport 1939 to 1945 (ISBN 1901132-15-3] (Bibliographic reference). Ske14001.

Sources and further reading

Related records