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Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, was once known as 'London Airport'. The airport was renamed in 1966, twenty years after its establishment, to distinguish it from other airports serving the city, such as Gatwick and Stansted. The name 'Heathrow' is derived from the ancient hamlet, 'Heath Row', upon which the airport is now built.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heathrow Airport |
| Previous Name | London Airport |
| Named After | The ancient hamlet of Heath Row, upon which the airport is built |
| Location of Hamlet | Roughly where Terminal 3 is now |
| Hamlet Characteristics | Farms, market gardens, orchards, Heathrow Farm, Heathrow Hall, Heathrow House, and Heathrow Road |
| Year of Demolition | 1944 |
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow Airport was originally called London Airport
Heathrow Airport, now one of the world's most popular airports, was originally called London Airport. The airport, which opened on 25 March 1946, was initially known as London Airport. It was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966, twenty years after its establishment.
London Heathrow was officially established in 1946 as London Airport, but its origins stretch back even further. Before the Second World War, the site was home to a private airfield, which opened in 1929 and was operated by UK aircraft manufacturer Fairey Aviation. Known at the time as the Great West Aerodrome, the airfield was situated near a hamlet known as 'Heath Row' on the outskirts of London. This small settlement was demolished in 1944 to make room for expansion work.
The name Heathrow is derived from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, upon which the airport is now built. The hamlet, which was largely an agricultural area, was demolished to make way for the development of the airfield. The land consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards, with a "Heathrow Farm," "Heathrow Hall," and a "Heathrow House." This hamlet was located along a country lane (Heathrow Road), which ran roughly along the eastern and southern edges of the present central terminals area.
The renaming of the airport in 1966 was done to give the airport a less generic name and to distinguish it from its counterpart in the south, Gatwick. The transition to 'Heathrow' was not the only name change considered at the time. The airport was allegedly almost named 'Swintonfield' after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. Despite concerns that foreign visitors and crews would have trouble pronouncing Heathrow, the name was adopted and has stuck ever since.
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The airport was renamed in 1966
Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport and one of the world's most popular airports, was officially renamed in September 1966. The airport, which opened in 1946, was originally known as London Airport. The name change came 20 years after its establishment.
The airport was renamed to avoid confusion with other airports serving the city, such as Gatwick and Stansted. As Gatwick rose in prominence, it became clear that 'London Airport' was too generic a name. The new name, Heathrow, was derived from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, upon which the airport was built. The small settlement was largely agricultural and was demolished in 1944 to make way for the development of the airfield.
The current location of Terminal 3 is said to be closest to where the centuries-old hamlet once stood. Heathrow Terminal 3 may be built on the site of the former hamlet, but the area has a long history that predates the airport. In fact, an archaeological excavation revealed the site of an Iron Age fort called Caesar's Camp, and the dig uncovered some 80,000 artefacts from over 9,000 years of human history.
The transition to 'Heathrow' was not the only name change considered. The airport was almost named 'Swintonfield' after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. There were concerns that foreign visitors and crews would find the name 'Heathrow' difficult to pronounce, but the name was ultimately chosen and has now been in use for over half a century.
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It was named after the hamlet it was built on
Heathrow Airport, originally named London Airport, was established in 1946. The airport was renamed in 1966, 20 years after its establishment. The name "Heathrow" is derived from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, upon which the airport is built. This small settlement was largely an agricultural area, consisting of farms, market gardens, and orchards. It was demolished in 1944 to make way for the development of the airfield.
The hamlet of Heath Row was located on the outskirts of London, along a country lane called Heathrow Road. The lane divided the hamlet, with the eastern and southern edges of the present central terminals area falling within the hamlet's boundaries. The current location of Terminal 3 is said to be the closest to where the centuries-old hamlet once stood.
The name "Heathrow" was chosen to distinguish the airport from its counterpart in the south, Gatwick. The airport was almost named "Swintonfield" after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. However, the name "Heathrow" was adopted to reflect the location's historical connection to the hamlet.
The site of Heathrow Airport has a long and fascinating history. Before the airport's construction, the land was used for various purposes, including market gardening and as a private airfield operated by Fairey Aviation. The existing aviation site, along with nearby farmland and the village of Heath Row, was requisitioned by the government in 1944.
The name "Heathrow" has become synonymous with London and is now one of the most famous airports in the world. The airport has undergone significant expansion and development over the years, with the addition of new terminals and improved transport connections to central London.
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The hamlet was largely agricultural
Heathrow Airport is named after the hamlet it was built on, which was largely agricultural. The hamlet was known as 'Heath Row' and was located on the outskirts of London. The land consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards. There was a "Heathrow Farm" approximately where the modern Terminal 2 is situated, a "Heathrow Hall", and a "Heathrow House". This hamlet was largely along a country lane (Heathrow Road), which ran roughly along the east and south edges of the present central terminals area.
The first airfield on the site of what is now Heathrow Airport was the Great West Aerodrome, built in 1929 by Fairey Aviation. The hamlet of Heath Row was demolished in 1944 to make way for the development of the airfield. The airport opened on 25 March 1946, initially as London Airport, and became known as Heathrow Airport in 1966.
The name "Heath Row" reflects the agricultural nature of the hamlet. The term "heath" refers to a type of landscape characterized by open, uncultivated land often covered by low-growing shrubs and plants. This type of landscape was once common in southern England, where Heathrow is located. The term "row" can have several meanings, but in this context, it likely refers to a line or row of houses or buildings. So, "Heath Row" could be understood to mean a line or row of houses or buildings located on or near a heath.
The hamlet of Heath Row was once a small, rural community surrounded by farmland and heathland. The development of Heathrow Airport transformed the area, bringing an influx of people and infrastructure. The agricultural landscape was replaced by runways, terminals, and other airport facilities. However, the name "Heath Row" persists as a reminder of the area's agricultural past.
The choice to name the airport after the hamlet it displaced reflects a recognition of the area's history and the significant transformation it underwent in the mid-20th century. The name "Heathrow" has become synonymous with air travel and has helped establish the airport's identity as one of the world's most famous aviation hubs.
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The hamlet was demolished in 1944
Heathrow Airport is named after the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, which was demolished in 1944 to make way for the airport's construction. The hamlet was largely an agricultural area, consisting of farms, market gardens, and orchards. It was situated along a country lane called Heathrow Road, which ran roughly along the eastern and southern edges of what is now the airport's central terminals area.
The history of Heathrow Airport dates back to the early 20th century. In 1929, the site was home to a private airfield known as the Great West Aerodrome, operated by Fairey Aviation. This airfield was located southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow, and it was this airfield that formed the basis for the modern-day Heathrow Airport.
As World War II came to an end, the British government designated Heathrow as London's new main civil aviation hub. The existing aviation site, along with nearby farmland and the village of Heath Row, was requisitioned by the government in 1944. The hamlet was demolished to make room for the expansion and development of the airfield.
The new airport, initially called London Airport, opened on March 25, 1946. It was not until 1966 that the airport officially adopted the name Heathrow Airport, reflecting the name of the hamlet upon which it was built. The transition to the name Heathrow was made to distinguish it from other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
Today, Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest and most famous airports in the world, serving over 2.5 billion passengers in its first 75 years of operation. The location of Terminal 3 is said to be the closest to where the centuries-old hamlet of Heath Row once stood.
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Frequently asked questions
Heathrow Airport is named after the hamlet of Heathrow, also known as Heath Row, on which it was built.
The airport was originally known as London Airport when it opened in 1946. It was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966.
The name was changed to Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
