Owais Crawford
Heathrow Airport, now the world's busiest international airport, has a long history. The first known mention of the area was in 1410, when a semi-rural lane called Heathrow divided farmland and heath. In 1925, a Royal Air Force test pilot and officer called Norman MacMillan made an emergency landing and noticed the flat land, which was mainly used for market gardening, was ideal for a runway. In 1929, British aero-engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey bought a 150-acre plot to build a private airport to assemble and test aircraft. During World War II, the government requisitioned Fairey's Great West Aerodrome to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft. After the war, the airport was handed over to civilian use and became London's new main civil aviation hub.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First known mention | 1410 (as a semi-rural lane called Heathrow) |
| Use of the land | Divided farmland and heath until 1819 when the heath also became farmland |
| Other names | Harmondsworth Aerodrome, Great West Aerodrome, Heathrow Aerodrome |
| Airfield construction | Began in May 1944 |
| Official opening for commercial air travel | 31 May 1946 |
| First flight | A converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight that flew to Buenos Aires |
| Early terminals | Ex-military marquees |
| Early passengers | 63,000 in the first year of operation |
| Permanent terminals | Built in the mid-1950s |
| First permanent buildings | Designed by British architect Frederick Gibberd in 1951 |
| First permanent terminal | Terminal 1 Britannic (later Terminal 2) opened in 1969 |
| Second permanent terminal | Terminal 2 Oceanic (later Terminal 3) |
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What You'll Learn
The land was used for market gardening
The land that Heathrow Airport now occupies was once used for market gardening. The history of the airport dates back to the 1920s, with archaeological finds from the Iron Age onwards uncovered during its construction. In 1925, a pilot and RAF officer, Norman MacMillan, made an emergency landing and noticed the flat land, which was ideal for a runway. He recommended the site to aero-engineer Richard Fairey, who used it to build a new aerodrome.
The area was first called Harmondsworth Aerodrome, then The Great West Aerodrome, and sometimes Heathrow Aerodrome. A hangar was built, and Fairey Aviation Company Ltd used the site for aircraft assembly and testing. The company bought 230 acres of land in instalments from 1929 onwards, and Richard Fairey allowed weekend use of the airfield by model aircraft clubs.
During World War II, the government requisitioned the land, along with nearby farmland and the village of Heath Row, to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft. An RAF-style control tower was built, and a 'Star of David' pattern of runways was laid. The first aircraft to take off from Heathrow Airport (then known as London Airport) was a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires on 1 January 1946. The airport was officially opened for commercial air travel on 31 May 1946, taking over from Croydon Aerodrome as London's main airport.
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It was first called Harmondsworth Aerodrome
Heathrow Airport, now the world's busiest international airport, has a long and fascinating history. The site was first used as an airfield as early as 1929, but its story really begins in 1930 when it was known as Harmondsworth Aerodrome.
Harmondsworth Aerodrome was established by British aero-engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey, who purchased a 150-acre plot of land from the Vicar of Harmondsworth for £15,000. Fairey's intention was to build a private airport to assemble and test aircraft. The airfield featured a single grass runway and a few hastily constructed buildings. It was also sometimes referred to as the Great West Aerodrome or Heathrow Aerodrome.
During the Second World War, the airfield was requisitioned by the government and became an RAF base, known as RAF Heston. A control tower and a network of runways were constructed, and the site was used for long-range troop-carrying aircraft bound for the Far East. The existing aviation site, along with nearby farmland and the village of Heath Row, were all cleared to make way for the new RAF base.
After the war ended, the RAF no longer needed the aerodrome, and it was officially handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport on 1 January 1946. The airport was initially known as London Airport and later renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966. The first aircraft to depart from the new airport was a converted Lancaster bomber named Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires. The early days of Heathrow Airport were quite primitive, with passenger terminals consisting of ex-military marquees and wooden duckboards laid down to protect passengers' footwear from the muddy airfield. Despite these humble beginnings, Heathrow quickly grew in size and popularity, eventually becoming the bustling international hub it is today.
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The land was requisitioned by the government
The land that became Heathrow Airport was requisitioned by the government in 1944. The area, in the ancient agricultural village of Heath Row, had been used by Fairey Aviation since the 1920s for aircraft assembly and testing. The company had bought 230 acres of land in 1929, 1930, 1939, and 1942.
During World War II, the government, under the Defence of the Realm Act 1914, took over the land to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft bound for the Far East. An RAF-style control tower was constructed, and a 'Star of David' pattern of runways was laid, the longest of which was 3,000 yards long and 100 yards wide. Work demolishing Heath Row and clearing land for the runways also began in 1944.
The airfield was first called Harmondsworth Aerodrome, then The Great West Aerodrome, and sometimes Heathrow Aerodrome. A hangar and a single grass runway were built, and the site was used for annual garden parties hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society.
After the war, the airfield was no longer needed by the RAF. In 1946, it was handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport. The first aircraft to take off from the new airport was a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires. The airport's early days were humble, with terminals made from old army tents and wooden boards laid on the ground to protect passengers' shoes from the muddy airfield.
The airport quickly grew in size and stature. By 1951, the annual number of passengers had risen to 796,000, and British architect Frederick Gibberd was appointed to design permanent buildings for the airport.
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It was used by the RAF during WWII
Heathrow Airport, now the world's busiest international airport, has a long and fascinating history that dates back to the early 20th century. The site played a significant role during World War II, and its evolution since then is a testament to the changing aviation landscape.
During World War II, the site of Heathrow Airport was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Known then as the Great West Aerodrome, it was owned by British aero engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey, who had purchased a 150-acre plot in Harmondsworth in 1930 to build a private airport for aircraft assembly and testing.
In 1940, as the war raged, No. 229 Squadron Hurricanes from RAF Northolt were temporarily relocated to the Great West Aerodrome due to the threat of enemy attacks on Northolt. This marked the beginning of the site's association with the RAF during the war. The airfield's proximity to RAF Northolt, approximately six miles away, made it a convenient alternative during times of heightened danger.
As the war progressed, the government's plans for the site evolved. In 1943, the Air Ministry, led by Sir Archibald Sinclair, secretly developed plans to requisition the airfield under the Defence of the Realm Act 1914. The following year, in 1944, the government began evicting residents and demolishing buildings in the ancient agricultural village of Heath Row, making way for the construction of RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft headed to the Far East. An RAF-style control tower was erected, and a distinctive 'Star of David' pattern of runways was laid, with the longest runway stretching 3,000 yards.
However, by the end of World War II, the RAF's need for another aerodrome at Heathrow diminished. As the focus shifted to civilian air travel and restoring foreign relations, the site was officially handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport on January 1, 1946. This transition reflects the changing priorities of a nation emerging from the shadows of war and embracing its new role in a post-war world.
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It was first opened as London Airport
Heathrow Airport, initially called London Airport, was first opened for commercial air travel on 31 May 1946. The airport was handed over from military to civil control on 1 January 1946, and the first commercial flight took off from Heathrow on the same day. The flight was operated by a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires.
The early passenger terminals were ex-military marquees, which formed a tented village along the Bath Road. Although the terminals were basic, they were comfortable, with armchairs, settees, and small tables with fresh flowers. To protect their footwear from the muddy airfield, passengers walked over wooden boards laid on the ground to get to their planes.
The airport's first year of operation saw 63,000 passengers. By 1951, five years later, the annual figure had risen to 796,000. In 1951, British architect Frederick Gibberd was appointed to design permanent buildings for the airport. His plan included a central area accessed via a vehicular subway under the original main runway, a 122-foot-high control tower, a passenger terminal called the Europa Building, and an office block called the Queens Building.
By 1961, the old terminal on the north side had closed, and airlines operated from the Europa terminal (renamed Terminal 2) or the Oceanic terminal (now Terminal 3). Terminal 1 opened in 1968 and was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in April 1969. Heathrow celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2006, having handled around 1.4 billion passengers on over 14 million flights.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was known as London Airport from 1946 to 1966. Before that, it was called Great West Aerodrome, Harmondsworth Aerodrome, and Heathrow Aerodrome.
The land was mainly used for market gardening and farming. The airport was built on the village of Heathrow, which had existed since medieval times.
The airport was built during World War II. It officially opened for commercial air travel on 31 May 1946.
