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Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, was originally called London Airport when it opened in 1946. The name was changed to Heathrow Airport in 1966 to avoid confusion with other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted. The name Heathrow comes from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, which was demolished in 1944 to make way for the airport's expansion. The agricultural hamlet was located on the outskirts of London and consisted of farms, market gardens, orchards, and buildings such as Heathrow Farm and Heathrow Hall.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heath Row |
| Type of settlement | Hamlet |
| Location | Southeast of Heathrow Airport |
| Geography | Rural |
| Economy | Agricultural |
| Buildings | Heathrow Farm, Heathrow Hall, Heathrow House |
| Roads | Heathrow Road |
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow Airport was named after the ancient hamlet, Heath Row
Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, was named after the ancient hamlet, Heath Row. The site of the airport was originally home to a private airfield called the Great West Aerodrome, which first opened in 1929. The airfield was situated near the hamlet of Heath Row, which was largely an agricultural area consisting of farms, market gardens, and orchards.
During World War II, the British government requisitioned the land surrounding Heath Row, including the Great West Aerodrome, 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 the distinctive 'Star of David' pattern of runways was laid, with the longest runway stretching 2,743 metres in length and 91 metres in width.
The ancient hamlet of Heath Row was fully demolished in 1944 to make way for the expansion of the airfield and the construction of runways. The airport, then known as London Airport, was officially opened on 25 March 1946. It was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966 to distinguish it from other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
The name Heathrow, therefore, derives from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, upon which the airport was built and expanded over time. The hamlet's name likely reflected the geography of the area, indicating a row of buildings located on or near a heathland.
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The name change occurred in 1966
Heathrow Airport was officially renamed in September 1966, twenty years after its establishment. The airport was originally called London Airport, but it was decided that a less generic name was needed to distinguish it from its counterpart in the south, Gatwick.
London Airport was established in 1946, but its origins stretch back even further. Before the Second World War, the site was home to a private airfield, the Great West Aerodrome, which opened in 1929 and was operated by UK aircraft manufacturer Fairey Aviation. The airfield was situated near a hamlet known as 'Heath Row' on the outskirts of London.
The name Heathrow is derived from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, upon which the airport is built. The 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.
By the 1960s, London Airport was handling millions of passengers each year and had become London's primary airport. The name change to Heathrow Airport in 1966 reflected the airport's growing importance and helped to establish its identity as one of the world's busiest international airports.
Interestingly, the transition to 'Heathrow' was not the only name change considered. The airport was allegedly almost named 'Swintonfield' after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. There were concerns among authorities that foreign visitors and crews would have trouble pronouncing 'Heathrow'. However, the name stuck, and Heathrow Airport has now spent over half a century operating under this name.
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The hamlet was largely agricultural
Heathrow Airport, originally called London Airport, was established in 1946. However, the site's history as an airfield goes back to 1929, when Fairey Aviation built the Great West Aerodrome. The airport is named after the hamlet of Heath Row, which was situated on the outskirts of London. This hamlet, largely agricultural, was demolished in 1944 to make way for the development of the airfield.
The hamlet of Heath Row consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards. There was a Heathrow Farm, a Heathrow Hall, and a Heathrow House. The hamlet was situated along a country lane, Heathrow Road, which ran along the eastern and southern edges of what is now the airport's central terminals area.
Heath Row was an ancient agricultural village, and its name is thought to derive from the area's geography. The name 'Heath Row' may refer to a row of buildings or trees on a heathland. The area was largely rural, and the hamlet was surrounded by farmland.
The Great West Aerodrome was built on a plot of land purchased by British aero engineer Richard Fairey in 1930. The land was purchased from the Vicar of Harmondsworth, and Fairey Aviation used the site to assemble and test aircraft. During World War II, the government requisitioned the land, including Fairey's airfield, to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft.
The development of Heathrow as a larger airport began in 1944, and by the time the runways were usable, World War II had ended. The UK government continued to develop the site as a civil airport, and it opened on 25 March 1946. Heathrow Airport has since undergone significant expansion and is now one of the busiest airports in the world.
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The name change was to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted
Heathrow Airport was originally named "London Airport" when it opened in 1946. The site was previously home to a private airfield called the Great West Aerodrome, which opened in 1929. The land consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards, and there was a hamlet called Heath Row, from which the airport eventually took its name.
As Gatwick rose to prominence, it became clear that "London Airport" needed a less generic name to distinguish it from its counterpart in the south. In 1966, twenty years after it was established, the airport was officially renamed "Heathrow Airport" by the BAA. The name change was intended to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted, the other airports serving the city.
The ancient hamlet of Heath Row, which gave Heathrow Airport its name, was an agricultural area that was demolished in 1944 to make way for the development of the airfield. The current location of Terminal 3 is said to be the closest to where the centuries-old hamlet once stood.
While the name "Heathrow" has stuck, there have been other proposals to rename the airport. In the 1990s, there were discussions about naming it after a significant UK historical figure, Sir Winston Churchill. More recently, in 1996, Prime Minister John Major considered changing the name again, but this did not come to fruition.
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The name 'Heath Row' comes from the area's geography
Heathrow Airport was opened in 1946 as London Airport and was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966. The name Heathrow comes from the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, which was situated on the outskirts of London. The rural settlement was largely agricultural, consisting of farms, market gardens, orchards, and buildings such as Heathrow Farm, Heathrow Hall, and Heathrow House. The name "Heath Row" is derived from the area's geography, specifically the heathland that characterised the local landscape.
Heath Row was located along a country lane called Heathrow Road, which ran along the eastern and southern edges of what is now the central terminals area of Heathrow Airport. The hamlet was demolished in 1944 to make way for the development of the airfield, which was originally intended for military aircraft during World War II.
The land that Heathrow Airport now occupies was once home to the Great West Aerodrome, a private airfield established in 1929 by Fairey Aviation. During World War II, the British government requisitioned the aerodrome, along with the surrounding land, including Heath Row, to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft.
In the post-war era, as air travel became more accessible, London needed to expand its aviation capacity. Croydon Aerodrome, London's main airport at the time, was no longer suitable for the evolving needs of aviation. Thus, the site of the Great West Aerodrome was chosen as London's new primary airport.
The name "Heathrow" was adopted in 1966 to distinguish the airport from other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted. The name reflects the historical presence of the hamlet of Heath Row and the unique geographical features of the area.
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Frequently asked questions
Heathrow Airport is named after the ancient hamlet of Heath Row, which was demolished in 1944 to make way for the airport.
The airport was originally called London Airport, but in 1966 it was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with other airports serving the city, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
Yes, the airport was almost named 'Swintonfield' after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton.
In 1996, Prime Minister John Major considered changing the name of the airport, and there was talk of naming it after a significant UK historical figure, Sir Winston Churchill.
Heathrow Airport first opened as London Airport in 1946, handling commercial flights. The early passenger terminals were ex-military marquees with floral-patterned armchairs, settees, and small tables with fresh flowers.
