Speke Airport as she was

[knowhowe]

Here's some photographs of the old Speke Airport I thought you may find interesting. The first two, originally 35mm slides, were taken by my grandfather William Cross sometime in the early 1960s. The first shows a Lockheed Super Constellation, also known as a 'Connie', being refuelled with the River Mersey behind. I wish I still had my 'Dinky Toy' versions of these vehicles- they've be worth a bit by now!



As the next picture (of my mother) shows, the airport at this time was popular among Liverpool families as a venue for a 'good day out'. I certainly loved it- that's me behind my mother hanging eagerly over the rail and watching a DC3 arriving at the terminal.



Liverpool is one of the UK's oldest operational airports, first thought of as an idea in 1928 with scheduled flights commencing in 1930 and an 'official' opening ceremony some 3 years later on 1 July 1933.
In the early 1930s, the airport had operated from a converted farmhouse (illustrated below) which acted both as terminal building and- with the assistance of an improvised superstructure added to an attic window- as control tower.
The aircraft in the photograph is a De Haviland DH86A belonging to British Continental Airways of Croydon.

Major changes took place in the late 1930s following the growth in passenger traffic through Liverpool, particularly on flights across the Irish Sea, when the handsome dedicated passenger terminal and new aircraft hangars were built.
A further, longer, runway was added in 1966. A new modern passenger terminal was opened in 1986 and the 1930s building (illustrated below) was renovated and expanded to become the Marriott Liverpool South Hotel, whilst the original hangars were converted into a leisure centre. A further new terminal building and control tower were added in 2002 and further expansion continues to the present.



I have also posted a remakable set of images of the King's Cup Air Race competitors at the airport, dating from around 1934. They have never been published before so enjoy.