Gatwick Airport – Things You Didn’t Know
With a long history as a major hub of air travel, Gatwick Airport has served as a gateway between London and the rest of the world for millions of people. However even with all the things Gatwick is famous for, there are just as many elements of its history that are not quite as evident, and can be a joy for the inquisitive historian to discover.
#1 – Architectural Advances
Gatwick unveiled the world’s first circular airport terminal (named the ‘Beehive’) in 1936. Though they are commonplace these days, it was an extraordinary achievement for the time. There was a rail link directly to the terminal, and for the first time passengers could directly board their aircraft instead of having to travel across the runway on foot or by bus.
#2 – World War II
The second World War saw Gatwick become primarily a military airport, to aid Britain with its air to air combat against the deadly German air-force. Gatwick participated when it was requisitioned by the RAF as a combat airfield, and provided service to a number of important operations necessary to keeping England’s skies clear of bombers.
#3 – The Queen Of England
Gatwick has been graced on two separate occasions with a Royal presence at important opening ceremonies. Queen Elizabeth II first attended to re-open the airport after it underwent a major redevelopment in 1956, and she returned thirty years later with her husband Prince Phillip to preside over the opening of the new North Terminal.
#4 – From Jockeys to Pilots
Did you know that Gatwick used to be a racecourse? Purchased from private hands in 1890, the land was turned into a modern racing facility that even included its own railway station. It was temporarily home to the Grand National, which is one of the world’s most famous races. It was only when the Beehive opened that it finally lost its racing ties, as up until then Gatwick’s train station was called the Gatwick Racecourse Station.
#5 – Private Flying Club
Gatwick was not originally a public airport for major travel. In its early years, it was used as a home for a private flying club. The flying club that used it, which was the Surrey Aero Club, became so popular though, and brought so much attention to the airport, that it was soon granted a commercial flying license, which meant that members of the public could fly in and out of it.
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