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Larkhill

Coordinates:51°11′53″N1°48′47″W/ 51.198°N 1.813°W/51.198; -1.813
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Not to be confused withLarkhall.

Larkhill
TheBCAChangars at Larkhill, the remains of the first military aerodrome in Britain
Larkhill is located in Wiltshire
Larkhill
Larkhill
Location withinWiltshire
Population2,733 (2021 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSU132443
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSALISBURY
Postcode districtSP4
Dialling code01980
PoliceWiltshire
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
List of places
UK
England
Wiltshire
51°11′53″N1°48′47″W/ 51.198°N 1.813°W/51.198; -1.813

Larkhillis agarrison townin thecivil parishofDurrington,Wiltshire, England. It lies about1+3⁄4miles (2.8 km) west of the centre of Durrington village and1+1⁄2mi (2.4 km) north of the prehistoric monument ofStonehenge.It is about 10 mi (16 km) north ofSalisbury.

The settlement has a long association with theBritish militaryand originally grew from military camps. It is now one of the main garrisons in theSalisbury Plain Training Area,along withTidworth Camp,Bulford Camp,andWaterloo LinesatWarminster.TheRoyal School of Artilleryis at Larkhill and theRoyal Artillerymoved its main barracks there fromWoolwichin 2008.[2]

Etymology[edit]

Before the military garrison was established the area was known asLark Hill,part of Durrington Down, owing to it being the highest point in the parish.[3]After the first military buildings were established, it came to be known asLarkhill Camp.[4]

History[edit]

Garrison Church of St Alban the Martyr

Much of Larkhill lies within theStonehenge World Heritage Site,an area rich in Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. Severallong barrowsandround barrowgroups are located within the settlement.Robin Hood's Ball,theStonehenge Cursusand theLesser Cursuslie close to the garrison.[5]

The first modern settlement came in 1899, when a tented camp was established for units training on an area ofSalisbury Plainthat became known as Larkhill range. Units were accommodated in large official campsite areas whilst training throughout the summer.[6][7]As Larkhill range was designated for artillery practice, many of the units were artillery batteries. In 1914, the first permanent huts were built on the down.[7]

During theFirst World War,34battalion-sized hutted garrisons were built for use by all types of military forces. A light military railway line was built from the establishedAmesbury–Bulford line,to carry troops to Larkhill and on toStonehenge Aerodrome[8]and Lake Down (nearBerwick St James).[9]

After the war, the garrison became an artillery domain and in 1919 theRoyal School of Artillerywas established there.[7]The light railway was lifted and the aerodromes were closed. However, several other new facilities were established in the interwar years, including a military hospital, married quarters atStrangways,aNAAFIservice and military churches. The famed BritishOrdnance QF 25-pounderwas developed by the school of artillery shortly before the outbreak of theSecond World War.[7]

TheGarrison Church of St Alban the Martyrwas built in 1937 and replaced an earlier wooden church.[10][11]

During the Second World War War, the garrison was extended again, although primarily for artillery units. The 21st Independent Parachute Company of the1st Airborne Divisionwas also formed there.[12]

After the Second World War, many of the hutted buildings were replaced with modern structures. The Royal School of Artillery's garrison was rebuilt and permanently established at the site. The Officers' Mess (built 1936–41, designed by William A Ross, Chief Architect to the War Office) is now aGrade II listedbuilding.[13]A new event was started in 1962 to showcase the military's artillery technology – originally named Larkhill Day, it evolved into Royal Artillery Day in 1970.[14][15]

A primary school opened at Larkhill in 1962.[16]

Military flying[edit]

Memorial to Capt Loraine and Staff-Sgt Wilson, killed 1912, outside the Stonehenge Visitors' Centre (December 2013)

In 1909,Horatio Barber,a flying enthusiast, rented a small piece of land in Larkhill. He built a shed to house his new aeroplane, and was soon joined by more enthusiasts. Among these wereGeorge Bertram Cockburn,[17]a pioneer aviator, and Captain John Fulton who served with an artillery brigade, and it was partly as a result of their interest that the War Office quickly realised the importance of aircraft and founded the first armyaerodromein Larkhill in 1910.[18][19]Several more huts were built and a three-bay hangar was constructed by theBritish and Colonial Aeroplane Company,a forerunner ofBritish Aerospace.In 1911, No. 2 Company of theAir Battalion Royal Engineerswas established at Larkhill, the first flying unit of the armed forces to useaeroplanesas opposed toballoons.This evolved intoNo. 3 Squadron, Royal Flying Corpsin May 1912, the firstRFCsquadron to use aeroplanes.[20]

July 1912 saw the first fatal air crash in the RFC. CaptainEustace Loraineand his observer, Staff-Sergeant R.H.V. Wilson, were killed when they crashed west of Stonehenge after flying from Larkhill aerodrome. A memorial was erected near the A303, and moved to a site near the Stonehenge visitors' centre in 2013.[21]The nearby junction of theA360with the formerA344is known as Airman's Corner or Airman's Cross.[22]

In August 1912, the firstMilitary Aeroplane Trialswere held at Larkhill aerodrome.[23]Several aeroplanes including theAvro Type Gand theBristol Gordon England biplanewere entered, and the competition was won bySamuel Franklin Codyin hisCody Vaircraft.[24]

The aerodrome was closed in 1914 and hutted garrisons were built over the airstrip. The original BCAC hangar, the oldest surviving aerodrome building in the UK, is at the corner of Woods Road and Fargo Road. It was givenGrade II* listed buildingstatus in 2005.[25][26]

Larkhill Garrison[edit]

Larkhill Garrison is controlled byHeadquarters South Westbased at Jellalabad Barracks,Tidworth Camp.[27][28][29]The following units are based at the garrison:[30][31][29][32]

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Larkhill (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.5
(45.5) 		7.9
(46.2) 		10.5
(50.9) 		13.4
(56.1) 		16.7
(62.1) 		19.6
(67.3) 		21.8
(71.2) 		21.3
(70.3) 		18.6
(65.5) 		14.5
(58.1) 		10.5
(50.9) 		7.9
(46.2) 		14.2
(57.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9) 		1.5
(34.7) 		2.9
(37.2) 		4.4
(39.9) 		7.3
(45.1) 		10.0
(50.0) 		12.0
(53.6) 		12.1
(53.8) 		9.9
(49.8) 		7.5
(45.5) 		4.2
(39.6) 		2.0
(35.6) 		6.3
(43.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 83.4
(3.28) 		58.0
(2.28) 		54.5
(2.15) 		54.0
(2.13) 		50.0
(1.97) 		55.1
(2.17) 		57.0
(2.24) 		61.0
(2.40) 		60.1
(2.37) 		87.6
(3.45) 		89.8
(3.54) 		87.7
(3.45) 		798.7
(31.44)
Average rainy days(≥ 1 mm) 12.6 10.6 10.0 9.6 9.0 8.9 9.1 10.2 9.0 12.1 13.1 12.7 127.3
Source:Met Office[45]

In popular culture[edit]

The comic bookV for Vendetta(and itsfilm adaptation) featured a fictionaldetention centreat Larkhill, where minorities and enemies of the fascist state were eliminated. The writer,Alan Moore,said that he chose Larkhill because of the obvious military connections, but also because of a particularly unpleasant hitchhiking trip that he had around the area.[46]

In May 1965, a scene from the Beatles' feature filmHelp!was filmed at Knighton Down, near the Larkhill army base. The scene included troops of Royal Artillery.[47]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Larkhill (built-up area): population statistics, 2021 Census".CityPopulation.de.Retrieved28 April2023.
  2. ^"Larkhill Overview".Aspire Defence.Retrieved13 February2015.
  3. ^Crowley 1995, p.175
  4. ^Crowley 1995, p.184
  5. ^Richards, Julian(1979).The Stonehenge Environs Project.English Heritage.pp. 72–92.ISBN1-85074-269-3.
  6. ^James 1987, p.123
  7. ^abcdClarke-Smith 1969
  8. ^James 1987, p.125
  9. ^Historic England."Lake Down Airfield (19191)".Research records (formerly PastScape).Retrieved25 October2021.
  10. ^Historic England."Church of St Alban the Martyr (1428757)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved29 July2016.
  11. ^"Larkhill Garrison Church".Salisbury Plain Garrison Churches.Retrieved29 July2016.
  12. ^James 1987, p.140
  13. ^Historic England."Royal Artillery Officers' Mess and Quarters (1428799)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved28 July2016.
  14. ^"The Royal Regiment of Artillery - Aide-Mémoire"(PDF).Retrieved28 July2016.
  15. ^James 1987, p.139
  16. ^"Larkhill Primary School".Wiltshire Community History.Wiltshire Council.Retrieved29 July2016.
  17. ^The Old Flying DaysTurner,Charles Cyril, (1972), page 200, Arno Press,ISBN0-405-03783-X,
  18. ^James 1987, p.163
  19. ^"Aviation on Salisbury Plain".Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2009.Retrieved11 May2010.
  20. ^James 1987, p.165
  21. ^ Historic England."Airmen's Cross near Stonehenge (1242829)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved30 July2016.
  22. ^"Airman's Cross".The Times.23 August 2013.Retrieved23 May2020.
  23. ^James 1987, p.166
  24. ^ "Cody's Kites and Flying Machines".Aldershot Military Museum.Hampshire County Council. Archived fromthe originalon 1 February 2009.Retrieved25 October2008.
  25. ^ Prudames, David."Historic First & Second World War Airfields granted listed status".24 Hour Museum.Retrieved25 October2008.
  26. ^ Historic England."Buildings 455 and 456 (Five Aircraft Hangars), Durrington Camp (Grade II*) (1391475)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved1 October2012.
  27. ^"HQ Organisations and functions".MoD. Archived fromthe originalon 26 June 2007.Retrieved25 October2008.
  28. ^Wynn, Peter."MOD buys back ABRO site from the Agency".South West RDA.Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2006.Retrieved25 October2008.
  29. ^ab"Army Basing Programme for Wiltshire"(PDF).cms.wiltshire.gov.uk.18 January 2019.Retrieved10 July2020.
  30. ^"Army Basing Programme, PAC Information Leaflet – Issue 16 October 2019".army.mod.uk.16 October 2019.Retrieved10 July2020.
  31. ^"43 Brigade - Organisation & Functions and Future Garrisons".26 June 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 26 June 2007.Retrieved10 July2020.
  32. ^"Army Basing Programme, SPTA SFA Information Leaflet – Issue 10 July 2019".army.mod.uk.10 July 2019.Retrieved10 July2020.
  33. ^"Larkhill".Aspire Defence Limited.Retrieved11 July2020.
  34. ^"Royal Artillery".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  35. ^"Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes"(PDF).www.army.mod.uk.3 December 2013.Archived(PDF)from the original on 3 December 2013.Retrieved10 July2020.
  36. ^"Royal Artillery Centre for Personal Development (RACPD)".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  37. ^"The Royal School of Artillery".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  38. ^"14 Regiment Royal Artillery".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  39. ^abc"Location and Work Force Requirement of British Army Units, By Corps"(PDF).www.parliament.uk.1 November 2018.Retrieved10 July2020.
  40. ^"26 Regiment Royal Artillery".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  41. ^ab"Army 2020"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 10 June 2014.Retrieved10 May2014.
  42. ^"32 Regiment Royal Artillery".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  43. ^"47 Regiment Royal Artillery".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved11 July2020.
  44. ^"Local ARMY Individual Education and Resettlement Officers"(PDF).p. 1.Retrieved24 February2021.
  45. ^"Larkhill (Wiltshire) UK climate averages - Met Office".Met Office.Retrieved5 July2024.
  46. ^Moore, Alan;Lloyd, David(2005).V for Vendetta.London: Titan Books. p. 274.ISBN1-84576-182-0.
  47. ^"The Beatles on Salisbury Plain".BBC, Rock 'n' Roll Wiltshire.Retrieved22 April2024.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related toLarkhillat Wikimedia Commons

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