Roundshaw Estate is built on the site of Croydon Aerodrome, a fact commemorated in the street names such as Spitfire Road.
Croydon Aerodrome opened in March 1920 with the combination of the adjacent Beddington and Waddon Aerodromes which were originally part of London's defences against WWI Zeppelin raids and used for test flights respectively. During the 1920s passenger flights from the airport increased and it became the operating base for Imperial Airways. The airport closed to civil aircraft on the outbreak of WWII in 1939 and had a vital role as a fighter staion during the Battle of Britain. Following the end of the war it became apparent that the development of larger aircraft and the expansion of the London suburbs meant that the site was no longer suitable, and London's passenger traffic was diverted to Heathrow. The last flight from the airport was on 30 September 1959. Much of the site has now been built over, although the original terminal buildings and some others remain along the Purley Way. The Roundshaw housing estate was built over part of the airport and the roads are named after famous aircraft and flyers.
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Location: Spitfire Road, Roundshaw Estate, Croydon, England
Photo credit: © UrbanImages / Alamy / Afripics
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