London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
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The Finest Air Station in the World
The impressive new Art Deco “air port” brings a touch of glamour to Croydon as it’s opened in May 1928 by the wife of the Secretary State For Air.
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Overview
Croydon was London’s largest airport until the creation of Heathrow after the Second World War. In 1928, it opened grand new buildings to cope with the increased demand for air travel. Costing Ј250,000, these were opened by Lady Maud Hoare in May 1928. Hoare was the wife of Samuel Hoare, the Secretary Of State For Air, and had recently been awarded a DBE after flying 12,000 miles on the London-Cairo-Delhi service. She also visits the runway and steps inside a plane.
Croydon Airport was closed in 1959 and much of it was demolished as the Roundshaw housing estate was built in its place. One of the few buildings to survive was Airport House, featuring the plaque which Lady Hoare is shown unveiling in this film. It is now used as a business centre.
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