Newsletter 55
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NEWSLETTER Dunstable District Local History Society No. 55 August 2020 Chairman’s Notes ere’s another extra edition of our newsletter, hope- MEETINGS PROGRAMME: Hfully providing you with something interesting to SEPTEMBER 8 – DUNSTABLE – A VISUAL HISTORY read during the lockdown as well as letting you know The collected drawings of historian Tony Woodhouse, using that the History Society is very much alive and kicking! archaeological discoveries to provide accurate pictures of how We are using money saved by the cancellation of some of our meetings Dunstable looked in ancient times, are to be published as a book. to pay for the cost of printing this publication and posting it to everyone. The history society will be given an illustrated preview. Before the Covid crisis we had already arranged speakers for our OCTOBER 13 – VILLAGES OF NORTH BEDS forthcoming monthly meetings but we are still not certain whether these will go ahead. So, we have decided not to go to the expense of History Society member David Warner displays photos of pic- printing and mailing our usual programme card of events. Instead, turesque villages including the historic lockup at Harrold, the old here they are alongside. But, I emphasise, it is not at all certain watermill at Bromham and the fortress mound at Yielden. whether we will be able to meet with appropriate social distancing NOVEMBER 10 – FREEMAN OF DUNSTABLE at the church hall or whether all our booked speakers will still be Actor Roger Parrott (The King’s Speech) tells the stories of his able to attend. So, watch out for announcements on our website, in father and grandfather who were both distinguished Mayors of the Gazette or at our usual poster sites. Dunstable. Harold Parrott was the town’s first citizen for three Meanwhile, even though the council offices are closed to the public, years during the Second World War and presided over Dun- we have still been making occasional visits to our research rooms stable’s VE and VJ day celebrations. He was one of the very few there to answer queries. One quite major delivery to us has been people to have been made a Freeman of the town. Haydn Parrott the photo archive of the late Richard W Bagshawe, which had been was chairman of the town’s Operatic Society for many years. under the guardianship of our President, Paul Bowes. There are 21 volumes of snapshots, many of which are part of the research for DECEMBER 8 – THE BABY BOOM AND NOSTALGIA SHOW Bagshawe’s book on Roman Roads of Britain. Our committee mem- Alan Haines gives a light-hearted talk which might remind older ber Jenny Dilnot has undertaken the mammoth task of digitising members of I Love Lucy, Tupperware parties, Family Favourites any of the photos which are particularly relevant to Dunstable. and the birth of the Twist. Our December meeting will follow In the last newsletter I wrote about Queen Katherine’s Court, the its well-established format, with festive snacks and our famous new homes now completed on the old Woolworth’s site. I men- (non-alcoholic) hot punch. This event is for MEMBERS ONLY, tioned the rumoured existence of a postcard of Catherine’s Walk with tickets priced £5 to be purchased in advance. which was said to be an old name for Church Walk, alongside the JANUARY 12 2021 – THE STORY OF TOTTERNHOE new development. Well, a copy of the postcard has now turned up Ross Martin, who has lived in Totternhoe all his life, presents an and is reproduced here. It’s clearly NOT Church Walk and seems to evening of village photos, with tales about its pubs, quarries and be one of the walkways in Priory Gardens. Anyone know for sure? ancient buildings. While researching the postcard, we found that adverts on the internet are calling the new development Montpellier Mews. This, FEBRUARY 9 – BIRTH OF A COMMUNITY of course, is the well-known address of the familiar building further A mansion belonging to Sir Gregory Page Turner, of Battlesden, down High Street South. We contacted the estate agents and were once stood on land near Sundon village. Now his park, on the assured that the internet references are wrong. John Buckledee outskirts of Luton, is covered by houses. Alan Campbell and Richard King show the results of their extensive research into the changing face of our area. MARCH 9 – THE STORY OF WHIPSNADE VILLAGE There’s more to Whipsnade than the zoo! Ken and Chris France, of Hill Farm, give an illustrated talk about the village. This will follow the society’s annual general meeting. APRIL 13 – HUMPS, BUMPS AND NAMES Archaeology provides clues about historic landscapes in the Dunstable vicinity, including Tilsworth, Hockliffe, Totternhoe, Dunstable Downs and Caddington. An illustrated talk by Stephen Coleman, Historic Environment Information Officer at Central Beds Council. John Buckledee The Catherine’s Walk postcard DDLHS Newsletter No. 55 page 413 Aircraft factories in Dunstable avid Underwood, our membership secretary, tells the Dstory of Dunstable’s pioneering aircraft industry. DART AIRCRAFT COMPANY Two Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany created what became the Dart Aircraft Company in Dunstable. Alfred Richard Weyl fled to England in 1933 and, later, Eric Paul Zander who had been tipped off about his imminent arrest just 48 hours before it was due to take place. The two men, who had both worked in the gliding industry in The replica Bleriot XI Germany, met up in London. Weyl had held a technical post in the Also at 29 High Street North (which is now the Subway takeaway) Royal Prussian Air Corps during the First World War and later had was Mr Grice of Grice and Young, who sold tools and made metal been the permanent assistant to the professor of aeronautical engi- parts for aircraft. At the back of the premises, now part of the Elea- neering in Berlin and had worked in the German Defence ministry. nor’s Cross precinct, they had a two-storey building which contained He had also been involved with the Udet Flamingo aeroplane up an office, wood shop, metal-working shop and assembly shop. until his time of fleeing to England. They assembled the aircraft outside, backing on to Albion Street, In 1934 Zander and Weyl moved to Dunstable to be near to the using a crane to lower heavy parts or carrying the rest down an London Gliding Club which had established itself at Dunstable outside staircase. Downs. Mr Weyl, a small man with glasses, lived at 25 Kingsway, The Dunstable Dart aircraft then had a name change to the Dart Pup, Dunstable. My father remembers that he made furniture for his which first flew in July 1936 from either Blow’s Farm or Lewsey Farm. home out of aircraft plywood. The factory, employing seven or eight men, built a glider of their The two men set up business in barns in Luton Road, on the site own design, the Cambridge, for Cambridge University. Another was which later became the Carter’s scrap-metal yard and is today occu- built later with small differences. They also built three smaller glid- pied by the Market Cross restaurant. Earlier information had placed ers called The Totternhoe and a replica Bleriot XI for R J Nash of the the location on the other side of the road but this turns out to be International Horseless Carriage Corporation. incorrect. The barns had been owned by W L Manuel, a glider builder. Then followed the Dart Flittermouse pusher aircraft and the first Dart Kitten which was finished by Christmas 1936 . The next year Here they constructed a small aircraft called the Flying Flea, fol- they built another version, as the Kitten II, with a different engine. lowing some home-build designs published in a best-selling book. This aeroplane still survives at Breighton, Yorks. They named their version Winnie the Pooh and tested it in the fields Weyl would often buy items from Bernard Stevens, who ran the behind the factory, where its flights were watched and cheered by local hardware shop nearby. One requirement was Chamois leather local workers. The factory was said to have an aroma of Pear Drop to filter the petrol as it was poured into the aircraft’s fuel tank. sweets by people walking past, who were smelling the dope used to A design was made for a larger two-seat aircraft called the Weasel seal the aircraft fuselage. though this was never completed. They also did many glider repairs They were asked to make some replica gliders for the film ‘Conquest at the London Gliding Club. In 1938 they started work on the Hand- of the Air’ which starred Laurence Olivier. For this they built two Lil- ley Page Manx. This was mostly carried out by one of their workers, ienthal gliders, a Cayley glider and a Wright 1902 glider which was Eric Burket, with metal parts and welding done by Grice and Young. flown by ex-Royal Flying Corps pilot Alan Curtis, who became a direc- The factory ceased work when the Second World War began. Alfred tor in the company. During this time they also built a Grunau Baby. Weyl offered his expertise to help the war effort. But he had never They started work on the Dunstable Dart after a financial reorganisa- taken up British citizenship and was interned, with many other Ger- tion and in May 1936 moved to 29 High Street North, Dunstable, mans, on the Isle of Man. Police had arrived to take him away one calling their business Dart Aircraft Ltd . night, while he was having dinner.