The oldest surviving aircraft hangars in Europe are set to open for the public this week, but for a limited time only.
From Thursday September 12 to the 15th, the Royal Artillery Museum will unveil its stores at Wood Road, Larkhill, where artefacts are housed aircraft hangars built in 1910.
The museum is taking part in Heritage Open Days, England’s largest grassroots heritage festival, which involves more than 40,000 volunteers and 5,000 events.
Larkhill was the UK’s first military airfield and played a role in convincing the British Army that there was a future for aircraft in war, but, ironically, it was decommissioned by the first year of the Great War in 1914.
Established in 1778, the Royal Artillery Museum’s collection is as old as it is significant, with the hangars at Wood Road alone holding 20 field guns dating from the 1600s to World War Two.
Until recently, the Grade Two listed hangars had been used for furniture storage by the nearby Army camp.
The stores at Wood Road are only available to visit through a limited number of pre-booked tours, which can be booked by clicking here: Heritage Open Days - Royal Artillery Museum Stores at Wood Road Hangars.
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