Rare example of a near-complete First World War airfield and buildings

A First World War airfield and 24 of its buildings have been listed at grade II* by architecture minister John Penrose on English Heritage’s advice.

The historic Stow Maries aerodrome at Flambirds Farm in Cold Norton, Essex, has survived almost unchanged because it was abandoned by the military after the war

It was built straight after the outbreak of war in 1914 to defend London from German Zeppelin airships and later Gotha bombers.

It served as a base for part of the 37^th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corp led by Lieutenant Claude Ridley, who was just 19 when he took command. Aircraft from Stow Maries flew to defend London during one of the first significant air raids on the capital in July 1917.

The listing was granted for Stow Maries’ rarity, group value and historical and architectural interest.

On the latter, English Heritage said: “The continued presence of a wide range of technical and domestic or ‘regimental’ buildings largely in their original form conveys architectural interest. The buildings display good craftsmanship in their construction; the roof structures, for example, are complex in their arrangement and well-made. Individual buildings retain many original fixtures and fittings.”