Larkhill is best understood through its layered history: aviation, military use and older archaeological traces sit side by side here. Travellers looking for a destination with a historical focus will find several distinct themes, from the beginnings of military aviation to prehistoric monuments.
Aviation history and military development
Five aircraft hangars in Larkhill were built in June 1910; they are the earliest known aircraft hangars in Europe. Larkhill airfield also has a special place in British aviation history: it was Britain’s first military airfield. The Bristol Aeroplane Company made Larkhill the first in a series of civilian flying school locations where army officers received their initial flight training.
During the 1910 autumn manoeuvres, radio messages were successfully transmitted by aircraft to the Bristol hangar in connection with Larkhill. Flight training and radio communication thus represent two distinct aspects of aviation at the time. The light military railway at Larkhill, built in 1914 from Ratfyn in Amesbury to Fargo Camp, is also part of the area’s historical development.
The history of the camp can be distinguished chronologically from these developments: before the First World War began, Larkhill Camp was one of three tented camps established on Salisbury Plain. From 1915 to 1918, a complex of trenches and tunnels in Larkhill was used to train British and Commonwealth soldiers before their mobilisation. In 1920, Larkhill Camp became the headquarters of the School of Artillery. Taken together, these milestones show how the focus shifted from early aviation to military training and organisation.
Buildings and archaeological traces
The Church of St Alban the Martyr dates from 1937 and was designed by William A Ross. Its design is influenced by Swedish architecture; its complete original interior, with carefully crafted fittings, has also been preserved. The church is a Grade II listed building. Another listed building in this category is the Royal Artillery Officers’ Mess, a structure in a monumental neo-Baroque style. The guns brought to Larkhill form a collection of international significance; some stand on the lawns in front of the Officers’ Mess.
Older traces include the well-preserved Long Barrow in Larkhill Camp and a causewayed enclosure discovered in 2017. This Early Neolithic monument consists of segmented ditch systems. It lies on a north-east-facing slope overlooking the River Avon, just below the crest of the low hill on which Larkhill Camp stands. These archaeological themes are therefore quite distinct from the more recent aviation and military history.
Planning your trip
The different periods can help you choose what to focus on: the beginnings of aviation, military history or the archaeological landscape. For a walk, the nearby Stonehenge Landscape offers a different perspective. Larkhill is 1.6 km away; the route follows bridleways and byways. Walking through the Stonehenge Landscape, visitors can discover prehistoric monuments such as the Avenue and King Barrow Ridge, with its Bronze Age burial mounds. If you plan to walk there, check current route conditions beforehand, as they may change.
This gives you two clearly distinct interests to choose between when planning: Larkhill’s history and walks to prehistoric monuments in the nearby landscape. Which one shapes your stay depends on whether you are more interested in aviation and military history, architecture and archaeology, or going for a walk.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Durrington, Calne, Sherston, Andover, Sedgehill, Upavon, Limpley Stoke, Manningford Abbots.
For the broader travel guide: Wiltshire.
