Town name on gasholder pointed the way for pilots
Published Date:
29 February 2008
By Robert Collins
It may not have been visible from the ground, and some may never have known it was there, but readers knew the purpose of the lettering on these gasometers.
Amateur historian Richard King of Radford Road found the answer in a 1931 edition of the Leamington Morning News.
The sign was a navigational aid to pilots in the early days of aviation technology.
Mr King said: "Between the wars there was an increase in civil aviation. Wireless was in its infancy and radar was unknown.
"These intrepid aviators navigated by sight, identifying features like church towers, spires and gasworks."
The scheme was the work of Alderman Harold Mason, then chairman of the health committee but also chairman of the Leamington Priors Gas Company.
He was eager to follow a lead set in Leicester and had the sign added to the works' largest gas holder, which had a 110ft diameter and was 80ft high.
It was completed on October 6 and the Morning News sent a reporter to inspect the lettering, which was 13ft high, with strokes 2ft 6ins wide.
The M alone was 10ft wide and with an arrow pointing due north, the sign was visible from 2,000 ft.
The spelling LEAMNTN was a standard abbreviation in aviation.
Reader Peter Chater of Highland Road, Leamington also wrote in with the information, and added a similar sign was painted on the top of the Warwick gas holders.
The full article contains 246 words and appears in Leamington Courier newspaper.
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Last Updated:
28 February 2008 2:57 PM
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Source:
Leamington Courier
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Location:
Leamington Spa
