The Hooton Park Trust - American Connections

American Connections

(Click to make larger) Picture curtosy of The Hooton Park Trust

Richard Naylor
Hooton Park’s connection with America goes back a long way. Richard Naylor a wealthy Liverpool banker owned Hooton Park from 1848 onwards and indeed The Naylor Trust still owns large tracts of land in the area. Some time between 1848 and 1875 Naylor took part in a round Ireland yacht race against an American entry in his own boat, on that occasion he won.

First World War
The hangars at Hooton Park where built on Naylor’s land and completed in September 1917. Number 4 Depot Training Station moved in and started to train pilots from Britain and the Commonwealth, to be followed by trainee pilots from America. Hooton Park was envisaged as an assembly point for aircraft built in America but the war finished before this came about.

In the graveyard of St. Mary of the Angels church at Hooton Cross Roads on the New Chester Road there is a military headstone inscribed Second Lieutenant English R.A.F. an America citizen. We have been lead to believe that he was an experienced pilot who after service defending London was transferred to Hooton Park as an instructor but was killed in a flying accident. We believe that his body was recovered and returned to Troy, New York State.

(Click to make larger) Picture curtosy of The Hooton Park Trust

Second World War
During the Second World War Hooton Park was the airfield used by Coastal Command to fly patrols over the Western Approaches protecting both British and America Shipping. Ships coming from America would arrive at Liverpool or Birkenhead docks with the aircraft built in the U.S.A. They were transported Speke Airport (Liverpool) or Hooton Park for assembly. Hooton Park was Liverpool Airport until Speke was completed.

The ones for Hooton would arrive by road or via the Manchester Ship Canal and then into Number 7 Aircraft Assembly Unit. Martin Hearn Ltd. was the company that assembled and flight tested the aircraft before they were passed to the squadrons. The aircraft types included American built P51 Mustangs, P38 Lightning, P47 Thunderbolts, Douglas Boston bombers and Harvard Trainers; also Canadian built Handley Page Hamden Bombers. The first truly military helicopters in Europe were assembled and flight tested at Hooton Park. Getting on for 10,000 aircraft were produced for the war effort. Martin Hearn Ltd. Also did servicing and battle damage repairs on Avro Ansons.

1960 to 1989
The giant America motor car company General Motors obtained part of the original airfield to build their Vauxhall Motors Ellesmere Port plant. The first car to leave the line was a Vauxhall Viva in 1962; the factory still thrives today being one of the most efficient in Europe.

(Click to make larger) Picture curtosy of The Hooton Park Trust

1990-1999
The Griffin Trust was formed in 1990 after negotiating a lease for 2 of the 3 hangars and the huts from Vauxhall Motors Ellesmere Port, and they still operate here to this day.

2000-Present
With the success of the SHH campaign mounted by the Griffin Trust, in October 2000 The Hooton Park Trust became the owners of the three WW1 "Belfast Truss" aircraft hangars and associated ancillary buildings. Included in the freehold package was a financial guarantee for the first twelve months to pay a manager and to assist in the running cost of the Hooton Park Trust. A much larger amount was made available to match fund any public sector grants whilst dealing with the every day running of the site in general, several feasibility studies were complied which resulted in 2 applications for Lottery funding. Sadly both bids failed to attract the necessary funding.

Not deterred by this set back a way to generate funds was sort to enable the Trust to keep the site operating. A Caravan Storage business became the way ahead. The Grade 11 listing which had been obtained by The Griffin Trust was upgraded to * listing by the Secretary of State after The Hooton Park Trust had put a very strong case to them on the uniqueness of the hangar complex.

Volunteer and community groups joined to compliment the other groups which had been inherited by The Hooton Park Trust. Some open days had been organised to help keep the public profile up, but they ceased due to restraints caused by the deterioration of the buildings and the rising cost of mounting them.

A grant of £172,000.00 from English Heritage has been successfully obtained and used to replace the central gully of Hangar 2.

In 2001 The Aeroplane Collection were invited to establish themselves at Hooton Park, and they now exhibit their aeroplane artifacts at the project.

In 2007 a new manager was employed at The Hooton Park Trust and his main job remitt is to push on. During 2009 in a cost cutting exercise the running of the project was taken over directly by the board of directors, who now run the site with the assistance of a part time administrator.

The trust is still striving to obtain sufficient funding to restore these Grade II* Belfast Truss hangars that can as part of the original Naylor estate can trace its history back the Norman Conquest.

	Home Background History Caravans Events Volunteers American Connections Contact Us American Connections (Click to make larger) Picture curtosy of The Hooton Park Trust Richard Naylor Hooton Park’s connection with America goes back a long way. Richard Naylor a wealthy Liverpool banker owned Hooton Park from 1848 onwards and indeed The Naylor Trust still owns large tracts of land in the area. Some time between 1848 and 1875 Naylor took part in a round Ireland yacht race against an American entry in his own boat, on that occasion he won. First World War The hangars at Hooton Park where built on Naylor’s land and completed in September 1917. Number 4 Depot Training Station moved in and started to train pilots from Britain and the Commonwealth, to be followed by trainee pilots from America. Hooton Park was envisaged as an assembly point for aircraft built in America but the war finished before this came about. In the graveyard of St. Mary of the Angels church at Hooton Cross Roads on the New Chester Road there is a military headstone inscribed Second Lieutenant English R.A.F. an America citizen. We have been lead to believe that he was an experienced pilot who after service defending London was transferred to Hooton Park as an instructor but was killed in a flying accident. We believe that his body was recovered and returned to Troy, New York State. (Click to make larger) Picture curtosy of The Hooton Park Trust Second World War During the Second World War Hooton Park was the airfield used by Coastal Command to fly patrols over the Western Approaches protecting both British and America Shipping. Ships coming from America would arrive at Liverpool or Birkenhead docks with the aircraft built in the U.S.A. They were transported Speke Airport (Liverpool) or Hooton Park for assembly. Hooton Park was Liverpool Airport until Speke was completed. The ones for Hooton would arrive by road or via the Manchester Ship Canal and then into Number 7 Aircraft Assembly Unit. Martin Hearn Ltd. was the company that assembled and flight tested the aircraft before they were passed to the squadrons. The aircraft types included American built P51 Mustangs, P38 Lightning, P47 Thunderbolts, Douglas Boston bombers and Harvard Trainers; also Canadian built Handley Page Hamden Bombers. The first truly military helicopters in Europe were assembled and flight tested at Hooton Park. Getting on for 10,000 aircraft were produced for the war effort. Martin Hearn Ltd. Also did servicing and battle damage repairs on Avro Ansons. 1960 to 1989 The giant America motor car company General Motors obtained part of the original airfield to build their Vauxhall Motors Ellesmere Port plant. The first car to leave the line was a Vauxhall Viva in 1962; the factory still thrives today being one of the most efficient in Europe. (Click to make larger) Picture curtosy of The Hooton Park Trust 1990-1999 The Griffin Trust was formed in 1990 after negotiating a lease for 2 of the 3 hangars and the huts from Vauxhall Motors Ellesmere Port, and they still operate here to this day. 2000-Present With the success of the SHH campaign mounted by the Griffin Trust, in October 2000 The Hooton Park Trust became the owners of the three WW1 "Belfast Truss" aircraft hangars and associated ancillary buildings. Included in the freehold package was a financial guarantee for the first twelve months to pay a manager and to assist in the running cost of the Hooton Park Trust. A much larger amount was made available to match fund any public sector grants whilst dealing with the every day running of the site in general, several feasibility studies were complied which resulted in 2 applications for Lottery funding. Sadly both bids failed to attract the necessary funding. Not deterred by this set back a way to generate funds was sort to enable the Trust to keep the site operating. A Caravan Storage business became the way ahead. The Grade 11 listing which had been obtained by The Griffin Trust was upgraded to * listing by the Secretary of State after The Hooton Park Trust had put a very strong case to them on the uniqueness of the hangar complex. Volunteer and community groups joined to compliment the other groups which had been inherited by The Hooton Park Trust. Some open days had been organised to help keep the public profile up, but they ceased due to restraints caused by the deterioration of the buildings and the rising cost of mounting them. A grant of £172,000.00 from English Heritage has been successfully obtained and used to replace the central gully of Hangar 2. In 2001 The Aeroplane Collection were invited to establish themselves at Hooton Park, and they now exhibit their aeroplane artifacts at the project. In 2007 a new manager was employed at The Hooton Park Trust and his main job remitt is to push on. During 2009 in a cost cutting exercise the running of the project was taken over directly by the board of directors, who now run the site with the assistance of a part time administrator. The trust is still striving to obtain sufficient funding to restore these Grade II* Belfast Truss hangars that can as part of the original Naylor estate can trace its history back the Norman Conquest.
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