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Aug 9, 20232 min read

Telscombe Cliffs Airfield 1916 - 1919

Telscombe Cliffs Airfield, a military airstrip, existed between 1916 and 1919 covering 50 acres of grassland at Telscombe Cliffs before the town of Peacehaven was built. During the First World War many small airfields were set up along the South Coast with Telscombe Cliffs Airfield originally created in response to the Zeppelin airship raid on Portsmouth in 1916.



In 1917 due to the success of long range seaplane patrols German submarine commanders moved closer to British ports and shipping losses within ten miles of the coast increased. Telscombe Cliffs was one of a chain of landing grounds used by flights of De Havilland 6s (pictured above), a low powered two seat training aircraft of little operational value, but useful for scaring off the submarines.


Telscombe came under the control of No 242 Squadron, Newhaven, in August 1918 and the De Havilland 6s flew back and forth along the coast for the rest of the war, resulting in a reduced number of sunk ships in coastal waters.


Commemorative plaque on the entrance wall of the Telscombe Civic Centre on the Corner of the South Coast Road and Central Avenue


Pat & Chris Bowman, Chair & Secretary, Telscombe Residents Association, "From 1916 - 1919 there was a large military presence on Telscombe Tye. Hundreds of soldiers; gun emplacements, and an airstrip. The part of Telscombe Road which leads to the Tye was laid with concrete by Canadian soldiers. So, during the First World War, Telscombe Tye was a hive of military activity. There is a commemorative plaque on the entrance wall of the Telscombe Civic Centre on the Corner of the South Coast Road and Central Avenue.


"There was a rehabilitation centre in Telscombe Cliffs, probably where the Telscombe Cliffs (Primary) School is now. It was used to train disabled 1st World War soldiers to work on farms, despite their injuries. Also, during the 2nd World War there was a Radar Station on The Tye.


"It is known that seaplanes were deployed from both Telscombe Cliffs and Newhaven bases (it was believed that the Newhaven base was the main site)."


Unveiling of commemorative plaque on the entrance wall of the Telscombe Civic Centre on the Corner of the South Coast Road and Central Avenue


The airfield was closed in 1919 and returned to farmland but was subsequently completely covered by the new town of Peacehaven.


Thanks to Derek Barton for sharing his images and information and to Pat & Chris Bowman for the information they shared.


References:


For more What's On around Newhaven; Peacehaven; Telscombe Cliffs; Saltdean; Rottingdean; Ovingdean; Brighton Marina; and Kemptown go to www.shoreliners.co.uk/whats-on


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