Beneath these arches, a revolution began. This is the A. V. Roe Plaque. It marks a pivotal moment in British aviation history. We are standing at the Walthamstow Marsh Railway Viaduct. This is where Alliott Verdon Roe assembled his Avro No.1 triplane.
The A. V. Roe Plaque commemorates Roe’s remarkable achievement. In July 1909, he achieved the first all-British powered flight right here. Imagine the scene. The marshland stretches out. The railway arches provide a gritty backdrop.
Alliott Verdon Roe was born in 1877. He possessed a relentless passion for aviation. Before his flying endeavors, Roe worked as a ships engineer. He left the sea in 1902 to pursue his dream of flight.
Roe’s journey was not without its challenges. He faced setbacks and financial constraints. He even spent time in the USA working on a gyrocopter project. It was a strange creation that never left the ground.
Undeterred, Roe returned to England. He entered a Daily Mail competition for flying machine models in 1907. He secured second prize. Spurred on by this success he decided to build a full-size biplane.
Initial attempts to secure locations for his work failed. Permission to use Wormwood Scrubs and Wimbledon Common was denied. Eventually, Roe found his haven here at Lea Marshes, now Walthamstow Marsh.
In early 1909, Roe rented two railway arches from the railway company. Parts were manufactured in Putney. They were then assembled here. This became his makeshift workshop.
June 1909 saw Roe make a series of short flights. These were more like jumps. His small 9 horsepower motorcycle engine lacked sufficient power. After adjustments, he flew 100 feet. He modestly described it as a hop.
Then came July 23rd. On this day, A. V. Roe made history. He flew his machine 900 feet. The average height was around 10 feet. Conditions were good. He followed this with two more flights of the same length. A.V. Roe became the first person to fly a British-designed machine. It was powered by a British engine on British soil.
The A. V. Roe Plaque was unveiled in 1983. It recognizes this landmark achievement. Roe likely left Lea Marshes in October 1909. He attended a flying meeting in Blackpool.
His brother H.V. Roe later joined him providing much-needed capital. This led to the formation of the famous AVRO Company. It built iconic planes like the Lancaster, Shackleton and Vulcan bombers.
So, as you stand before this A. V. Roe Plaque, remember the ingenuity and determination of Alliott Verdon Roe. He turned a dream into reality. He defied skeptics. He forever changed the course of aviation history.