The Manor & Manor Farm, Oakington was tenated by Thomas Cooke in 1909. He was married to Neville Alexander T N Feary's auntie, Susannah Feary. He moved to the Manor prior to 1901, and was possibly there untill as late as 1939. Manor Farm fields were ideal for flying, being large and fairly flat.
Manor Farm drive. Feb 2008
The fields to the north of Manor Farm, Oakington
For the size of field required for an aeroplane of the period to take off, we can refer to the '1914 Training Manual of the Royal Flying Corps'.
"Aeroplanes can land on or rise from short grass, stubble, or dry plough, but first is best. When the ground is level with a hard surface and the hedges do not exceed 5 feet in height, a field of 200 yards square (about 9 acres) is sufficient for any but a very fast aeroplane to land in. If an aeroplane has to land over trees or telegraph wires a horizontal distance equal to 12 times the height of the obstacle should be added to the 200 yards. These measurements are based on the supposition that the aeroplane will rise and land against any wind that is blowing. If there is a wire fence of iron railing round the landing place, pieces of cloth or blankets should be hung on it to make it visible from the air."
The barns at Manor Farm, Oakington
