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History

Hooton Park - the Definitive Periods

Hooton Park Timeline
1066-1850 William the First – Stanley family
1850-1914 C.R Naylor era
1914-1916 World War One - Hall requisitioned.
1917-1918 Hangars built - RFC/RAF training units
1918-1926 Hostilities end-return to farming
Hall demolished
1926-1939 Dawson-Comper-Pobjoy
Martin Hearne
610 Squadron
1939-1945 Martin Hearne Ltd.
RAF activity on site
1945-1957 Civil flying
610 & 611 Squadrons.
1962 Vauxhall Motors purchase site
Wheels shows
1986-1996 Bi-Wheels events.
1989-1990 Hangars Grade 2 Listed by The Griffin Trust.
1990 The Griffin Trust was formed and feasibility studies carried out on Hangar 3
1992 Project Manager employed, rats and other vermin evicted and the site started to be alive again with volunteers, public openings and events. The Griffin Trust puts the Hooton Park Airfield back on the map as they applied to the council for the address.
1988-1999 Christmas Bank Holidays
Emergency roof repairs due to bad weather. Ask Roger!
1994-1996 Efforts to gain funding.
Meetings with Vauxhall Motors try to extend the lease to enable funding to to be sorted.
1996 Partnership with Vauxhall Motors, English Partnership and Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council to attract funding for Vauxhall Motors Centre.
1998 The Hooton Park Hangars Trade mark registered in memory of founder member and designer.
Vauxhall Motors pulled out of Talks.
1999 Vauxhall Motors issued eviction notice to Griffin Trust and applied to Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough to demolish Hangars. S.H.H campaign mounted by The Griffin Trust
2000 Hooton Park Trust formed and became new owners of the site.
2001 Restoration of MT Sheds begins.
2003 Restoration of northside MT Sheds completed.
2005 Restoration of South side MT sheds completed