Biggin Hill

12:18pm Wednesday 20th June 2007

The face of Biggin Hill changed forever with the arrival of the Royal Air Force.

Biggin Hill changed drastically from a picnic destination and weekend retreat for well-off Londoners to a busy airbase, with roaring fighter planes filling the skies.

An airfield was built at Biggin Hill in 1917, used as a communications station before developing into a prominent RAF airbase.

RAF Biggin Hill played a crucial role in defending London during the Battle of Britain in 1940, with both Spitfires and Hurricanes being based there.

After the war there was an influx of people into Biggin Hill as people moved away from London and out into the country.

Biggin Hill ceased to be an active base in 1958 and became a civil airfield. The RAF base was closed in 1992.

The airport has been renamed London Biggin Hill Airport.

Biggin Hill's historic ties are annually at the Biggin Hill International Air Fair.

These days Biggin Hill has grown to the size of a small town, perched high up on the North Downs, but within the boundaries of Greater London and the very urban borough of Bromley.

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