Original art print of Barton Aerodrome, featuring a de Havilland Dragon Rapide airliner.
Barton Aerodrome first opened in 1930 as City Airport Manchester, and was the first purpose-built municipal airport in Britain. The control tower, depicted in this illustration, was completed in 1933, and is the oldest control tower in Europe still in use today. In the 1930s, the airport was used by airlines such as Railway Air Services (formed as a joint venture by Imperial Airways and the Big Four railway operators; eventually becoming a part of British Airways), and it is one of their aircraft that is shown here: 'Mercury' G-ACVY, a DH.89 de Havilland Dragon Rapide. Most commercial airlines departed Barton with the opening of Ringway Airport (today's Manchester Airport) in 1938, though Aer Lingus operated a Dublin flight until 1942.
After the Second World War, Barton Aerodrome was given to Lancashire Aero Club, who continue to be based there to this day. New owners arrived in 2003 with Peel Holdings, whose investments saw the control tower and hangars refurbished, and Manchester Heliport opened on-site. In 2025, Barton Aerodrome saw 44,000 aircraft movements, and was home to 100 aircraft and 10 operators.
This illustration was commissioned by Manchester Barton Aerodrome.
This aviation illustration by artist Tom Wisdom is a high-quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.
12x16" art print shown. Cropping and title position (if applicable) may differ slightly on 'A' size art prints.
