Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Military and aviation museum in Essex, England
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is a military, aviation, and history museum near Maldon in Essex, England, set on a preserved World War I airfield. The site includes original workshops, hangars, an ammunition store, a water tower, and a parade ground, all dating from 1916 and 1917.
The site was built in 1916 for the Royal Flying Corps, the military precursor to the Royal Air Force, with the mission of defending London from airship and aircraft attacks. After the war it was never converted for later military use, which is why so many of its original buildings still stand today.
The name "Great War" refers to what people in Britain traditionally called World War I, and it shapes how the whole site is presented. The exhibitions focus not just on aircraft but also on the daily lives of the men stationed here, shown through recreated spaces like a mess room and a pilot's quarters.
The site sits on Hackmans Lane in Purleigh and is easiest to reach by car, as there is no regular bus service; a taxi from the nearest train station at South Woodham Ferrers is the next best option. A visit usually takes around three to four hours, and most paths are flat, making it workable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The water tower on the site still has its original tank, making it one of very few such wartime structures to survive intact. The grounds also shelter brown hares, corn buntings, and owls, which means a visit can include real wildlife sightings depending on the season.
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