Near Dover in Kent, England, United Kingdom
Blériot’s 1909 Landing Site
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 21, 2007
1. Blériot's 1909 Landing Site Marker
After making the first Channel flight by aeroplane Louis Blériot landed at this spot on Sunday 25th July 1909.Erected by Alexander Duckham for the Aero Club of the United Kingdom.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is July 25, 1909.
Location. 51° 7.868′ N, 1° 19.558′ E. Marker is near Dover, England, in Kent. Marker can be reached from Upper Road near Dover Castle. Marker is in a wooded area less than 0.1 mile northeast of Dover Castle and is accessible via a path through the woods from Upper Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dover, England CT16 1HP, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Louis Blériot 1909 (a few steps from this marker); Arthur’s Hall (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Buildings of Dover Castle (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Medieval Dover (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Dover’s early history (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Dover’s defences (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Command, Control and Communication
this page online
Also see . . . A video of an original Blériot XI in flight. Just 5½ years after the historic first flight of the Wright brothers, French inventor Louis Blériot flew his monoplane from near Calais, France, across the English Channel to Dover, England. The 22-mile crossing took 37 minutes. An original Blériot XI is maintained in flying condition at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, New York. (Submitted on October 29, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts.)
Additional commentary.
1. Bleriot Memorial
The monument was marked out originally by my grandfather, Frederick William Duckham. The aircraft had left discoloured grass in its present shape, and my mother told me he filled it in with concrete.
Alexander Duckham was his brother. He sponsored Bleriot and I have a photo of them in a cockpit of a biplane together. At one time they jointly held the altitude record of 800 feet.
Editor's Note: Thank you for sharing some of your family's history behind this historical marker. Please consider
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 21, 2007
2. Blériot's Landing Site
Louis Blériot's monoplane is outlined in stone on a southwest-facing slope near Dover, Kent. The marker's inscription appears where the wing meets the fuselage.
— Submitted August 10, 2011, by Digby Martin Fletcher of Purley, Surrey.
Additional keywords. aircraft aviation
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 8, 2018
3. Blériot’s 1909 Landing Site Marker
The granite memorial is the exact size of Blériot’s Aeroplane
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 6, 2018
4. Propeller from Louis Blériot's Wrecked Aeroplane
In the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon Aerodrome in Colindale, near London
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 6, 2018
5. Propeller from Louis Blériot's Wrecked Aeroplane
with Monsieur Louis Bleriot ‘s permission
from the wrecked monoplane as it
lay in Northfall Meadow on the
morning of July 25th 1909
(signature illegible)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 2,270 times since then and 53 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week November 29, 2009. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 22, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 8, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
