Nine Elms in Wandsworth in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Short Brothers
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2026
1. The Short Brothers Marker
The Short Brothers
Horace 1872-1917
Eustace 1875-1932
Oswald 1883-1969
Aeronautical Engineers worked in arches 75 and 81
Erected 2013 by English Heritage.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.
Location. 51° 28.713′ N, 0° 8.876′ W. Marker is in Wandsworth, England, in Greater London. It is in Nine Elms. It is at the intersection of Queen's Circus and Queenstown Road, on the left when traveling south on Queen's Circus. The marker is located behind the petrol station on Queenstown Road, in Arch 75. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 326 Queen's Circus (Arch 75), Wandsworth, England SW8 4NE, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Short Brothers (English Heritage). Excerpt:
Britains first aircraft manufacturers, Horace, Eustace and Oswald Short achieved many firsts in aeronautics. They designed and built the first British-powered aircraft to complete a circular flight of a mile and created Britains first-ever purpose-built aircraft factory on an aerodrome on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Their pioneering work on the stressed skin principle of aircraft construction immediately after the First World War was also acknowledged by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors.(Submitted on April 6, 2026.)
2. Oswald Short (Wikipedia).
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2026
2. The Short Brothers Marker - wide view
In 1906, they moved their business again, to railway arches at Battersea, and flew balloons from Battersea gas works, including some passenger-carrying flights over London. Via contacts in the War Office and in the Aero Club of Great Britain (later Royal Aero Club), they went on to produce balloons of various designs for many notable people and events, up to and including the First World War.(Submitted on April 6, 2026.)
In 1908, Aero Club members including Charles Rolls, described accounts of the Wright Brothers' demonstrations of their aircraft at Le Mans in France. Oswald Short reportedly said to Eustace "This is the finish of ballooning: we must begin building aeroplanes at once, and we can't do that without Horace!" Oswald succeeded in persuading Horace to join them, and in November 1908 they registered their partnership under the name Short Brothers. They soon started building two aeroplanes, for Charles Rolls and for Francis McClean, then they established an additional factory at Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey, later relocated to Eastchurch. In early 1909, Short Brothers signed an agreement with the Wright brothers to manufacture copies of Wright Flyers for sale under licence, and thus became the World's first aircraft manufacturer.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 6, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
