The origins of Manchester Airport in England, UK, date back to the 1930s. Construction started on Ringway on 28 November 1935 and it opened partly in June 1937 and completely on 25 June 1938, in Ringway parish north of Wilmslow, from which it derived its original name Manchester (Ringway) Airport. Its north border was Yewtree Lane. Its southeast border was a little northwest of Altrincham Road (Styal). Local roads relevant to this account, on the map below: Yewtree Lane: the lane from the junction by Firtree Farm west to The Grange (east of the crossroads marked "Ringway"), and continuing northwest past Manor Farm to the next junction. Altrincham Road (Styal): the lane from Oversleyford running northeast then east into the Styal area.
In World War II, it was the location of RAF Ringway, and was important in the production and repair of military aircraft and training parachutists.
After World War II, it gradually expanded to its present size, including massive expansion of aprons, runways and car parking areas. Among the first expansions was car parking and service buildings north of Yewtree Lane.
From 1958 to late 1962, Terminal 1 was built: this was the first of Ringway's modern large terminals and the first major public building north of Yewtree Lane.
In 1997, the second runway was planned and construction on it started, with protests about it intruding on woodland in the Styal area.
Local airfield history
Manchester, England, has been served since 1911 by the following airfields: Trafford Park Aerodrome, in operation 1911–18, owned by a company. Now built-over. Alexandra Park Aerodrome, in operation 1918–24, built on land owned by the Egerton Estate between Didsbury and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Now playing fields and built-over. Woodford Aerodrome, owned by A.V.Roe in NE Cheshire, from 1924. Wythenshawe Aerodrome, the first municipally-owned airport at Manchester, 1929–1930. Now built-over. City Airport Manchester originally and still known as Barton Aerodrome, from January 1930. Manchester Airport, formerly known as Ringway: described here.
Origins of Manchester Airport
For history of Ringway before the airport started, see Ringway, Manchester. 8 March 1927: view (from south) of countryside where Manchester Airport is now Mid 1934: Manchester Airport's present site was chosen to build an airfield, as Barton Aerodrome was considered unsuitable for larger aircraft. 25 July 1934: Manchester City Council voted narrowly in favour of the Ringway site as the city's new airport. The site for the planned airport was at the time in the Cheshire parish of Ringway (as it was south of the River Mersey). Its north border was Yewtree Lane. Its southeast border was a little northwest of Altrincham Road (Styal). 28 November 1935: Construction was ceremonially started by the Lord Mayor. 17 May 1937: The first aeroplane landed at Ringway, which was partly built and all grass: a de Havilland Hornet Moth G-ADND, flown by Duncan Menzies, a Fairey Aviation test pilot, was over where Wythenshawe is now and intended to land at Barton Aerodrome, but could not find Sale and the Manchester Ship Canal (landmarks on the way to Barton) because of fog, so he landed at another airfield (Ringway, then incomplete) which he saw. 8 June 1937: The first (westerly) part of the airfield, with an assembly hangar, was officially opened for use by Fairey Aviation. Early summer 1938: The airport was completed for civil aviation use. 25 June 1938 : The airport and its terminal building were officially opened with a public air display that included civil and RAF aircraft and on 27 June handled its first scheduled flight, a KLM operated Douglas DC-2 to Amsterdam. The airport at this time was called Ringway, after the parish it was within. Pre-war, KLM was the only international operator out of Ringway and offered a request stop at Doncaster. The terminal building was the westernmost of the large buildings and incorporated the control tower, administration, restaurant, and hangar: it was later numbered Hangar 1. 1938: 4,000 passengers used the airport. January–August 1939: 4000 passengers used the airport, before declaration of war brought an end to civil operations.
