Laing extended the runway westwards at Filton Airfield to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon airliner, which was being built at the airfield. Work began in July 1946 on the new runway, which was 2,725 yards long and 100 yards wide. The work required the requisitioning and removal of Charlton village and a temporary flying strip was laid, for use while the new runway was under construction. The base course formation was compacted in 8 inch layers, first by sheepsfoot rolls, then by 10 ton wobble wheel rollers, and finally by 8 to 10 ton power rollers. The caption below this photograph in the album reads: "Final stages of sheepsfoot roller are sometimes combined with rolling by rubber-tired (sic) wobble-wheel roller."
This image was catalogued as part of the Breaking New Ground Project in partnership with the John Laing Charitable Trust in 2019-20.
This is part of the Volume: JLP01/01/006 Filton airfield and runway; within the Series: JLP01/01 John Laing Photographic Collection Project Albums; within the Collection: JLP01 John Laing Photographic Collection
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
Photographer: Maltby, John
20th Century Airfield, Construction
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