This card, addressed to a Miss A. Cox, The Shop, Finglesham, Kent, was posted in Southwater in 1908, and was from A.C. who added the ‘Near Madehurst’ on the front. The publisher is not known.

The structure shown was built by Jose Weiss (1859-1919), the well known landscape painter and aviation pioneer who used it to launch his large experimental gliders. Note that it is set on a turntable so that it could be faced into the wind, The gliders would gather speed down the ramp and hopefully lift off. Some of these ended their flights in the River Arun, to be rescued by the locals no doubt for suitable reward. No significant trace of the structure is known to remain. See the Houghton Video for more on his exploits.

This card was obtained from the auction of the late Rendell Williams’ fine collection. He was the author of the website ‘Sussex Postcards’, an excellent source of information on the subject.