The Palace of Engineering
It was thought that the story of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport began around 1934 with a few small planes using ‘the Meadows’ at the end of Monkton Village. However, historians have now discovered evidence that aircraft were on or near the site around 1913, a mere 10 years after the Wright Brothers first took to the air.
In the pre-war years, the site developed as a training airfield. The pioneer, David McIntyre, set up Scottish Aviation Ltd in 1935 and acquired 348 acres of Ayrshire countryside just behind Orangefield House. By the end of that year, accommodation had been developed including a hangar for Tiger Moth bi-planes, offices, lecture rooms and a small control tower.
As WW II intervened, the site developed into a major airport particularly for the delivery of American aircraft under the Lend Lease programme. On some days up to 300 aircraft arrived for onward delivery! At this time, training gave way to aircraft production undertaken by Scottish Aviation Ltd. Many famous aircraft types were built at Prestwick until production of the BAe Jetstream ceased in 1998. The original factory was expanded out of all recognition when in 1941, the Palace of Engineering, built in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow for the 1938 Empire Exhibition was taken down and rebuilt brick by brick at Prestwick. This magnificent building, an excellent example of Art Deco architecture survives today under the ownership of BAe Systems and can be seen on the North side of the airport directly opposite the terminal. |