Kenley Airfield isn’t just a patch of open land - it’s a living testament to the courage of those who took to the skies when Britain’s fate hung in the balance.

Once a hub of intense aerial warfare during the Battle of Britain, today the airfield stands proudly, its historic past carefully preserved by dedicated organisations such as Kenley Revival.

Their work ensures that the site’s remarkable story and heritage remains alive, resonating its significance through future generations to come.

Kenley Airfield was a vital frontline during WWII: It wasn’t just an airfield, it was a place of incredible bravery and sacrifice.

Wonderful establishments like Kenley Revival are here to make sure that story isn’t forgotten.

For this inspiring team, preservation goes beyond just maintaining structures, “It’s about honouring the personal stories and the untold moments of courage that still echo from the airfield’s past.”

Launched in 2017, Kenley Revival was a lottery-funded project that restored the airfield’s structures and trails.

Linda Duffield, a volunteer and former Legacy Officer for the project, reflects on its history: “This land was originally Kenley Common, a farm and a golf course.

"In 1917, it was seized under the Defence of the Realm Act to become an air acceptance park.”

Duffield explains, “It was basically a glorified aircraft factory, producing many aircraft.”

After the war, it served as a communication hub, ferrying dignitaries to the Paris Peace Conference. “Winston Churchill even flew from Kenley when civil aviation was forbidden,” she adds.

Duffield then goes on to share her personal interest in the history of aviation too: Her family has deep ties to the RAF, with her uncle and dad both being in the RAF themselves, as well as her mum being in the Women’s Royal Naval Service.

However, she explains that “I didn’t realise that what I knew had value until I came to Kenley myself.”

Kenley Revival engages the community through tours, school workshops, as well as local events.

Duffield points out that, “Many people, especially children, see war as something distant.

“There is no realisation these days that [war] can happen to you, that it happened in your streets, in the airfield where you learnt to ride your bike!”

As Remembrance Day approaches, Kenley Revival plans a wreath-laying ceremony at the airfield’s memorial.

“We invite veteran families to lay our wreath,” Linda explains. “This year, the grandchildren of pilot George Herbert Hatch, who died in 1940, will honour his memory.”

As Kenley continues to stand strong, it serves as a powerful reminder that the past is not something to be forgotten but something we carry with us, shaping our values, our future and the way we honour the legacies left behind.

In preserving Kenley Airfield, we safeguard more than just a place; we protect the very spirit of courage and resilience that defines it.