Naval Seaplane Station Established at Nearby Lee-on-the-Solent

1917

The establishment of the Royal Naval Air Service seaplane training station at Lee-on-the-Solent in 1917 brought the military to Stubbington's doorstep. While the airfield itself was located to the south-east, on land between Lee-on-the-Solent and Gosport, its proximity transformed the character of the surrounding area, including Stubbington. Military personnel and their families sought accommodation in the village and surrounding area, and the economic activity generated by the station provided employment and business opportunities beyond farming. The station, which would later become HMS Daedalus, expanded significantly through the interwar period and the Second World War, becoming one of the most important naval air stations in the country. For Stubbington, the long-term effect was to connect the village to the military economy that dominated the Gosport peninsula for much of the twentieth century. Residents worked at the station, socialised with naval families, and the village's daily life became intertwined with the rhythms of military operations next door.

Context

The First World War accelerated aviation development across Britain. The south coast, with its proximity to the English Channel and the Western Front, saw numerous air stations established during 1917 and 1918. The Lee-on-the-Solent station was positioned to take advantage of the Solent's sheltered waters for seaplane operations.

Impact

The nearby air station connected Stubbington to the military economy and brought new residents, employment, and social connections that diversified the village beyond its agricultural origins.