NS11 over Crewe

Photographs, whatever their quality, can often shine a light on new aspects of a story. Some time ago we were contacted by Mark Potts who had heard a rumour that NS11 had once flown over Crewe – apparently to keep a promise made by its commander Walter Warneford to “show off” his airship to his old workmates at the Crewe Railway Works. Mark has now tracked down this photograph, taken by an amateur photographer from Broad Street. The distinctive chimneys on the houses in the shot match exactly with those on Broad Street now. The photograph is grainy and indistinct, but it tells an amazing story – NS11 was, after all, a long way from the North Sea.

Without doubt this event would have caused a stir, so we will be undertaking further research in local newspaper archive to see if we can build on this story.