Trenchard House
The Historic Building
Trenchard House is the earliest building on the Farnborough site. It was built in 1907 by the Royal Engineers to be the headquarters of their Balloon School and it is one of the oldest aviation related buildings in the country. It became the headquarters of Lord Trenchard when he arrived at Farnborough on 7th August 1914. He was posted to France in 1915 to command the newly formed First Wing consisting of Nos 2 & 3 Squadrons.
Most of Lord Trenchard’s time at Farnborough would have been spent organising the training of recruits and equipping the new units and recruits sent out to France to augment the growing RFC. The initial movement of the Royal Flying Corps Expeditionary Force to France took place just as he arrived to take up his posting and was probably organised by Sir Frederick Sykes, from whom Lord Trenchard took over.
The earliest Royal Flying Corps operational squadrons were based in the hangars at the foot of the rise immediately in front of Trenchard House.
The building has been fully refurbished and is the administrative headquarters of FAST. Trenchard House now houses FAST's museum, displaying a significant part of the FAST collection. The building is owned by Slough Estates plc and is made available to FAST by Slough Estates through a lease to FAS Ltd.
The FAST Museum
The Museum is well is well used by the local community and has visits from further afield and overseas, too. Rushmoor Borough Council and the local Member of Parliament offer encouragement and are vocal in support of the Trust's efforts for the community.
In the museum you will find:
- complete aircraft and sections of aircraft of significance to Farnborough
- photographs spanning the history of the site
- photographs and documents relating to the military and civil aviation
- artefacts illustrating landmarks in technical achievement
- models
- educational material
(see the Museum section for more details)
What else goes on in Trenchard House?
- Administration of the FAST trustees activities
- Running the museum and
preparing displays
- The management and operations FASH Limited
- Liaison with SBAC, Rushmoor BC and Slough Estates plc on maintenance, safety etc.
- Administrative headquarters
of the Guild of Aviation Artists More
about the Guild
- Operations of
Euro Aircraft Trading Ltd
- Conference facilities that can be hired - based on the historic Trenchard Room. For more details please contact the museum staff.
Registered Charity 1040199
http://www.farnboroughairsciences.org.uk
Version: 1.14 date: 20 April 2007