They used to build aircraft here

Royal Park Gate has been here for sixteen years now. Before that it had a long and proud history making things for the aviation industry. Now, at last, that history has been recognised with the erection of two plaques on the brick pillar on the junction of Richmond Road and Dukes Avenue.

The plaque on the Richmond Road side shows the factory with its impressive frontage which is much missed. I still deeply regret that it was not retained as part of the new development.

The other plaque, on the Dukes Avenue side, remembers what was built in the factory.

The loss of the factory was a tremendous blow to Ham and to Kingston, it was a major local landmark and provided employment for thousands of skilled workers many of whom lived locally and more of whom spent some of their money in local shops.