First Balloon Landing in England
In the village, on the corner of Huggins Lane and Parsonage Lane, is a stone plinth marking a point close to which in 1784 (at 3.30pm on 15 September) the Italian balloonist Vincenzo Lunardi, while on the first hydrogen filled balloon flight in England, is reputed to have made his first landing, although there is reason to believe that the site was probably nearer Northaw. The plinth states that on landing Lunardi handed a cat and a dog that had accompanied him from London before re-ascending and continuing north east. According to legend, the recipient of the animals was a local woman.
The plinth reads:
Near this spot at 3.30 in the afternoon of September 15th 1784 Vincenzo Lunardi the Itialian Balloonist made his first landing whilst on his pioneer flight in the English atmosphere. Having handed out a cat and dog the partners of his flight from London he re-ascended and continued North Eastward.
Read more about this topic: Welham Green
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