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Shoreham airport opened in 1910, making it the oldest established airport in the UK, and the current terminal building was opened in 1936, The same year as the fledgling Gatwick Airport was upgraded from being the mere airfield it had been since it opened in 1931. However, apart from during World War Two, when several international airline operators were removed from London (Croydon) Airport to Shoreham, from where they operated flights to various European destinations, Shoreham airport never became a major air terminal despite the exotic air that Brighton has always posessed. The development of the terminal at Gatwick was almost certainly a crucial factor - it was only a short journey from Brighton via the electrified railway from London or the early dual-carriagewayed A23 road, And when in 1953 Gatwick was designated one of london's principal airports (to replace the Croydon terminal), Shoreham Airport still lacked a tarmac'ed runway, making it totally unsuitable for large modern planes. Even today, the airport only has grass-covered runways.

But we should be grateful for this, as had the airport developed, no doubt the original terminal building would have been replaced by a chunk of New Brutalism years ago. As is, Shoreham airport has been beautifully preserved, retaining many of its original Deco features, and is truly a stunning time-warp.