The Wright brothers made the first successful aeroplane flight in 1903. Just six years later, Frenchman Jean Blériot crossed the English Channel, writes Jane Hurst.

What people may not know is that, soon after this historic flight, you could buy a plane in Alton.

Many locals will remember the Kerridge name, which was associated with garages in the town. Frederick William Kerridge, known as Will, acquired premises at 9 and 11 Market Street in 1907 and began selling Sunbeam, Swift and Triumph cycles.

Then, at some point after 1909, he advertised: “We can supply you with an aeroplane (Wright, Bleriot, & Latham models in stock).”

The Latham plane was probably named after Arthur Charles Hubert Latham, a French aviator who attempted to fly across the Channel in 1909. His aircraft was made by Société Antoinette, so perhaps Will Kerridge was selling these.

Almost next door in Market Street was photographer George Aylward and, between them, the pair published an interesting postcard. It shows a Blériot plane on The Butts, with a pilot in the cockpit, four men holding the tail and possibly Will at the front with the propeller.

It was an advertising stunt, but Will soon turned to selling cars, so perhaps not many – if any – aeroplanes were sold.

On September 23, 1912, Admiral Jervoise of Medstead Manor noted in his diary that “a biplane flew nearly over us it was high up but was the nearest I have ever seen one.”

Just under a year later, he wrote that a biplane had landed near Roedowns. The pilot was travelling from Brooklands to Hamble and thought he was following the Meon Valley Railway. Realising his mistake as dusk approached, he landed.

So local people did have the chance to see some of the earliest days of aviation – even if sometimes only by accident.