Flying jetpacks doesn't have to just be a spectator sport at FOS, you can have a go at our very own Aerodrome!
Spectate from the chicane at the Revival to see plenty of classic cars going sideways as they exit this infamous point of our Motor Circuit.
The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection
The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.
The exquisite mirror in the Ballroom of Goodwood House it so big they had to raise the ceiling to get it inside!
As the private clubhouse for all of the Estate’s sporting and social members, it offers personal service and a relaxed atmosphere
Spectate from the chicane at the Revival to see plenty of classic cars going sideways as they exit this infamous point of our Motor Circuit.
Within the boot room are hooks for 20 people, enough for all of the Lodges 10 bedrooms.
Our gin uses wild-grown botanicals sourced from the estate, and is distilled with mineral water naturally chalk-filtered through the South Downs.
FOS Favourite Mad Mike Whiddett can be caught melting tyres in his incredible collection of cars (and trucks) up the hillclimb
Legend of Goodwood's golden racing era and Le Mans winner Roy Salvadori once famously said "give me Goodwood on a summer's day and you can forget the rest".
The bricks lining the Festival of Speed startline are 100 years old and a gift from the Indianapolis Speedway "Brickyard" in 2011 to mark their centenary event!
Future Lab is Goodwood's innovation pavilion, inspiring industry enthusiasts and future scientists with dynamic tech
Sir Stirling Moss was one of the founding patrons of the Festival of Speed, and a regular competitor at the Revival.
The first ever horsebox was used from Goodwood to Doncaster for the 1836 St. Leger. Elis arrived fresh and easily won his owner a £12k bet.
The red & yellow of the Racecourse can be traced back hundreds of years, even captured in our stunning Stubbs paintings in the Goodwood Collection
One Summer, King Edward VII turned his back on the traditional morning suit, and donned a linen suit and Panama hat. Thus the Glorious Goodwood trend was born.
Leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in one of the most exciting horseracing events in the world.
The first public race meeting took place in 1802 and, through the nineteenth century, ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ as the press named it, became a highlight of the summer season
The first ever horsebox was used from Goodwood to Doncaster for the 1836 St. Leger. Elis arrived fresh and easily won his owner a £12k bet.
Leading women of business, sport, fashion and media, take part in one of the most exciting horseracing events in the world.
The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.
The oldest existing rules for the game were drawn up for a match between the 2nd Duke and a neighbour
The famous fighter ace, who flew his last sortie from Goodwood Aerodrome, formerly RAF Westhampnett has a statue in his honor within the airfield.
The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.
The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.
Flying jetpacks doesn't have to just be a spectator sport at FOS, you can have a go at our very own Aerodrome!
Flying training began at Goodwood in 1940 when pilots were taught operational flying techniques in Hurricanes and Spitfires.
We have been host to many incredible film crews using Goodwood as a backdrop for shows like Downton Abbey, Hollywood Blockbusters like Venom: let there be Carnage and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.
A temple-folly guarded by two sphinxes, the beautiful shell house was built in 1748 with collected shells and the floor made from horse teeth.
Ensure you take a little time out together to pause and take in the celebration of all the hard work you put in will be a treasured memory.
The first ever horsebox was used from Goodwood to Doncaster for the 1836 St. Leger. Elis arrived fresh and easily won his owner a £12k bet.
The first ever round of golf played at Goodwood was in 1914 when the 6th Duke of Richmond opened the course on the Downs above Goodwood House.
The Motor Circuit was known as RAF Westhampnett, active from 1940 to 1946 as a Battle of Britain station.
Built in 1787 by celebrated architect James Wyatt to house the third Duke of Richmond’s prized fox hounds, The Kennels was known as one of the most luxurious dog houses in the world!
Just beyond Goodwood House along the Hillclimb, the 2nd Dukes banqueting house was also known as "one of the finest rooms in England" (George Vertue 1747).
The iconic spitfire covered almost 43,000 kilometres and visited over 20 countries on its epic journey and currently resides at our Aerodrome.
A 20m woodland rue, from Halnaker to Lavant, was planted by our forestry teams & volunteers, featuring native species like oak, beech, & hornbeam
The famous fighter ace, who flew his last sortie from Goodwood Aerodrome, formerly RAF Westhampnett has a statue in his honor within the airfield.
"En la rose je fleurie" or "Like the rose, I flourish" is part of the Richmond coat of Arms and motto
The connection of pilots and their four-legged friends dates back to the First World War, many squadrons having a squadron mascot who would live in and around the hangers and became part of the RAF family. Loyal and attentive to their masters, they offered a sense of calm and companionship in an otherwise traumatic environment. Goodwood was no different in World War 2 with pilot’s dogs appearing in snapshots as early as 1940.
From 1940-1945, over 46 squadrons were based at RAF Westhampnett. Many hundreds of young men and women served on or in and around the airfield who, when off duty would head off into Chichester and the local area in search of beer, company, dancing and good times although some just wanted to return home for a much needed rest. Some found solace and companionship with their dog.
The first squadron to arrive at Goodwood or RAF Westhampnett in July 1940 were 145 Squadron who had moved over from RAF Tangmere. They too brought an assortment of pooches with them as can be seen from the photo below, the first known images of pilots’ pals at dispersal.
The earliest known dog of 602 Squadron during September 1940 onwards was that of Pilot Officer Patrick ‘Paddy’ Barthropp who flew during the Battle of Britain from the airfield. His dog was a dachshund called Blitzkrieg, the squadron also has an Alsatian called ‘Crash’ and another dog called Mr Jackson, a small terrier. They roamed the dispersals of the squadron and appear in the squadron photograph.
129 Squadron who arrived at the airfield in late 1941 had a Dutch pilot who had escaped from captivity by stealing a German floatplane. His name was Govert Steen and he had an Alsatian called Jan who appears in a number of squadron photos, some posed, some accidental, as she roamed the dispersals. Sadly Govert Steen was lost on operations and the Dog was adopted by another pilot Phill Stuart from New Zealand who recalled that she was very protective of her pilots:-
“Steen had a fine German Shepard and when he went missing I took over the care of Jan. Although great fun and friendly to pilots he was a bit of a snob and not happy to allow other than plots into our dispersal huts apart from the few groundcrew who regularly worked there. On one occasion I had trouble with a Spitfire engine fault and on landing back at Westhapmnett I was unable to taxi it back to our dispersal. It was teeming with rain so I borrowed a mechanics rain cape and bicycle and rode back the hut. When I went to go in Jan was not having any of it, bared his teeth and growled at me and then when I spoke to him he was overcome with remorse!”
Even the American pilots of the 309th Squadron who arrived in 1942 had their squadron mascots. Lieutenant Harry Strawn found himself besotted with an old Irish Setter pup he picked up in London whilst on leave and brought him back to live with him at Goodwood.
Right through the RAF’s period of tenure at the airfield there are several constants in all of the period photos, cars and dogs. It’s clear that our four legged friends were very important to the men, a sense of home maybe, normality, companionship and loyalty.