In 1784, Vincenzo Lunardi made history as the first person to fly a hot air balloon in England. His dramatic launch attracted a crowd of 200,000 people at the Honourable Artillery Ground in Finsbury. Although his friend George was left behind, Lunardi brought along a dog, a cat, and a pigeon in a cage as companions.
Heading north up the Lea Valley towards Hertfordshire, he faced a challenge when his cat fell ill from the cold. This prompted him to land temporarily in a cornfield at North Mimms to let the cat out. After ascending again for a brief journey, he finally touched down at Standon Green End, completing a flight of 24 miles.
Decades later, in 1960, a commemorative stone marking this pioneering aerial landing was installed at Balloon Corner in Welham Green—though it is three miles away from the actual site. Nevertheless, Vincenzo Lunardi and Welham Green remain firmly embedded in the chronicles of aviation history.
