[1][2] The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company was created in 1914[3] and established in a new factory at Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire in 1916.

Agreements covered such rights in North and South America, excepting Brazil and certain rights in Canada and provided that all special tools and patterns were to be supplied by the UK company at cost.

The company had factories at Olympia in Leeds, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Brough (East Yorkshire) and Dumbarton.

In the early days, Blackburn himself flew aircraft on the beaches at Marske and Filey,[12] with the company also using the former RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

[13] Before production shifted to Sherburn-in-Elmet and Brough from the Leeds site, aircraft were flown in and out of Olympia works by an adjacent airstrip in Roundhay Park.