[1] The airfield closed in 1957 after the disbandment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, but the three pairs of Belfast Truss hangars erected in 1917 survived the closure.

Another part of the old airfield, including a length of the old paved runway, perimeter track and the apron used to park Meteor jet fighters, remains in the ownership of The Naylor Trust.

He also built a racecourse, polo ground, heronry, stud farm and a church in Childer Thornton in memory of his first wife.

To avoid paying rates the hall was emptied of contents and staff, but the estate continued to be farmed and the racecourse and polo ground remained in use.

Lord Derby recruited the first Pals regiments and Hooton became the training ground for the 18th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Rifles.

After only twelve months the club became one of the most successful in the country, and along with Barton and Woodford Aerodromes was one of the centres for aviation in the north of England.

They set up their own company at Hooton, Utility Airways, which offered joy-riding,[5] air-taxis and some short-distance scheduled flights.

In 1939, the squadron took charge of a number of Fairey Battles, then a flight of Hawker Hurricanes that were quickly replaced by Supermarine Spitfire I's.

In February 1945, another 610 pilot (F/Lt Tony Gaze) flying a Spitfire XIV destroyed a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter-bomber over Germany.

At this time, Martin Hearn obtained a contract from the Ministry of Aircraft Production to repair large numbers of Avro Ansons, and later de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers.

Martin Hearn went into partnership with Lily Belcher, and ran the Glider Club, adjacent to the airfield at its north western corner, as a successful and popular hotel for 25 years.

Wing Commander 'Wilbur' Wright opened a flying school at Hooton, and later a gliding club was operated from the northern end of the airfield.

610 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force returned to Hooton Park after valiant war service, flying Spitfires in the European theatre.

611 Squadron (West Lancashire) relocated from Woodvale to use the longer Hooton runway required for this type of aircraft.

Early in the 1980s, the group of four people organising these events successfully approached the local authority to obtain a preservation order on the three historic World War I hangars.

In the late 1980s this group of four formed themselves into an alliance called The Griffin Trust, and Vauxhall Motors granted them a peppercorn lease on two of the hangars.

Despite many attempts to raise capital for the repair and maintenance of the buildings The Griffin Trust failed to secure any substantial grant funding.

The sale of the freehold concluded twelve months of intensive negotiations between The Hooton Park Trust and Vauxhall Motors.

These were entered into in response to Vauxhall Motor's application in September 1998 to the local planning authority (Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council), for Listed Building Consent to demolish the hangars.

This created an enormous protest from aircraft enthusiasts and local people, who were determined that the buildings should be saved in recognition of their role in the development of military and civilian aviation.

Belfast truss hangars were now exceedingly rare, and Hooton Park was in the fortunate position of having three double bay examples set in context with their original ancillary buildings.

In March 2003, grade II* (two star) listing was achieved and a scheme of emergency repairs was devised by consultant engineers working on behalf of the buildings owner's.

Parts of the site remain open to the public, and the Trust offers guided tours to groups and individuals interested in Hooton Park's rich architectural and aviation history.

In 2022 The Hooton Park Trust re-launched its series of monthly public open days, having completed extensive restoration works in its hangar B16 South.

The hangar is now home to TAC, the Chester No 4 Tram restoration project and houses an impressive collection of vintage aircraft and period bicycles and vehicles.

The hangar is also home to the CH 21 Home Guard WW II Living History Group, who host a NAAFI style cafe and stage events for the public telling the story of the hangars during WW II A section of the main runway, together with a taxi track and apron, survives at the western end of the airfield owned by the Naylor Trust.

The adjacent large World War II B1 type hangar, which was last used for servicing Meteor jet fighters, is now in industrial use.

Since its opening, the circuit has proven to be popular to karters in the North West Region and has played host to several major meetings including the last round of the Motors TV UK Karting Challenge in October 2007.

As of October 2022 the collection consists of:[24] † – These aircraft were displayed at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester for many years, but were moved to Hooton Park over the winter of 2021–2.

The duties of CH 21 were in part to patrol the perimeters of the RAF base The group are now permanently stationed at Hooton Park as a residents.