[2] The site started life as a private venture when aircraft manufacturing company Short Brothers bought land there to build airships for the Admiralty.

2 (southern) shed, which had originally been located at RNAS Pulham, Norfolk was dismantled in 1928 and re-erected at Cardington.

From 1943 to 1967 it was home to the RAF meteorological research balloons training unit, undertaking development and storage[3] (after 1967 this was undertaken by the Royal Aircraft Establishment).

During the 1950s, RAF Cardington was the reception unit for National Service and saw thousands of recruits issued with their kit.

Hangar 1 was used by the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) to operate balloons on behalf of the Met Office carrying instruments to measure conditions in the atmosphere.

For both airships and barrage balloons, Cardington manufactured its own hydrogen, in the Gas Factory, using the steam reforming process.

217 MU, RAF Cardington, produced all the gases used by the Royal Air Force until its closure in April 2000; including gas cylinder filling and maintenance.

Here, multi-storey steel, concrete and wooden buildings were constructed and then destructively tested within the huge space available.

This is responsible for conducting research into part of the atmosphere called the boundary layer by using a tethered helium balloon which is kept in a small portable hangar.

[23] By the support of Lord Brabazon, fliers of extreme lightweight high-performance indoor flying models obtained access over a period of over 40 years.

[27] In 1993 planning permission was granted for construction of theatrical stagings and the site was used for rehearsals by musicians including Paul McCartney Band on the Run: 25th Anniversary Edition, Spice Girls, U2, Rod Stewart, One Direction, Take That and AC/DC.

In Series 14 Episode 3 of the motoring show Top Gear presenter James May used Cardington as the base for his 'Caravan Airship'.

English Heritage deemed Hangar Number 1 at Cardington to be at risk in 2007,[41] needing complete repair and refurbishment.