HENRY COXWELL – PIONEER BALLOONIST
(1819 – 1900)
Original article by Kimberley
Winter-Sullivan
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HENRY COXWELL – PIONEER BALLOONIST
(1819 – 1900) Original article by Kimberley
Winter-Sullivan
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STRATOSPHERIC
In 1862 in the grounds of the Wolverhampton Gas Company, a daring
experiment was about to begin.
One that would involve a death-defying experience, an incredible feat of
bravery and discoveries that would go on to inspire generations of
scientists.
And at the heart of that story was Henry Coxwell, Dental Surgeon,
Aeronaut and Tottenham Resident. Born in 1819 in a village on the banks of the river Medway in Kent, Henry Coxwell, developed a fascination for Hot Air Ballooning, inspired by the Balloonists of the early 19th century, it became a serious hobby as Henry grew up and went on to train as a Dental Surgeon.
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Despite some early turbulence in his formative years, including a near bankruptcy and fathering an illegitimate child, Henry’s passion for building and flying balloons would eventually become a professional career and with his improving financial status, Henry and his wife Lydia moved to Tottenham. |
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Taking up residence at the aptly named “Aerial Cottage” on Albert Place just of the High Road, Henry would continue building and piloting balloons as part of several Scientific Expeditions. |
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 ALBERT PLACE TOTTENHAM -PHOTO By Bruce Castle Museum. |
 ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP TOTTENHAM 1860 - SHOWING LOCATION OF ALBERT PLACE |
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However, with his reputation for Ballooning growing, he would eventually
be engaged to pilot one of the most famous British Ballooning
expeditions of all time. |
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 DR. JAMES GLAISHER |
In 1862, meteorologist James Glaisher, would seek a commission from The
British Association for the Advancement of Science to conduct scientific
observations of the upper atmosphere spurred on by his belief that the
sky was a laboratory of discovery that could yield the prediction of
weather patterns. It was a bold request, as many at the time believed the weather was too chaotic to be predictable and any expedition to prove otherwise would be fool hardy, however it was agreed that an observatory flight should be commissioned, with Henry Coxwell chosen as the pilot.
A new balloon was needed which Henry began constructing and when
completed, it stood at 80foot tall with a 2,600 cubic meter capacity. |
 THE 'MAMMOTH' BALLOON Owing to its great size it was named the mammoth and once the Balloon was ready to sail the skies, the Coal-Gas Company at Wolverhampton was chosen as a suitable departure point, however what the men could not have known, was that this was an experiment that was about to go horribly wrong….
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On the morning of the expedition, a storm had settled overhead, Glaisher
and Coxwell decided to wait for it to pass, as they quietly started to
prepare.
The storm eventually passed, and the two men boarded the Balloon Car,
the flight was initiated, and The Mammoth began to majestically ascend.
Gliding further into the sky, they rose through a blanket of misty
cloud, but the temperature began to drop, the weather started to change,
and they realised they were moving quickly into a belt of violent storm
clouds.
After 4 minutes of severe turbulence, they managed to break free from
the storm, flying into a plateau of cloudless bright blue sky, floating
above an ocean of cloud beneath them. 
They were awestruck at the brightness of the sun, the changing blue
hues of the sky and the atmospheric illuminations as they climbed
higher and higher, but the air began to grow thinner, the
temperature dropped further, and breathing became difficult and
laboured. The last official observation was made at 1.54pm, with an elevation of 29,000 feet having been attained, however shortly afterwards, Glaisher collapsed, and despite suffering from frostbite in his hands, Coxwell had to initiate their descent, but, as he went to operate the gas release line, he realised it had become tangled.
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With the Balloon ascending to even greater heights, Coxwell climbed on to the outer rigging, clinging to the ropes with his arms, and in a moment of magnificent bravery, he managed to clamp the release line between his teeth and with several sharp and strong tugs, the descent back to earth had finally begun. |
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 GLAISHER AND COXWELL DURING THE FLIGHT (Note: No breathing apparatus or warm clothing) |
 COXWELL CLIMBING THE RIGGING TO RELEASE THE LINE |
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Coxwell jumped back into the Balloon basket and began trying to bring
Glaisher round, and as the descent continued, and Glaisher began to
recover, The Mammoth slipped back through the aerial ocean of blue skies
and snowy white masses of Cloud until they reached terra firma.
By 8pm they had landed close to Ludlow where the men were so awestruck,
they were barely able to collect themselves but when they did, they
realised they had done what no other living creature had ever achieved
before.
How the two men survived their epic voyage is still a scientific and
medical wonder, but the voyages of Aeronauts such as Glaisher and
Coxwell would go on to create a new perception of the way we see the
atmosphere.
As for the man himself, Henry would return to Tottenham but by then
having found fame and fortune, he and his wife moved to a grander house
at Moselle Terrace, and Henry established a dental practice at 689 High
Road. And a few months after the Mammoth Voyage, and in celebration of the Royal Wedding between Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra, Henry Coxwell, would once again take to the skies, this time departing from Tottenham Green in front of an estimated crowd of 20,000 spectators, who watched, as Henry Coxwell yet again, sailed into the sky.
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 TRADE DIRECTORY 1866 - HENRY COXWELL - DENTIST MOSELLE TERRACE |
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HENRY TRACEY COXWELL - LATER LIFE |
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| It would appear that in later life
Henry Coxwell split his time between Tottenham and Seaford in Sussex. In
the 1881 Census his name appears at an address in Seaford where we
know he operated a Balloon factory. However, he still practiced as a
dentist in Tottenham and yet his name appears on the 1886 Electoral Roll
as living at Moselle House. Sadly Henry Coxwell died on the 5th January 1900 at the age of 80 years. Clearly he was very highly respected by the people of Seaford and yet his Gravestone refers to him as a Man of Tottenham. He was survived by his wife Lydia who was to die in 1915. |
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 A WONDERFUL EPITAPH TO HIS ACHIVEMENTS AS AN AERONAUT |
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 THE PROBATE ENTRY FOR HENRY COXWELL - STILL REFERS TO AN ADDRESS IN TOTTENHAM - ALTHOUGH IT COULD BE THAT OF HIS SOLICITOR. |
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Original Article written by Kimberley Winter-Sullivan with further research and webpage development by Alan Swain - November 2023
