I recently had a four day permission from Gatwick Airport to fly within their restricted airspace. Here are 53 aerial photos of varying focal length taken in the Ifield Court and Ifield Green area on 13 & 14 June 2026. The main purpose of this permission was to record the original, natural path of the River Mole as it winds it's way across the field below Ifield Court before Homes England destroy the area with the dual carriageway access to their proposed 'West of Ifield' development, but I also took the opportunity to take some other photos too.

The modern path of the River Mole, from its confluence with Ifield Brook to the bridge under Ifield Green, is a man made channel and the original, natural path of the river can be seen winding its way across the field below Ifield Court to the north of the modern channel. Using old maps, it can be demonstrated that the river was diverted sometime between 1795 and 1808, though this doesn't tell us the reason why. This remnant of the past will soon be destroyed if Homes England succeed in their efforts to develop this land.

More information on the non-designated heritage assets shown here, as well as those in the wider west of Ifield area, can be found at https://iansapps.co.uk/oldbritain/crawley/west_of_ifield.html (a page which, at the time of writing this, is long overdue an update) There is more information on the Ifield Court Medieval Moated site at http://iansapps.co.uk/oldbritain/moats.html and details about Ifield Steam Mill can be found at https://www.ifieldparishmap.org/map/18.php

A short video flying the length of the paleochannel and oxbow lake

021_M3P_0568.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:09:00 with FC4382

021_M3P_0574.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:10:00 with L2D-20c

021_M3P_0613.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:11:00 with L2D-20c

021_M3P_0647.JPG, 4000 x 3000. Taken 13/06/2026 06:13:00 with FC4370

The oxbow lake left behind when The Mole was re-routed.

021_M3P_0653.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:13:00 with FC4382

021_M3P_0686.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:15:00 with FC4382

The oxbow lake left behind when The Mole was re-routed.

021_M3P_0712.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:16:00 with L2D-20c

The oxbow lake left behind when The Mole was re-routed.

021_M3P_0723.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:23:00 with FC4382

The oxbow lake left behind when The Mole was re-routed.

021_M3P_0731.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:23:00 with L2D-20c

021_M3P_0761.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:25:00 with L2D-20c

Ifield Court Medieval Moated site. The old manor house which stood on the island was destroyed by fire in the mid 1800s, but the moat remains and is a scheduled monument.

021_M3P_0785.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:27:00 with L2D-20c

The oxbow lake left behind when The Mole was re-routed.

021_M3P_0788.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:27:00 with L2D-20c

Ifield Court moat

021_M3P_0795.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:27:00 with L2D-20c

021_M3P_0831.JPG, 4000 x 3000. Taken 13/06/2026 06:37:00 with FC4370

Looking southwards across the fields of Ifield Court Farm towards the Maples estate opposite Ifield Golf Club.

021_M3P_0834.JPG, 4000 x 3000. Taken 13/06/2026 06:37:00 with FC4370

021_M3P_0848.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:38:00 with FC4382

021_M3P_0854.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:38:00 with L2D-20c

021_M3P_0857.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 06:38:00 with L2D-20c

008_MI4P_0686.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:55:00 with FC8482

Ifield Green Village shop

008_MI4P_0727.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:59:00 with FC8482

The Royal Oak

008_MI4P_0740.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 06:59:00 with FC8482

Locally listed buildings in Ifield Green

008_MI4P_0746.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 07:00:00 with FC8482

Ifield Green

008_MI4P_0758.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 07:01:00 with FC8482

Ifield Steam Mill

008_MI4P_0803.JPG, 8064 x 6048. Taken 13/06/2026 07:04:00 with FC8482

021_M3P_0863.JPG, 5280 x 3956. Taken 13/06/2026 07:13:00 with L2D-20c

Ifield Green

021_M3P_0888.JPG, 4000 x 3000. Taken 13/06/2026 07:15:00 with FC4370

The core of Ifield Village and St Margaret's Church

021_M3P_0915.JPG, 4000 x 3000. Taken 13/06/2026 07:17:00 with FC4370