The airfield consisted of a grass landing field, slightly below sea level, criss-crossed by ditches covered with boards; a 121 acres site, 1200 x 1000 yards of low-lying marshland below mean tide level, bordered by the River Darent to the west, the Thames to the north, the tavern's access road "Joyce Green Lane" (running north to south) to the east, and the grounds of the Joyce Green Hospitals to the south.