Born 35 Hill Street, W1, son of Lord Llangattock, John Rolls. A keen racing cyclist, he became the fourth man in England to own a car, took to racing cars and repeatedly broke the land speed record. Met Henry Royce in May 1904 and together they began manufacturing cars, the first being the Grey Ghost. He was a keep-fit enthusiast, sports-player, teetotal and vegetarian. Frequent balloonist. One of the first to fly with Wright, the aeroplane inventor, and the first to fly an aeroplane non-stop across the English Channel and back. He left Rolls-Royce in 1910 over disagreements about the manufacture of aircraft. Died at Bournemouth, aged 32, in a flying accident, the first Englishman so to die. There is a statue at the site.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charles Rolls
Commemorated ati
Charles Rolls
English Heritage Charles Rolls, 1877 - 1910, pioneer of motoring and aviation...
Other Subjects
Avro No. 1 Triplane
Airplane designed and built by Alliott Verdon Roe. The first all-British aircraft, its maiden flight took place on Walthamstow Marshes. The photograph shows Roe standing by the plane. We guess Roe ...
3 memorials
1 memorial
Heron Quays STOL Landing
The landing of a STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft in the heart of London's Docklands, was done to show the feasibility of an airport there. In due course, London City Airport opened in 1987.
1 memorial
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EC3, Leadenhall Street, 122, Leadenhall Building, Cheesegrater atrium
Given the dates of the sculptor (b.1883) the figure was clearly not on the 1884 building at no.122. Royal Museums Greenwich provide some ...
1 subject commemorated,
1 creator
Duke-Elder
W1, Harley Street, 63
English Heritage Sir Stewart Duke-Elder, 1898 - 1978, ophthalmologist, lived and worked here, 1934 - 1976.
1 subject commemorated,
1 creator
