architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/rugby-radio-station-transformed-into-school-by-van-heyningen-and-haward
Excerpt:
After the First World War, the government set about building a long-wave wireless station, capable of worldwide communications. Technically, it was one of the largest projects the General Post Office had ever undertaken. Its huge, very low frequency transmitter was designed a hundred years ago and came into service at Hillmorton, not far from Rugby in Warwickshire, on 1 January, 1926. Today it has a surprising new life as a secondary school for 1,200 students. The Grade II-listed transmitter building, formerly known as C Station, sits at the heart of a developing mini-town, named Houlton to commemorate the first transatlantic call made from the radio station, which was to a receiver site in Houlton, Maine, in 1927.
Everyone in the area knows C Station, which once featured an array of 12 aerial masts, 250 m high. Despite being in private use for many years, it had ‘become a public building’ by reputation, says van Heyningen and Haward (vHH) partner James McCosh. It consisted principally of two linked volumes – its power and transmission blocks – plus ancillary structures. The larger of the two main buildings housed the long-wave transmitter itself.
(Article with photos of the school development continues)
Timeline:
1922-26 - Design and construction of the radio station
Jan 1926 - Regular transmissions start with a worldwide range
1936 - Extensions to the link block
1943 - Transmitter coil and roof destroyed by fire; concrete roof installed
1965-66 - Cold War alterations, including security and locomotive engine installations in the Power Hall
1987 - Double-skin roof and rooftop aerial outfeed installed
2003 - Transmissions halted
2004 - Eight of the long wave masts demolished by BT. BT-Aviva begins work on legacy use for the site
2005 - C Station Grade II-listed
2007 - Last four long-wave masts demolished
2011 - Site allocated in Rugby Core Strategy
2013-14 - Urban&Civic and Aviva agree terms for a joint venture partnership at Houlton; U&C assumes responsibility for obtaining outline planning application
2014 - Outline consent received for entire Houlton development
Jan 2016 - vHH undertakes feasibility study on the use of C Station as part of new secondary school
Feb 2019 - Enabling works gain Listed Building Consent
Mar 2019 - Locomotive engines removed by Severn Valley Railway
Mar 2020 - Main works contract starts
Aug 2021 - Practical completion