Railway Electrical Control Room

The Railway Electrical Control Room, built in 1936 by the Swedish firm Asean for Southern Railways, is a Grade II listed building. Constructed of concrete with a flat roof and metal-framed casement windows, it showcases the International Modern style. The building features a one-storey entrance block that consists of four by two bays, with a central entrance adorned with an architrave and a rectangular fanlight. Behind this is a taller one-storey control room, with full-height pilasters and a cornice that define the bays.

Inside, the entrance block contains offices, while the control room is oval-shaped with a domed ceiling. It is illuminated by four ornate 1930s lamps mounted on cast-iron columnar bases with copper dishes that serve as uplighters for the dome. The walls of the control room display track diagrams in a striking design of silver against a black background, with coloured lights indicating the switches. Additionally, the original electro-mechanical switch gear remains outside the room.

Historically, this control room was one of five originally built by Asean for Southern Railways, of which only three still exist, with Woking being the last to remain operational. Southern Railways played a significant role in the electrification of railways.