MOD Corsham: Quarry Operations Centre (QOC) Murals

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: a collection of 32 wall murals of 1943 by Olga Lehmann, painted by brush and spray using oil paint and solvents. The majority are in a large group in one area, while others are spread through neighbouring areas, either in groups or as individual works.

DESCRIPTION: most areas in the Quarry Operations Centre (QOC) have no visible murals, although some may remain on walls that have been over-painted. The 32 known murals were designed in themed groups, and are located in the canteen or mess hall area in the west half of QOC (18 murals), and in the former RAF operations rooms and stores at the east end (11 murals). The remaining murals are located between the two locations (3 murals).

THE CANTEEN: this area retains the majority of murals: Jo Brown (Wall to west of M52), Umbrella (Pillar M51), Racehorses (Pillar M27), Photographers (Pillar M27), Red Racehorses (Pillar M27), Three Barmaids (Wall to west of Pillar M25), Winning Horse (Pillar to south of Pillar M16 – mural covers all sides of pillar), Mayor (Pillar M16), Spectators (Pillar M16), Red Spectators (Pillar M15), Horses (Pillar M3), Bar Scene (Wall to west of Pillar M7), Jockey Weigh-In (Pillar M16), Gypsy Caravans (Wall to west of Pillar M9), Dice Game (Pillar M9), Indian Rope Trick (Pillar M19), Shove Ha'Penny (Pillar M18), Find The Lady (Pillar M17).

THE RAF CONTROL ROOMS: Cricket (Room 51), Boxers (Room 37), Wrestlers (Room 37).

STORAGE AREA: Bride and Groom (Room 42), Houses (Room 42), Drunk with XXX Barrel (Room 42), Salvation Army (Room 42), Drunks (Room 43), Dominoes (Room 43), Cycling Drinks (Room 44), Snooker (Pillar M31).

CORRIDORS AND BARRACKS: Cannibals (Room 15), Eskimos (Pillar M31), Sunday Roast (Room 32).

A number of other murals in QOC are of lesser design interest, notably ethereal figures of horse heads and horse shoes, and wavy borders on walls and pillars. Furthermore, in some locations minor details of murals show through on heavily over-painted walls.