MOD Corsham: Quarry Operations Centre (QOC) Murals is a Grade II* listed building in the Wiltshire local planning authority area, England. First listed on 20 March 2013. Murals.
MOD Corsham: Quarry Operations Centre (QOC) Murals
- WRENN ID
- sombre-soffit-snow
- Grade
- II*
- Local Planning Authority
- Wiltshire
- Constituency
- Chippenham MP: Sarah Gibson (LD)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 20 March 2013
- Type
- Murals
- OS grid reference
- ST 847 692
- Coordinates
- 51.42181, -2.22035
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
The Quarry Operations Centre (QOC) at MOD Corsham features a collection of 32 wall murals created in 1943 by Olga Lehmann. These murals were painted using oil paint and solvents, with a combination of brush and spray techniques. Most of the murals are grouped together in specific areas, while others are spread throughout the centre, either in clusters or as standalone pieces.
The majority of the murals are located in the canteen or mess hall area on the west side of the QOC, where 18 murals can be found. The remaining 11 murals are situated in the former RAF operations rooms and storage areas at the east end, with 3 additional murals located between these two main areas.
In the canteen, notable murals include Jo Brown on the wall to the west of Pillar M52, Umbrella on Pillar M51, Racehorses, Photographers, and Red Racehorses on Pillar M27, and Three Barmaids on the wall to the west of Pillar M25. Other significant works include Winning Horse, which wraps around the south side of Pillar M16, Mayor, Spectators, Red Spectators on Pillar M15, Horses on Pillar M3, and Bar Scene on the wall to the west of Pillar M7. Additional murals in this area include Jockey Weigh-In, Gypsy Caravans, Dice Game, Indian Rope Trick, Shove Ha'Penny, and Find The Lady on various pillars.
In the RAF control rooms, murals such as Cricket and Boxers are found in Room 51 and Room 37, respectively. The storage area features murals like Bride and Groom, Houses, Drunk with XXX Barrel, Salvation Army, and Drunks in Room 42, as well as Dominoes in Room 43 and Cycling Drinks in Room 44. A mural of Snooker is located on Pillar M31.
Other areas, including corridors and barracks, contain murals like Cannibals in Room 15, Eskimos on Pillar M31, and Sunday Roast in Room 32. Additionally, some lesser design interest murals include ethereal figures of horse heads and horseshoes, along with wavy borders on walls and pillars. In certain locations, minor details of murals can still be seen through heavily over-painted walls.
Local climate
MOD Corsham: Quarry Operations Centre (QOC) Murals receives an average of 840 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 57% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 60% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 33 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 56% of listed buildings. Of these, 14 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.
Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
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