Washford Transmitting Station

ST04SE 2/272 25.1.84

WILLITON CP WASHFORD CROSS Washford Transmitting Station

II

Radio transmitting station. Dated 1933, minor addition 1949. Architects Wimperis, Simpson and Guthrie for the British Broadcasting Corporation. Load bearing concrete walls treated externally as Portland Stone, ashlar dado, cornice and quoins, coursed punched stone, flat topped bitumen covered roof. Plan: long range, North-South, symmetrical down central axis, facade end on; rectangular entrance block with battery rooms, 3 bay returns, behind is the square transmitter room, top lit only with octagonal skylight, minor addition to left in similar style: this area vacant (1983); behind this 2 rectangular blocks with 4 bay returns separated by 5 bay section with 2 bay block at North end; this contains transmitting equipment currently in use (1983). Facade: 2 storeys, 3:1:1:1:3 bays, Crittall metal windows, mullioned and transomed; symmetrical wings of 3 recessed window bays rising almost full height to cornice, metal panels divide first and second floors, with 2-light windows flanking 4-light; recessed longer 3 bay facade with 4-light window flanked by 2-lights, 2-light windows below central double glazed metal doors in projecting flat-roofed porch, unmoulded granite architrave dated 1933 with BBC logo above. Shallow stepped tablet centre, above cornice, partially cut by rectangular moulded concrete panel with BBC coat of arms and motto: "Nation shall speak peace unto nation". All rain waterheads on returns carry inscription "19 BBC 33". Windows of rear half now blank panels. Interior: entirely functional, painted brick walls.

Listing NGR: ST0580540957