The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read
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This site is designated as being of national importance and is afforded additional protection. Consult West Berkshire Council's Archaeology team if more information or advice is needed.
| HER Number | MWB15801 |
|---|
| Record Type | Building |
|---|
| Name | Control Tower Building 146, Greenham Common airbase |
|---|
Summary
Grade II listed Cold War control tower overlooking what was once the longest runway in Europe, reopened as a visitor centre in 2018
Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status
- Listed Building (II) 1403764: Control Tower at former Greenham Common airbase
Other Statuses and Cross-References
- Asset of Community Value: West Berkshire Council No 1 Greenham Control Tower and surrounding land, Greenham, Newbury
Sold by owner West Berkshire Council to Greenham Parish Council
Monument Type(s):
- CONTROL TOWER (Built, Mid 20th century to Late 20th century - Present - 1951 AD to 1991 AD)
- VISITORS CENTRE (LEISURE) (Early 21st century - 2018 AD to 2050 AD)
Full Description
The present tower was built in 1951 when Greenham Common airfield was reconstructed for the USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC). It is an important symbol, denoting that this open space was once an airfield, and it represents the first phase of Cold War activity on the site. The windows are not original but are later replacements, hence the building was considered ineligible for listing in 2000 <2>.
However the control tower was reassessed in 2012 and was listed at Grade II <8> for its historic interest, rarity, date and fabric and group value with the scheduled cruise missile shelters. The building became the first addition to West Berkshire Council's Assets of Community Value in 2012 <11> (this status has a five year duration) and planning applications were approved in 2014 for the conversion of the tower to mixed use including a café, exhibition and interpretation spaces <12>. The visitor centre and community café opened in 2018 <13>.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | RCHME. 1994. Historic Building Report: Greenham Common Airbase, Greenham, Berkshire. NBR No 93234. 2021 WBC Network. [Unpublished document / SWB12267] |
| <02> | Cocroft, W. 2000. Former RAF Greenham Common. [Unpublished document / SWB12876] |
| <03> | Cocroft, W and Thomas, R J C. 2003. Cold War - Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946-1989. p57. [Monograph / SWB14711] |
| <04> | Francis, P, Thompson, S and Crisp, G. 1993. Development of the Control Tower on RAF Stations in the United Kingdom. p96-7. [Monograph / SWB148117] |
| <05> | Schofield, J and Cocroft, W. 2007. A Fearsome Heritage: Diverse Legacies of the Cold War. p129-144 Greenham Common: the conservation and management of a Cold War archetype by V Fiorato. [Monograph / SWB148116] |
| <06> | Ordnance Survey. 1962-1981. Ordnance Survey Epoch 5, 1:2500. 1:2500. 1:2500, 1970. [Map / SWB14665] |
| <07> | Tyack, G, Bradley, S and Pevsner, N. 2010. The Buildings of England (Berkshire). p317. [Monograph / SWB147855] |
| <08> | Historic England (previously English Heritage). 2011-present. The National Heritage List for England (NHLE). 01/08/2012. [Website / SWB12648]
http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/ (Accessed 06/02/2019) |
| <09> | English Heritage. 2001. Cold War Monuments: an assessment by the Monuments Protection Programme. 2016 WBC Network. [Unpublished document / SWB147883] |
| <10> | CgMs. 2006. Historic Buildings Record in respect of Former RAF/USAF Greenham Common Base, New Greenham Park, Near Newbury, Berkshire. CgMs Ref IF/JL 4020. 2018 WBC Network. Not included. [Unpublished document / SWB14710] |
| <11> | Various. 2012-. Assets of Community Value Applications, West Berkshire Council. online. Entry No 1. [Unpublished document / SWB148852]
https://www.westberks.gov.uk/community-bid (Accessed on 18/12/2023) |
| <12> | PV Projects. 2014. The Control Tower, Greenham Common - Heritage Statement and Listed Building Record. Planning 1552 Issue 01. 2016 WBC Network. [Unpublished document / SWB148797] |
| <13> | Greenham Control Tower Ltd. 2018. Greenham Common Control Tower. https://www.greenhamtower.org.uk. [Website / SWB149597]
https://www.greenhamtower.org.uk/ (Accessed 12/08/2019) |
| <14> | Orta, L and J (eds). 2013. Potential Architecture. online. [Monograph / SWB150311]
https://www.studio-orta.com/en/bibliography/2 (Accessed 27/07/2022) |
Related Monuments
| MWB6570 | Greenham Common Airbase (RAF Greenham Common) (Monument) |
| MWB17568 | Runway, Greenham Common airbase (Monument) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
| EWB1121 | Cold War Monuments: an assessment by the Monuments Protection Programme |
| EWB884 | Historic Buildings Record in respect of Former RAF/USAF Greenham Common Base, New Greenham Park (Ref: IF/JL 4020) |
| EWB1418 | The Control Tower, Greenham Common - Heritage Statement (Ref: Planning 1552 Issue 01) |
| EWB858 | Historic Building Report: Greenham Common Airbase, Greenham, Berkshire (Ref: NBR No 93234) |
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