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
the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our
online HER enquiry form.
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 | MWB19622 |
|---|
| Record Type | Building |
|---|
| Name | Portland House, Aldermaston |
|---|
Summary
Unlisted large concrete office building from 1980s within the Registered Park of Aldermaston Court, given a Certificate of Immunity from Listing in 2015
Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status
- Registered Park or Garden (II) 1000530: Aldermaston Court
Monument Type(s):
Full Description
Portland House was built in pre-cast concrete as the offices of Blue Circle Cement in 1985-7. The architect, Richard Gilbert Scott, hoped that it would 'change a lot of people's thinking about concrete' <1>. Blue Circle moved out after only a few years, in 1988.
The list entry for Aldermaston Court Registered Park <2> mentions but does not name Portland House; 'the drive [from the main entrance] continues south-east, rising gently up the hillside, in places flanked by evergreen shrubs, passing to the north of the former stable block (now offices, 1998) standing 150m north-west of the house, and the adjacent substantial, late C20 office building to its west, which partially obscures views over the lake beyond'. The office block is entered from the west side of an ornamented courtyard, and is sited on the east bank of the lake, which was shown as a fish pond on historic mapping.
English Heritage issued a Certificate of Immunity for Listing for Portland House 06/07/2015 <7>.
Information submitted in 2016 with planning applications for the redevelopment of Aldermaston Park <3> noted that the building comprises a series of pavilions linked by atriums, with mature internal planting and large areas of glazing. Before Portland House was built, the site had to be cleared of Britain's first experimental atomic reactor <4>.
West Berkshire Museum has photographs showing Portland House and surrounding gardens in the late 20th century <6>.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | Tyack, G, Bradley, S and Pevsner, N. 2010. The Buildings of England (Berkshire). p122. [Monograph / SWB147855] |
| <02> | Historic England (previously English Heritage). 1987. Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England. Aldermaston Court. [Unpublished document / SWB12616] |
| <03> | West Berkshire Council. 2000-present. West Berkshire Planning Applications 2000 onwards. online. 16/02286/FULEXT. [Unpublished document / SWB147564]
http://planning.westberks.gov.uk/rpp/index.asp?caseref= (initial string - planning application number to be added after this) |
| <04> | 19/10/1984. Building. Showcase for Cement by R Ormerod. [Article in serial / SWB149137] |
| <05> | Peter Pugh Associates. 1988. The History of Blue Circle. [Monograph / SWB149138] |
| <06> | Museum Curator. Newbury Museum Accession Records (West Berkshire Museum since 1998). 2022 WBC Network. NEBYM:2015.6.688-9. [Unpublished document / SWB14452] |
| <07> | Historic England (previously English Heritage). 2011-present. The National Heritage List for England (NHLE). 01/08/2012. Certificate of Immunity Number: 1426717. [Website / SWB12648]
http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/ (Accessed 06/02/2019) |
Related Monuments
| MWB6276 | Aldermaston Court (Park) (Landscape) |
| MWB16506 | Site of Nuclear Reactor, Aldermaston Court (Monument) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
| EWB1555 | Desk-based Assessment at Aldermaston Park, Aldermaston (Ref: 1038) |
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.