Summary
A bus shelter built to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1952 has been listed by the Government. The shelter in Hillesley, Gloucestershire, was designed by leading modernist architect Berthold Lubetkin. Lubetkin had retired to the nearby village of Kilcott in 1950 and volunteered his services to design the shelter for Hillesley Parish Council.
Details
The bus shelter is made with distinctive Cotswold limestone masonry and a stone slate roof and has now been given a Grade II listing. The simple, well-composed structure is a unique example of Lubetkin working in a traditional manner rather than the more radical style for which he is best known.
Hillesley bus shelter is one of two listed bus shelters constructed as part of the Festival of Britain – the other is in Farmington and also has Grade II listed status. Rachel Williams, from Historic England, said: “This bus shelter might look like an ordinary part of the daily commute, but it has a fascinating story to tell.
“As one of the surviving structures from the Festival of Britain, it’s a little piece of post-war history hiding in plain sight.
Related stories
“Listing it means we can help make sure this unassuming but important part of our everyday surroundings is around for future generations to enjoy.” Catherine Croft, director of the Twentieth Century Society, said: “Modest but definitely not modernist, this traditional Cotswold vernacular bus shelter demonstrates the remarkable versatility of its famous architect, Berthold Lubetkin.
Don’t let an algorithm decide what Gloucestershire news you see – click here – to add GloucestershireLive as your preferred Google source. “Lubetkin’s famous maxim was ‘Nothing is too good for ordinary people’ – even those waiting for the next rural bus service.
“From the pioneering Finsbury Health Centre to the sculptural Penguin Pool at London Zoo, we’re delighted to see his Festival of Britain shelter join them on the national register of listed buildings.” The Festival of Britain was a government-sponsored event in the summer of 1951 celebrating and promoting Britain’s excellence in design, technology, industry, architecture, science and the arts.
While London’s South Bank was the focal point for the festival, the bus shelter scheme was one of several initiatives to encourage parishes across the country to participate in the celebrations by making lasting improvements in their communities. Only four Festival of Britain bus shelters are thought to exist in England: at Hillesley, Stone Street in Kent, Bramfield in Suffolk and at Farmington.
Report source: Gloucestershire Live
