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Markham Moor Scorer Building

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Building in Markham Moor junction services
Markham Moor Scorer Building
The building as a Little Chef in 2006
Alternative namesMarkham Moor Petrol Station

Markham Moor Hypar

Markham Moor Papilo
General information
LocationMarkham Moor junction services
AddressA638

Markham Moor South
Retford
Nottinghamshire

DN22 0QU
OwnerStarbucks
Design and construction
Architect(s)Sam Scorer
Known forHyperbolic Paraboloid roof shape

The building designed by Sam Scorer at the Markham Moor services (sometimes known as the Markham Moor Petrol Station, Markham Moor Hypar or Markham Moor Papilo) is a Grade II listed building originally designed as a petrol station. It is beside the A1 south-bound at the Markham Moor junction services and was built between 1959 and 1960 with the aid of engineer Kalman Hajnal-Kónyi. It is currently a Starbucks.

Design

Designed by Lincoln-based architect Sam Scorer, the original structure consisted only of hyperbolic paraboloid - to serve as a petrol station: the building underneath was a later addition. The petrol station was one of a series of buildings designed by Scorer which included hyperbolic structures. These structures (sometimes known as 'hypars') were experimental structures with the intention of making them appear to hover and also in this case a show of engineering efficiency, since the concrete roof structure is only 75mm thick.

The cantilever canopy is constructed using a shell concrete structure which forms a continuous plane developed from two parabolas inverted relative to each other at right angles. The canopy thus acts as two systems of arches with one set of arches under compression and the other under tension.

History

The building in 2012 while boarded up

Ownership

Petrol station

The building was designed and built as a petrol station; it was operated by National Benzole from 1960 until it was taken over by Little Chef in 1989. While the canopy was designed as an architectural curiosity, it was also designed to catch the eye of a motorist, giving them plenty of time to pull into the petrol station.

Little Chef

In 1989 the structure was converted to a Little Chef restaurant, and the building beneath the canopy was built. In 2003 the Highways Agency proposed plans for a flyover which would involve the demolition of the Little Chef, however the plans were later revised. The Little Chef on this site closed in 2012.

Interim years

The building was disused between 2012 and 2019. On 27 March 2012, shortly after the Little Chef restaurant closed, Historic England awarded Grade II listed building status to the canopy to the former petrol station and its structural supports.

Starbucks

In 2019 the site was taken over by Starbucks. The building and roof were renovated and converted into a drive-through.

Threat of demolition

In 2003 the Highways Agency proposed a junction improvement which involved the construction of a flyover necessitating the demolition of the building. However, after many objections from the residents of nearby Elkesley and those interested in the welfare of the building, the plans were revised, including improved access to the site.

See also

References

  1. ^ Historic England. "Canopy to former petrol station, Markham Moor, West Drayton (1402678)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  2. Saint, Andrew (1991). "Some Thoughts About the Architectural Use of Concrete". Architectural Association School of Architecture (21): 21–36. JSTOR 29543724 – via JSTOR.
  3. "Heritage Locations". www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  4. ^ "Preservation bid for innovative 1950s motorway cafe". the Guardian. 2004-01-05. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  5. Whitfield, David (2020-01-11). "What happened to the Little Chef restaurants that used to be in Nottinghamshire?". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  6. "A1 Peterborough to Blyth Junction Improvements - Markham Moor Preferred Route Statement of the Secretary of State's decision following Public Consultation" (PDF). webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  7. "Public inquiry into A1 proposals". 2006-05-02. Retrieved 2022-09-05.

External links

Images of the original petrol station:

53°15′25″N 0°55′40″W / 53.256875°N 0.927696°W / 53.256875; -0.927696

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