Building record LWT 179 - WWII ARP and Cold War control centre, Normanston Drive

Second World War Air Raid Precautions (sub) Control Centre, refitted in 1953 as a Cold War control centre and remained in use as such until 1968. The Lowestoft ARP Sub Control was built during WW2 (when said to have been one of the most heavily bombed towns per head of population in the UK) and acted as Sub Control to the Main Control at Lowestoft Town Hall. It was refitted in 1953 and remained in use until 1968 and was used as a polling station in the 1970's. After laying disused for some time, the building was finally demolished in March 2012 to make way for new housing. (S1).
Oct 2011: many original features survive within the building. Considered for Listing (details from English Heritage in file) - result outstanding.
2012: An English Heritage Level 2 building recording was undertaken of a concrete structure adjacent the St Peter’s Street Roundabout, Normanston Drive. It has been identified as a former ARP Control Centre dating from World War II which was later converted for use as Sub Control Centre for Lowestoft. The recording was undertaken as a result of a condition on Planning Consent for the redevelopment of the structure’s site following its demolition. The structure consisted of a single storey, flat roofed building containing a series of rooms above a basement of similar size. The structure was in generally good condition. There was evidence of some vandalism, although many internal fixtures had survived. These included the electrical wiring and boards, much of which was exposed, presumably for ease of repair, along with pumping equipment for supplying fresh air to the basement rooms (S2).
Lowestoft Air Raid Precaution Control Centre is believed to have been one of only three purpose-built Second World War examples in East Anglia. The Control Centre was erected in 1941. It was a single-storey structure constructed of brick and reinforced concrete with a basement and flat 'anti-incendiary bomb' roof with two chimneys. Off the entrance corridor there were three rooms and two small lobby areas. Concrete stairs led down to the basement where a series of rooms provided evidence of the working hub of the centre. Although the building was refitted in 1953 as a Civil Defence Control Centre many of the war time fixtures and fittings remained. The building was decommissioned in 1969. (S3)
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2012(S4).