Monument record 1160/0/268 - Greyfriars Bus Station

Construction of the bus station began in 1972. It was designed by Arup Associates and completed in 1976 and it was demolished in 2015.

{1} A controversial building and an example of the brutalist architecture popular in the 1970s, the Greyfriars station was designed by ARUP Associates on behalf of the Northampton Borough Council and constructed in the mid 1970s to encourage growth and increase visitors to the town centre and the newly constructed Grosvenor Centre.

Arup Associates were appointed in November 1971 to carry out feasibility studies for the new bus station development and final design proposals were submitted in late 1972. Groundworks began in 1972 and the station was opened in 1976 at a final cost of 7.25 million pounds.
The Station became unpopular with many bus users due to its dark and uninviting interior and the rise in crime and drug use, though the indoor waiting areas were welcomed. The building also suffered from continued structural deterioration and damp problems.
The Greyfriars Bus Station is a locally controversial building once labelled as an “architectural folly”, “jaws of hell” and voted third most hated building in Britain on Channel 4’s “Demolition” series in 2005. At the same time, it is an example of the Brutalist architecture popular in the mid 20th century characterised by the use of concrete in dominant blocky forms. Greyfriars Bus Station is also of interest due to its use of an innovative, precast, post-tensioned reinforced concrete superstructure which allowed for a rapid construction.
The long elevations to Greyfriars and Lady’s Lane feature a rhythmic and symmetric arrangement of brickwork, concrete arches and ventilation slots. The three office levels feature full height windows of bronze tinted single glazing in bronze anodised aluminium frames.
The main Bus Station level has a central walkway and waiting area with bays facing north and south. A central escalator along with stairwells and lifts provides vertical pedestrian access to the concourse and upper levels. An information booth was also present at this level. Buses would enter from the east and west stopping at designated bays to allow passengers to embark and disembark.
A mezzanine level over the central walkway area housed offices, computer rooms, ventilation plant and boilers. Administration for the bus station staff as well canteen, toilet facilities and lockers were also located on this level.
A car park was created above the bus station and mezzanine level which was accessed via a ramp and raised bridges from the Grosvenor Car Park. This car park had space for approximately 300 vehicles. Pedestrian access was via a central lift and emergency exits and stairwells positioned on all sides.
Greyfriars House comprises three levels of offices with central garden atriums. These could be accessed by stairwells and lifts. A raised walkway over Lady’s Lane connected the first office level to the Access Tower to the north. These offices featured large bronze tinted glass windows with views in all directions. Movable ladders allowed cleaners to access the full width of the windows.
A tall, square Access Tower on the northern side of Lady’s Lane contains service lifts, pedestrian lifts and maisonettes as well as maintenance offices. An elevated bridge leads from the Access Tower and crosses Lady’s Lane to the entrance lobby on the first Office Level. Raised concrete bridges which cross Greyfriars allow vehicular access to the Car Park level.

At the time of this survey, the three office levels and car park were derelict and in a state of disrepair whilst the concourse, bus station and mezzanine were still in use.

Source contains detailed building descriptions, plans and photos as well as archive plans and photos pre- and during construction.

{4} Introduction/Context: English Heritage has received an application to consider listing the former Greyfriars Bus Station in Northampton. The building is not in a conservation area; prior notification of demolition has been served and agreed, and the building is currently being gradually demolished. History/Details: Greyfriars Bus Station was designed by Arup Associates and completed in 1976. The building, which also incorporated a car park above the bus station and offices at roof level, is of brick with a monolithic reinforced concrete frame, the tie beam ends and uprights of which are exposed at regular intervals down the length of each side of the building. These are the outer walls of two long rectangles placed side by side but apart, each with a wide, gaping entrance at either end. There are three blocks linking the two rectangles at regular intervals along their length, between which were open green spaces. Above the bus station the fully glazed sides of the three office storeys are tilted inwards to flat roofs, designed to capture the maximum of light to counteract the overshadowing height of proposed high density developments to north and south, which were not completed. It was also intended that the roads to either side of the bus station should be kept pedestrian free, and there were direct walkways from an upper level of the Grosvenor Centre car park to the south to the level above the bus station; these have been (Nov 2014) removed. There was also a covered walkway at the same level from a purpose built structure to the north, as well as access via subways.

Criteria/Assessment: designed by the highly reputable partnership, Arup Associates, Greyfriars Bus Station is a brutalist building that vividly illustrates the architectural thinking and ideals of this period, particularly those of honesty in construction and the use of materials. However, the appearance of the building is overbearing and ungainly. Although it was designed to fulfil a highly functional brief, the building did not function as intended; the offices were hard to let and the walkways were shunned by travellers who found them threatening and preferred the hazards of traffic. Based on the information provided and from sources within English Heritage’s Heritage Protection Department, and with reference to the Principles of Selection for Listing Buildings (DCMS March 2010) and to English Heritage's Building Selection Guides (April 2011), Greyfriars Bus Station in Northampton is not recommended for listing for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural and historical interest: although designed by the highly reputable partnership, Arup Associates, Greyfriars Bus Station has an overbearing and ungainly design of little aesthetic appeal;

* Innovation and function: the typically innovative engineering of Arup Associates is evident, but the building did not function as intended;

Conclusion: Greyfriars Bus Station does not have special architectural interest in the national context and does not meet the criteria for designation

<1> Bassir A., 2014, Historic Building Recording at Greyfriars Bus Station, Northampton January 2014, (checked) (Report). SNN109415.

<2> Bassir A., 2016, The Fishmarket and Greyfriars Bus Station, Northampton, p. 195-204 (Article). SNN110574.

<3> Bassir, A, 2021, A 3D model of the Greyfriars Bus Station, Northampton, p. 417-8 (Note). SNN112930.

<4> English Heritage, Designation Advice Report, Greyfriars Bus Station (Report). SNN113190.

Record last edited

Apr 1 2022 1:25PM