The 'little piece of post-war history hiding in plain sight'

An "important" bus shelter thought to be one of four of its kind in England has been given Grade II-listed status.

The shelter in Hillesley, Gloucestershire, was built in 1952 to celebrate the Festival of Britain, which was organised to give the public a sense of recovery and progress following World War Two.

British parishes were encouraged to mark the festival with lasting improvements in their area, and the shelter was designed by modernist architect Berthold Lubetkin.

Rachel Williams, Historic England listing adviser, said the new status meant the shelter would be around "for future generations to enjoy", calling it "a little piece of post-war history hiding in plain sight."

The Festival of Britain, which was focused around London's South Bank, was a government-sponsored event starting in the summer of 1951. It celebrated and promoted Britain's excellence in design, technology, industry, architecture, science and the arts.

In 1950, the Festival Office ran a competition to design new rural bus shelters, stipulating the proposals should be based "on the use of local materials, so the structures will fit harmoniously into the surrounding landscape".

That year, Lubetkin had retired to Kilcot, near Newent, and volunteered his services to design the bus shelter for Hillesley Parish Council.

The shelter features distinctive Cotswold limestone masonry and a stone slate roof, and is one of two listed bus shelters constructed for the festival, with the other, which was granted Grade II-listed status in 2008, situated in Farmington near Northleach.

Williams said the 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," she said.

By giving it Grade II-listed status, "we can help make sure this unassuming but important part of our everyday surroundings is around for future generations to enjoy".

The Hillesley shelter's new status meant any future changes to the shelter would be carefully considered to protect its historic character, Historic England added.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport granted the status on Historic England's advice.

Lubetkin was also known for designing the penguin pool and gorilla house at London Zoo.

The other two Festival of Britain bus shelters to exist can be found outside of Gloucestershire in Stone Street in Kent and Bramfield in Suffolk.

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