Hyperbolic

We stopped here, Markham Moor on the A1, for coffee on our way south. I think I’ve blipped it before, but I found out a bit more about it this time. I was puzzled, as I remember it as the Little Chef with the ‘funny roof’ but yet a ‘Red Wheel’ on the wall says it was originally a filling station.

So the story is that it was originally just the roof of a filling station built in the early 1960s. It was a Hyperbolic Paraboloid concrete roof designed by architect Sam Scorer and built by engineer Kalyan Hajinal-Konyl. It makes much more sense that it was just a roof in itself rather than an odd looking roof for a building. However, in 1989 it was turned into a Little Chef with a restaurant built beneath. I remember going to it when our children were young. Later it was closed and it lay derelict for years. We used to pass it quite often and wondered what would become of it.

When road work was done close by it was threatened with demolition. After much protest it was rescued by being given Grade ll listed status (roof only). And then in 2019 it was turned into Starbucks. It is a National Transport Trust Red Wheel site. (See extra).

Of course my photo gives little idea of its shape - it’s like a saddle. The best view is from the road - difficult for photography! See here for better pictures and more information:

https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/heritage-sites/heritage-detail/hyperbolic-paraboloid-concrete-roof---service-station-a1-n---markham-moor-2?rs=1


Also today we found a great new place for breakfast - just off the A66 - a lovely farm shop and one of the best breakfasts we have ever had. And I found a castle - but that will wait.

Now we are near Bedford for the night - Premier Inn of course!