Management Plan Contents
Jodrell Bank Observatory
Nomination for Inclusion in the World Heritage List Management Plan Contents
1 Introduction 4 1.1 Summary 4 1.2 Guiding principles 6 1.3 World Heritage Site Steering Committee 7 1.4 Preparing the plan 8 1.5 Preparing the Management Plan 9
2 Description of the property 10 2.1 Location, Boundaries and Ownership 11 2.2 Features of the site 14 2.3 Gazetteer of Elements of the property 30 2.4 Pre-existing Management Framework 31
3 Significance and Protection 36 3.1 Outstanding Universal Value of the Property 37 3.2 Values and Attributes of the Nominated Property 40 3.3 Heritage Protection 43
4 Key issues 46 4.1 Baseline Condition 47 4.2 Threats and Risks 52 4.3 Opportunities 55 Vision The Jodrell Bank Observatory will be a World Heritage Site that changes people’s 5 Policies and Actions 56 lives for the better and demonstrates humanity’s ongoing exploration of our 5.1 Guiding principles 57 place in the Universe. It will bring together stakeholders to continue to protect 5.2 Policies 58 5.3 Actions to meet policy objectives 60 and develop a site that people from regional, national and global communities 5.4 Timetable for first year 63 can learn about or visit and have a genuinely world-class experience. Visitors will bring a sustainable growth in tourism to local communities, benefiting their quality 6 Implementation 64 of life and raising the profile of the region as a place to live, work and invest. This 6.1 Financial Resources 65 nomination will transform this regional and national icon into an international icon 6.2 Teams 68 of science, a showcase of international cooperation and endeavour that exemplifies astronomy and engineering at its best. 7 Monitoring plan 72 7.1 Indicators 74 The World Heritage Site Steering Committee aspires towards this ambition and this Management Plan describes the ways in which it might be achieved.
Cover image: Anthony Holloway Image: The University of Manchester
2 3 1 1.1 Summary
The principal objective of In summary, this plan: Given its importance in helping to Introduction sustain and enhance the significance this management plan is • contains the location, boundary of the World Heritage Site, relevant the strategic long-term details and description of the site; policies in this plan need to be protection of the Jodrell taken into account by local planning • specifies how the Outstanding authorities in developing their strategy Bank Observatory World Universal Value, including the for the historic environment and Heritage Site. It lays out a attributes, authenticity and integrity in determining relevant planning of the site, is to be managed and framework for decision- applications. making and managing maintained; A Conservation Management Plan change in the context of • provides an overview of the current for the entire Jodrell Bank site (which condition of the property and factors the World Heritage Site encompasses the nominated property) which may have positive or negative including management goals, was drawn up while preparing for effects on attributes, authenticity the nomination process. The latest objectives and both long- and integrity; term and day-to-day actions version of this Plan has been a useful • presents a collective vision for foundation for major elements of this required to protect, conserve the management of the property Management Plan. and present the Site. over the coming decades, and the policies, objectives and actions The Jodrell Bank Observatory World over the next five years . This Heritage Site Steering Committee, covers descriptions of the various described in Section 1.3 and made management structures and plans up of key representatives from a in place and the way that they are range of national and local bodies, is coordinated and support each other; responsible for the formulation and implementation of this plan, including • examines issues affecting its public consultation at key stages of its conservation and enjoyment, development. including development, tourism, interpretation, education and transport;
• and describes an implementation strategy, including monitoring and review.
Image: Anthony Holloway
4 1 Introduction 5 1.2 Guiding principles 1.3 World Heritage Site Steering Committee
The Management Plan for • Sustainable use for the benefit of the The guiding principles lead to a number The World Heritage Site The group membership is set out below. the Jodrell Bank Observatory local population and economy. of Policies, together with an Action Plan (WHS) Steering Committee designed to meet the policy objectives. Body Committee Members World Heritage Site has the • Commitment to a comprehensive will bring together all These are presented in Section 5 of • University Registrar and Chief Operating Officer programme of presentation and following guiding principles: this Management Plan. stakeholders in a shared (Chair) education, including a commitment Site owner: understanding of the • Vice President for Social Responsibility • Protection, conservation and to sustainable visitation. The University of • Director of Estates maintenance of the Outstanding property and embody a Manchester • Director of Communications Universal Value, Integrity and • Importance of gathering commitment to further the • University Historian and Heritage Manager Authenticity of the property, all stakeholders in a shared obligations of the World understanding of the property; in • Director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre (World including the identification and Heritage Convention. promotion of change that conserves a commitment to developing and Heritage Site Coordinator) implementing the management plan; and enhances these qualities; and It will continue to develop and Site user: • Deputy Director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and to furthering the obligations of the modification and/or mitigation of implement the management plan, Jodrell Bank (coordinating Presentation and Sustainable Visitation) the World Heritage Convention. development and change that might oversee the delivery of the Action Discovery Centre • Head of Education and Interpretation at Jodrell damage them. Bank Discovery Centre (coordinating Education and • Commitment to ensuring effective Plan, ensuring that it is fit for purpose and that it contributes to all the policy Interpretation) • The Jodrell Bank Observatory governance, resources and objectives for the property. The • Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, with continues to perform its function monitoring are in place to support WHS Steering Committee includes overall responsibility for science and engineering as a radio astronomy facility. It is implementation of the plan, including representatives of all stakeholder • Associate Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for important to conserve and enhance a commitment to capacity building Site user: The groups, including the site owners Astrophysics (Public Engagement) with responsibility the heritage of the site whilst and to the planning, implementation, Jodrell Bank Centre and users, local communities, local for Scientific Heritage maintaining this role as a world- evaluation and feedback cycle. for Astrophysics authorities, national authorities and • Associate Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for leading scientific research facility, communities of interest. Astrophysics (Observatory) with responsibility for thus retaining its authenticity of use Observatory operations and function. Site user: The SKA • Director General or their representative Organisation • Representative of Lower Withington Parish Council Local Community • Representative of Goostrey Parish Council Local Authority • Executive Director Place or representative (Cheshire East) • Senior Conservation Officer Local Authority (Cheshire West • Senior Planning representative and Chester) • Chief Executive of Marketing Cheshire Tourism bodies • Head of Marketing of Marketing Manchester • Principal, Historic Places Team, North West Historic England • Head of International Advice • Representative of Heritage team in Government DCMS Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport ICOMOS UK • Representative of ICOMOS UK UK World Heritage • Representative of UK World Heritage Site Community Site Community • Representative of Astronomy Heritage Community Astronomy (from Heritage Committee of Royal Astronomical Heritage Society and/or ICOMOS IAU working group on the Community heritage of astronomy on the World Heritage list)
Image: Anthony Holloway UNESCO UK • Representative of UNESCO UK
6 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 7 1.4 Relation to other plans 1.5 Preparing the Management Plan
Jodrell Bank, with its long Where such plans exist, this This plan was prepared The process was managed by history of management by Management Plan does not seek to in consultation with all Professor Teresa Anderson (Director duplicate them but to coordinate of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre The University of Manchester, their implementation and act major stakeholders and and World Heritage Site Manager) already has a number of as an overarching instrument of communities, including and Professor Tim O’Brien (Associate planning documents in place, coordination. the site owner, site users, Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for such as the Conservation local communities, local Astrophysics, Public Engagement and The interrelation between the various Heritage). This section outlines the Management Plan, which will plans and strategies is shown in the authorities, national and process that was used. continue to have a role in the diagram below: international bodies and future management of the communities of interest. property. Inclusion on UK Tentative List
Plans and Strategies that underpin the Management Plan
Consultation with local and national communities Tourism Management Plan
The University of Manchester Preparation of Nomination dossier Risk Management Strategy and Plan (including initial drafting of management plan) Plans and Strategies with The University of Manchester which the Management Plan is harmonised Consultation with site owner, users Strategic Framework for University and other stakeholders History and Heritage Conservation Management Plan The University of Manchester (covers the wider site, including the Re-drafting and editing of management plan Environmental Sustainability Plan nominated property) Management Science research group plans The University of Manchester Plan Formal creation of WHS Steering Committee Carbon Management Plan Biodiversity Action Plan (covers the wider site, including the The University of Manchester nominated property) Final re-drafting and editing of management plan Sustainable Travel Plan
The University of Manchester Estate Management Plan Future Work
The University of Manchester Adoption as the initial plan Landscape Strategy and Plan
Consultation with WHS Review The University of Manchester Steering Committee process Equality and Diversity Policy
The University of Manchester Management Plan kept up to date Staff Training and Development and fit for purpose.
8 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 9 2 2.1 Location, Boundaries and Ownership
Jodrell Bank Observatory The nominated property is entirely The University’s approval would also Description owned by the University of Manchester, be needed for any significant changes is located in Cheshire in which also owns land immediately of use to the farmland owned by them North West England at adjoining the property, see Figures 2.4 adjacent to Jodrell Bank. geographical coordinates and 2.5. The total area of the Jodrell N 53° 14’ 05” ; W 2° 18’ 18”. Bank site is 35 hectares. The 17.38 Ownership is a key element of the of the hectares of the nominated property sit protection of the OUV of the site. (See Figure 2.1). within this. Indeed, the University’s ownership since the inception of the Observatory is one The area of the nominated property The part of the University-owned of the major factors that has ensured its is 17.38 hectares and the area of the site outside the nominated property protection. proposed Buffer Zone is 18569.22 includes area (and a building) leased to property hectares. (This gives a total area of the Square Kilometre Array Organisation A Conservation Management Plan 18586.6 hectares). (See Figures 2.2 and an area and buildings that the for the entire Jodrell Bank site (which and 2.3). The nominated property University uses for the sustainable encompasses the nominated property) lies entirely within the Cheshire East management of visitors (known as the was drawn up while preparing for local authority, whilst the Buffer Zone ‘Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre’). the nomination process. The latest covers both Cheshire East and the version of this Plan has been a useful neighbouring authority of Cheshire The University’s approval is needed for foundation for major elements of this West and Chester. (See Figure 2.6). any works, such as new buildings, carried Management Plan. out on any area of its land.
Figure 2.1: Map of location in UK
-100000 100000 300000 500000 700000 340000 360000 380000 400000 420000
Bradford ´ Preston ´ Lancashire 0 0
0 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 4 0 0 1 1 1 1
Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 Yorkshire 4 Manchester 4 0 0
9 9 Merseyside
Liverpool Warrington
Scotland
0 Halton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 8 0 0 3 3 0 0 7 7 Jodrell Bank Observatory Derbyshire Chester Cheshire Northern Cheshire West 0 0
Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 and Chester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 3 Cheshire East 3 0 0
5 Isle of Man 5
Jodrell Bank Clwyd Ireland Observatory Stoke-on-Trent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 3 3
0 England 0 3 3 Wales
Staffordshire
0 Shropshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 3 0 0 1 1 Shrewsbury Lichfield 0 50 100 200 Kilometers 0 5 10 20 Kilometers Sources: Esri, USGS, NOAA
-100000 100000 300000 500000 700000 340000 360000 380000 400000 420000
KEY: Nominated Property Coordinate System: British National Grid Map showing location of Jodrell Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator Projection: Transverse Mercator County Boundary Datum: OSGB 1936 Bank Observatory in the context Datum: OSGB 1936 Image: Anthony Holloway Scale: 1 : 5 , 5 0 0 ,0 0 0 at A3 of the United Kingdom Scale: 1 : 5 5 0 , 0 0 0 at A3 District Boundary Figure 1 - Jodrell Bank Contains OS data © Crown copyright and Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2017; Esri, USGS, NOAA database rights 2017 Main Settlements Observatory Location Map
10 2 Description of the property 11 0 379400 379600 379800 380000 0 0 0 4 4 1 1
7 535 7 3 A 3
Car Park Granada Arboretum ´
Discovery Centre 372000 376000 380000 384000 388000 0 0
0 0 ´ 2 2 1 1 7 7 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 7 7 3 3
Lovell Telescope 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 8 0 0 6 6 1 1 3 3 7 7 3 3
Square Kilometre Array Headquarters 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 6 6 3 3
Bridge Farm 0 0 0 0 8 8 0 0 7 7 3 3 0 0.5 1 2 Kilometers
372000 376000 380000 384000 388000
Coordinate System: British National Grid KEY: Figure 2.3: Map of site and buffer zone Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 Nominated Property Boundary Scale: 1 : 6 0 ,0 0 0 at A3 © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Buffer Zone Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Figure 3 - Jodrell Bank Observatory Buffer Zone 0 0
0 5 0 6 53 6
0 A 0 7 7 3 3
B 5 r 3 id 5 g A e B5 L 3 a 92 n e 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 7 7
3 0 35 70 140 Meters 3
379400 379600 379800 380000
Coordinate System: British National Grid KEY: Figure 2.2: Map of site boundaries Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 Nominated Property Boundary Scale: 1 : 3 , 0 0 0 at A3 © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Figure 2 - Jodrell Bank Observatory Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Nominated Property Boundary
12 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 13 0 379400 379600 379800 380000 0 0 0 4 4 1 1 7 7 2.2 Features of the site 3 ´ 3
Star Pavilion
Lovell Telescope The property, which is heart of the site, is the location of the using ex-army radar equipment. The Buildings 1 - 5 0 0
Grade I listed Mark II Telescope and is site was selected because it was in 0 0 2 2
part of The University of 1 1
bounded by the ensemble of modest the ownership of the University of 7 7 3 3 Manchester, is located in a research buildings (some of which Manchester (as it is now) and because Space Pavilion rural area of Cheshire East in are now Grade II listed) in which much it was free from the radio interference northwest England. of the early work of the Observatory caused by trams passing the University Control Building took place. This area also contains campus within Manchester itself. (part Grade II Listed) The site is in open countryside and remnants and traces of early scientific From that time onwards, scientific surrounded by agricultural land. There instruments. Main Microwave Link Tower are a small number of residences activity moved from south to north Cosmic Noise Hut/Link Hut Mechanical Workshop (Grade II Listed) To the north of the Green, the site is across the site with many new Cryogenics Workshop bordering the site and a number of Dev Lab dominated by the Grade I listed Lovell instruments developed, and then Electrical Workshop small settlements or villages within Polarisation Hut (Grade II Listed) 0 0
Telescope, which sits in a working abandoned, as the field of radio 0 0 a 5-mile radius. The nearest large 0 0 1 Lovell Telescope 1 7 7
settlement is Macclesfield, at a compound containing a number of astronomy was created. 3 (Grade I Listed) 3 distance of around 8 miles. engineering sheds, and by its Control Optical Telescopes Building. This area also includes While much of the early scientific At the south end of the site (see Figure some of the modern buildings of the equipment was demolished, or re-used 2.4 for a map with various features Discovery Centre used to welcome in subsequent instruments, some of labelled) is land formerly used as visitors and school groups. the remnants still survive either above Radiant Hut University Botany research grounds, or below ground. Meteor Radar Groundplane including wooden gardeners’ huts and The first use of the property for radio Park Royal Building the remains of glasshouses. A tarmac astronomy occurred in December (Grade II Listed) road through this area provides an 1945, when Bernard Lovell arrived at Moon Hut 0 Remains of Polar 0 0 0
entrance route for staff and leads to the most southerly point of the site 8 Remains of Searchlight Aerial Axis Telescope 8 0 0
7 (Grade II Listed) 7
the Green. This area, which is at the to begin observations of meteors 3 Blackett’s Hut 3 Mark II Telescope (Grade I Listed) Powerhouse
Telescope Workshop
Dormitory Block 0 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 7 7 3 3
Botany Huts 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 7 7
3 0 25 50 100 Meters 3
379400 379600 379800 380000
Coordinate System: British National Grid KEY: Figure 2.4: Map of site (with features labelled) Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 Nominated Property Boundary Scale: 1 : 3 , 0 0 0 at A3 © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Listed Buildings Figure 4 - Key Features of the Jodrell Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Bank Observatory Nominated Property
14 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 15 378800 379200 379600 380000 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 ´ 2 7 7 3 3
372000 376000 380000 384000 388000 ´ 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 0 Cheshire West 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 7 7 7 and Chester 7 3 3 3 3
Car Park Granada Arboretum 0 0 0 0
0 Cheshire East 0 8 8 6 6 Discovery Centre 3 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 7 7 3 3
Holly Tree Farm Lovell Telescope 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 6 6 3 3
Beech Tree Farm Square Kilometre Array Headquarters Staffordshire 0 0.5 1 2 Kilometers Moorlands District 0 0
0 0 372000 376000 380000 384000 388000 8 8 0 0 7 7
3 3 KEY: Coordinate System: British National Grid Figure 2.6: Map of site and buffer zone with local authorities indicated Projection: Transverse Mercator Nominated Property Boundary Datum: OSGB 1936 Scale: 1 : 6 0 ,0 0 0 at A3 Buffer Zone © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Figure 6 - Jodrell Bank Observatory Buffer Zone Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Local Authority Boundary Local Authority Areas Old Hall Farm 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 7 7 3 3
0 5070 100 140 200 Meter2s80 Meters
378800 379200 379600 380000
Coordinate System: British National Grid KEY: Figure 2.5: Map of site with land in Projection: Transverse Mercator Nominated Property Boundary Datum: OSGB 1936 university ownership indicated Scale: 1 : 6 , 0 0 0 at A3 Jodrell Bank Observatory Site Areas with Visitor Access Contains OS data © Crown copyright Figure 5 - University of Manchester and database rights 2017 Other Adjacent University of Manchester Landholdings Land Holdings at Jodrell Bank Observatory
16 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 17 Jodrell Bank Observatory The site now comprises a unique a. L03 – Landscape around the Lovell is now the hub of the UK’s combination of attributes, which Telescope: The field which once convey the Outstanding Universal surrounded the Lovell Telescope national 217-km-wide Value of Jodrell Bank Observatory. has now been landscaped and array of up to seven radio Taken together, they represent the provides public access via a circular telescopes (‘e-MERLIN’). past, present and future of radio tarmac path. Interpretation panels, astronomy at Jodrell Bank, effectively interactive exhibitions and picnic The signals from all seven telescopes laying down the progress of every tables are located across the area. are combined at Jodrell Bank so that stage of the history of radio astronomy The Control Building and its access the array operates as if it is a single on the landscape, from its inception to path to the Lovell Telescope as well Telescope, which has a similar resolving the present day. as the area immediately surrounding power to the Hubble Space Telescope. the base of the Lovell Telescope The Lovell and Mark II Telescopes are In this section, we describe the are fenced off and public access used as part of this array. attributes as follows: prohibited. Besides hard landscaping, the area comprises grassland with Along part of the western border • The Landscape and Layout of the scattered specimen trees. of, and just outside, the nominated Site property sits the International • The Lovell Telescope and the Mark II b. L05 – The Green: The Green is Headquarters for the Square Kilometre Telescope an open area of grassland around Array Organisation (SKAO), the which circles a tarmac access • The Control Building international project planning the next road, alongside which stand the generation large telescope for the • The Green and associated Observatory buildings created circa world’s radio astronomy community. Observatory Buildings 1955, when the permanence of the (This land is also in the ownership of • The site of the Transit Telescope Observatory was first established. It is the University of Manchester, but is not the location of many of the attributes • Sites and remnants of other early part of the nominated property, as it of the OUV of the site (e.g. the Mark scientific instruments carries no elements of the OUV). The II Telescope, the site of the Transit SKA Organisation is due to become an • The Botany Huts Telescope and other instrument sites International Treaty Organisation in the and remnants, see below) and carries near future, a fact that expresses the The Landscape and Layout significant OUV in itself. interchange of ideas that underpins of the Site modern astrophysics. c. L07 – Former Botany Grounds: The configuration of the site is a This area is the location of the To the north-west of the property, set key element of its sense of place Botany Huts, which are a key around the Lovell Telescope, there as a working Observatory. Largely attribute of the OUV of the property, are spaces open to the general public determined by the evolution of the as the initial arrival point of Bernard (part of the ‘Discovery Centre’) which Observatory in the early days of the Lovell at the site. Work on the include visitor facilities. The rest of emergence of radio astronomy, the emergence of radio astronomy the visitor facilities (and Gardens that landscape is much the same today transferred to the Green area include an Arboretum) sit just outside as it was then. In this section, we quite soon after Lovell’s arrival. The the property to its north east. These describe the current state of the majority of this area comprises rough areas exemplify the tradition of Public landscape zones, moving through the grassland; a recently constructed car Engagement at Jodrell Bank and are property from the area now most in park and staff community allotment; Image: Anthony Holloway also essential to the management use (the north) to the area that is now and plantations of poplar, ash, and of visitors. All these facilities are on less used (the south). The landscape alder with no real shrub layer. The University-owned land. Jodrell Bank viewed from The Roaches in the Peak District, zones in the nominated property are southern access road to the property with the Cathedrals of Liverpool visible on the horizon. described in detail in the Conservation crosses this area south to north, and Management Plan Gazetteer. The the open grassland area is crossed Gazetteer code numbers for each by a track joining the main driveway landscape area are given at the start of to the botany department structures each paragraph below. in the west.
18 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 19 This original bowl of welded sheet One of the walkways also accesses steel is still extant in form, although the original ‘swinging lab’, a pivoted in the process of being replaced, with room beneath the centre of the bowl the guidance of Historic England. The (currently removed to ground level for support structure for the later bowl is maintenance and to allow access to carried through the earlier bowl to link work on the original reflecting surface). with the original steel frame. The lifts in the towers have been The dish arrangement is mounted on replaced, but retain their original bearings that were recycled from the control buttons. The equipment room gun turrets of two battleships, HMS at the base of the Telescope retains Royal Sovereign and HMS Revenge. much original ‘Brush’ electrical power The bearings sit at the top of two equipment, and analogue control triangular steel lattice towers (known and monitoring equipment, as well as as Red and Green Towers) that rest modern replacements for many of on wheel bogeys running on two these items. A substantial amount of concentric tracks of double rails. The modern data cabling is also present. head of each tower is enclosed to The emergency generator house form a multi-level equipment space contains a modern diesel generator. containing bearings, racks and drive motors. The towers are accessed by Below the centre of the Telescope is lifts within each tower. the cable turning chamber. This in turn is connected to the tunnel that links the The outer diameter of the rail track is Telescope and Control Building. The 107m. The track allows the Telescope annular chamber has smooth concrete to rotate in azimuth (horizontally) so walls and contains modern data and that it can point in any direction. The control cabling. Central in the room azimuth drive is powered by 50 horse- is the tall metal drum containing the power electric motors at the foot of cable-turner, which allows the cables each tower. entering the telescope to rotate with it through 420 degrees. The bearings allow it to move in elevation (vertically) so that it can be At the southeast, it gives access to the tilted to point at any angle above the tunnel to the Control Building, along horizon, driven by electric motors which the cabling runs in wall trays. The at the top of the towers. These two tunnel has plain shuttered concrete Image: Anthony Holloway movements, in azimuth and elevation, walls. It is included (up to the point allow it to observe any point in the sky where it joins the Control Building) in above it. the Grade I listing of the Telescope. Active in both the dawn of the Space that went before it and there are many The Telescope was conceived by Sir The Lovell Telescope The curtilage of the Telescope is Race and the Cold War, the Lovell other elements of the site that are Bernard Lovell, founder of the Jodrell The dish surface is accessed via lifts in generally interpreted to encompass its The most prominent feature of the Telescope now constitutes a huge, highly important in terms of its heritage. Bank Observatory, and designed by the towers that support the bearings compound (to the east) and up to the Observatory is the Lovell Telescope, internationally-recognised, public engineer Charles Husband. It is made and walkways that run between the line of the Control Building east wall (to the largest fully steerable radio landmark within an area that Parallels can be drawn between of steel and is largely painted white, towers at high level. the Telescope’s west). telescope in the world on completion stretches west from the Pennines Jodrell Bank and Stonehenge in this with some sections painted grey. The in 1957, and which still operates out to the Welsh border and is visible – both have iconic structures that are main reflector dish is a colossal 76 At the centre of the dish a lattice tower as the third largest on Earth. The for many miles. generally held to signify the complex metres in diameter and is paraboloidal supports the radio receiver, which is Telescope, which is a Grade I listed as a whole, but both also have a wealth in shape. It sits nested within the housed in a cryogenic container in the structure, stands 89m high (around However, despite the fact that it is of other elements that are part of the dish that was installed at the time of focus box and reached via a cage lift. the same height as the Big Ben clock the most publicly recognisable part OUV of the property. construction. tower in Westminster), dominating the of the Jodrell Bank site, it effectively Cheshire plains. represents the culmination of the work
20 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 21 The Control Building
The Control Building, built originally for the Lovell Telescope, was completed in 1955. It was subsequently extended in 1961, and again in the 1970s. It is constructed primarily of brown brick in Flemish Bond, window surrounds of Image: Howard Barlow concrete and metal casement windows. In plan, it has a linear rectangular shape, The steps’ inner face is gently concave, is dominated by the central U-shaped roughly aligned north-south. There and against this, between the columns, Control Desk, the structure of which is is a central two-storey block with is a bespoke curved oak bench whose largely original, with updated internal single-storey wings and some rooftop back follows the profile of the steps with equipment and control panels. extensions to the south wing, and their outward-leaning risers. The metal ground-floor extensions to the north. balustrade with oak handrail carries a Below the western wall of the Control The Building stands south east of the plaque recording the construction of Room there is a semi-basement Lovell Telescope, to which it is linked, at the Lovell telescope, and listing the extension that surrounds it, in red Image: Anthony Holloway basement level, by a tunnel (which itself contractors. engineering brick in stretcher bond. A forms part of the Grade I listed Lovell doorway with open concrete porch is Telescope structure). The Control From the lobby, stairs also lead to the offset slightly to the right, aligned over The Mark II Telescope very first computers designed for real chain and cogs which move rollers Building was Grade II listed in 2017. first floor. The first-floor gallery retains the tunnel from the telescope and with time control and built using germanium to control the horizontal position of original windows overlooking the control the south side of the control room. The ‘Green’ area at the heart of the transistor logic and a ferrite core store. the alt-azimuth mount in the circular On approach, its central external room, although now boarded over. property is dominated by the Mark base building. On the east side of the feature is the main entrance (which is in To the left of this extension is a small II Telescope, which is located to the The Telescope has a building at its gearbox are the two original motors of the east wall at the centre of the two- To the right is a single-storey block timber entrance extension, which is southeast corner of the area. It is third base that houses the mount and the control system for the telescope, storey block), reached by two steps and with a continuous glazed strip of ten used by Jodrell Bank engineers to move largest radio telescope in the UK and engine room, a first-floor central room now replaced by control cabinets along a modern access ramp with handrails. windows. This area houses a mix of between the Telescope and the Control is characterised by the distinctive and bracket. All of these are made of the south west side of the room. The offices and laboratory space. To the Room. concrete mount for the telescope dish, pre-stressed concrete. circular base building contains the alt- The two full-glazed timber entrance left of the entrance the ground floor is which itself has an elegant elliptical azimuth mount, which sits on 54 steel doors are set in a glass-block surround The north wall of the original Control The reflector bowl has a lattice-work similar but with only a five-window strip. shape. It was Grade I listed in 2017. rollers in a 12.8m (42ft) diameter on a and over-sailed by a concrete canopy, Building is obscured by the extension steel frame, supported on the concrete Both wings were extended towards the concrete foundation block. all highly characteristic of the period. front soon after construction to provide built in the late 1960s, which houses a The telescope was designed by bracket with concrete counter-weights additional office space. mix of offices, a library, a lecture room Husband and Co (the designers of to the rear. The elliptical, paraboloidal There is a narrow walkway around The entrance doors lead to the lobby, and some general meeting spaces. This the Lovell Telescope) in 1960 and bowl is constructed of welded steel the outside. The first-floor central which is designed as an approach to the Further left, a short section of the structure was excluded from the Grade construction, by Arrol Engineering, sheet with a major axis of 125ft (38.1m) room contains a central, full-height, most important space in the building, original E wall is largely obscured by the II listing of the Control Building in 2017. took place between 1962 and 1964. and minor axis of 83ft 4in (25.4m). circular cabinet of riveted steel panels the Control Room. Steps lead to this concrete podium building of the 42- Overlaying this is the 1987, circular known as a ‘twister’ through which along the rear wall from left and right to Foot telescope, and above the original To the west of that extension is the A variant of the Mark II design was also surface of aluminium panels. The the telescope wires are threaded to a small central landing, with recessed brick wall is a single-storey glazed timber concrete mounting pad for the helical used for the Goonhilly 1 telescope built aerial with a focal length of 40ft (12m) prevent their tangling. The room also doorways leading to the left and right, rooftop extension. Again, this area of antenna. This is a concrete bed 4m to receive the first TV signals relayed is supported by four lattice-work legs has a small 500kg travelling crane hidden by wing walls. The rear wall of the the building houses a mix of laboratory square, with mounting bolts in each by the Telstar satellite across the standing out from the edge of the above a trap door in the floor through landing is glazed, with windows leaning space and offices, including the corner, set within the grassed lawn. Atlantic. bowl structure; the lower, right leg which the alt-azimuth mount can be away at the top, which afford a view into Director’s office created for Sir Bernard incorporates a narrow flight of steps the control room. This wall, which was Generally, in the control building The parabolic reflecting surface of reached. The small engine room on Lovell, which retains its door, parquet to access the aerial focal point with a the original control room doorway, is alterations to the original rooms the Mark II Telescope had an elliptical the northeast side contains a motor flooring and waffle-iron radiators. hanging flight of steps to allow access removable, so that the original entrance have largely been to the function and outline to increase the collecting area and gearbox, which drives a vertical from the roof of the engine house. route can be used either for reception The west elevation of the building is contents rather than to their essential over a circular aperture (it was a pilot driveshaft which controls the vertical of important visitors, or for practical dominated by a glazed wall of four character and finishes, although some for a much larger telescope which was position of the telescope. The ground-floor engine room reasons (e.g. during events including vertical lights, which are the windows room entrances have been adjusted, never constructed). It was the first contains the original gearbox, with television broadcasts). in the Control Room facing the and the installation of the processing telescope of any type in the world to an updated drive system, on a deep Lovell Telescope. These provide the computer (the e-MERLINcorrelator) be controlled by a digital computer, the concrete engine bed. This powers Telescope Controller with a full view of and its cooling did require some Ferranti Argus 104. This was one of the a vertical driveshaft, original gear the Lovell telescope. The Control Room physical works.
22 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 23 The Green and associated The important buildings in this area are trailer and the name transferred to the Cosmic Noise Hut (Link Hut) telescope to the west. The extension frames set in concrete surrounds. Observatory Buildings described below. building along with the equipment. is set back at the right, with a large central window and a lower flat roof. The construction of this set of new The Park Royal Building Originally it was used as the control buildings marked the advent of the The Green is the area at the heart of The timber Development Lab projects room for the Transit Telescope which permanent radio observatory at Jodrell the property that forms its historic forwards at the right. The eastern wall was used to detect radio waves from Bank and are the earliest surviving core. This is the area in which Sir of the extension is obscured by the the Andromeda Galaxy, the first structures built specifically for this. Bernard Lovell and his team built attached Development Lab. known extragalactic radio source, and up and expanded the Jodrell Bank the remnant of Tycho’s supernova. Inside the building, the floor is of The Electrical Workshop was originally Experimental Station (today known When the Mark II telescope was built herringbone parquet throughout, used as the Main Office for the as the Jodrell Bank Observatory). It in 1962-64 the Park Royal Building with linear edgings indicating the observatory, and housed the Library, continues to perform its intended was extended with a small, projecting The Cosmic Noise Hut stands at the original location of partitions. Within Lecture Room and Sir Bernard Lovell’s function, which is to provide an open control room added on the south-east north-west corner of the Green and is the extension, two concrete pads office (until the Control Building was space upon which to set and carry out side looking towards the telescope, attached by the Development Lab to within the parquet floor relate to the completed in 1955). It was from scientific experiments. A wide range of Park Royal is a single-storey hut that built in 1963-64. The Mark II was the 21-foot telescope control room in optics experiments, including the this office that Lovell planned and experiments were set up there which has been used variously as a control the first telescope in the world to the Polarisation Hut to its east. first experiments in optical intensity directed the construction of the are vital in the history of Jodrell Bank room, to house scientific apparatus, be controlled by a computer and it interferometry, which took place here. Lovell Telescope. The building also and its role in the development of radio laboratories and research offices. It is is believed that this computer was The hut was originally built in 1949, housed a number of examples of the astronomy. currently used as a general store, with housed in the Park Royal Building. using a standard construction system, In 2017, this building was awarded interchange of ideas – for example, some unused areas. as a control and receiving room for Grade II listing status, because of its in 1953, over 40 radio astronomers It comprises mainly a square open area In 2017, it was awarded Grade II listed the adjacent 30-Foot telescope (a importance as the site of the first from around the world gathered in the which is predominantly grassland. In It was built in 1949 of pre-cast status for the following reasons: paraboloidal mesh radio-telescope that experiments in optical interferometry, Lecture Room for one of the earliest the southern part of this there is a small concrete construction system with was sited to the west of the hut). This its degree of survival and its ‘group meetings to discuss the emergence of area of developing trees and scrub, concrete portal frames and walls of • Historic interest: as one of the telescope was designed to investigate value’ as an example of the first phase this new science. including birch, willow and ash. The large, concrete blocks. The doors and earliest, purpose-built auxiliary ‘cosmic noise’, ie the background of permanent building in the early grassland is separated by an encircling vertical, rectangular windows have buildings at the Observatory built extra-terrestrial radio signals that had history of the property. Once the hub of the Observatory tarmac road to the west of the Mark pre-cast concrete frames and the as the control building for the 218ft been first discovered by Karl Jansky transferred to the Control Building II Telescope and east of the Moon majority of windows are multi-paned Transit Telescope, then adapted in 1932 and was the first paraboloidal around 1955, the building was re- and Radiant Huts. This road provides with galvanised metal frames. A small for use as the control building for its telescope at Jodrell Bank (and for a purposed as a workshop and in the access all around the Green. There are extension was added in 1963-64. The replacement, the Mark II Telescope, few years, the largest fully-steerable 1970s the northeast corner was mixed native hedges along the western building was re-roofed in 2016. the first telescope in the world to be telescope in the world). Only its modified by the addition of the and northern boundaries with mature controlled by computer; concrete mounting pad now remains. Cryogenics workshop, which now pedunculate oaks. Buildings in the The building’s name derives from a links the Electrical Workshop to the northeast of the Zone are adjoined by military trailer which Bernard Lovell • Development of the site: the control The hut was extended in 1953 Mechanical Workshop. grassland, scrub and trees. acquired in 1946, described as ‘a building replaced a temporary with a darkroom to house a large cabin packed with electronic military vehicle housing equipment spectrohelioscope. In 2017, the building was awarded Between the outer edge of the road equipment built onto a prime mover and as such demonstrates the Electrical Workshop Grade II listed status, in recognition and the boundary of the property which was commonly known in the more permanent establishment In common with many of the other of its role in the emergence of radio are spaced a group of research and service as a Park Royal’. The name of the Observatory with financial original buildings at the property, it is The Electrical Workshop, was built astronomy. engineering buildings, which largely originated from Park Royal Vehicles Ltd investment in the site infrastructure; constructed of a pre-cast concrete circa 1949, along with the other date back to the early days of the who were the London coach-builders frame, with concrete block walls, buildings around the Green. It stands Observatory. who built the vehicles. When moving • Group value: the Park Royal Building metal-framed windows and felt roof. along the east edge of the Green the Park Royal trailer from the original has a strong functional link with the and is connected to the Mechanical The centre area and the land between Botany Grounds to the north end of Mark II Telescope for which it was It was used in the 1950s by Robert Workshop (see below) by the buildings is still used, as it has been the site (then bounded by the north the control building, and visually with Hanbury Brown for the experiments Cryogenics Workshop. since the inception of the site, for side of the ‘Green’ area), it became similar huts around ‘The Green’ built that led to the discovery of the Hanbury temporary scientific experiments. The stuck in the mud. It then remained to support the scientific research Brown and Twiss effect in quantum The building is single storey and made open arrangement of this area is a key there, determining the siting of several Lovell and his team were undertaking optics. predominantly of concrete, with a attribute of the property. aerials and then the first purpose-built, into the new discipline of radio pre-cast concrete frame and concrete In plan, it is a single-storey, L-plan permanent buildings. The Park Royal astronomy. block walls, in the same vein as the building with the front facing south, building was constructed specifically other buildings that stand around the and with the concrete pad for the 30ft to house the apparatus from the Green. Like them, it has metal window
24 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 25 Building ‘ensemble’ around the Green Telescope workshop and Dormitory The site of the Some elements of the Transit The Searchlight Telescope Block Transit Telescope Telescope (including steel support The Cosmic Noise Hut and Electrical poles and concrete anchor blocks) are Standing in the Green, just south Workshop are part of an ensemble These buildings are located along the of its centre, are the remains of the In the southeast corner of the Green also retained here and elsewhere on of buildings around the Green, the southern access road, just south of the Searchlight Telescope, an aerial area lies the area that was once the site site. construction of which marked the Powerhouse. created from the base of a Second of the Transit Telescope, completed establishment of permanent radio A full archaeological examination of the World War trailer-mounted searchlight in 1947 and used until the early 1960s. astronomy research body at the They were constructed at the same area is planned in the near future. in 1946. These are the earliest This is now no longer present above property. time in the early to mid 1950s, using a remnants of a scientific instrument on ground, and the site itself has been concrete portal framework with walls Sites and remnants of other the property. Other buildings of the same type in this • Moon Hut: Standing at the southern built over, in part, in subsequent years. of pre-cast concrete blocks. They have early scientific instruments area include: end of the west side of the green, metal window frames, set in concrete The Mark II Telescope stands at one The searchlight base wheels have been this building, which is of the same window surrounds. Both buildings had corner of its former location, but the removed and the chassis immobilised • The Mechanical Workshop: Stands In addition to the Telescopes that type as the others around the Green, new entrance foyers and the Telescope landscape still indicates clearly where by a framework of scaffolding poles at the northern end of the east are currently in use for research and was also constructed in 1949. Workshop has a canopy, which were all the Transit Telescope once stood. set into a concrete pad. The mount is side of the Green and is connected teaching (Lovell, Mark II, 21-ft and 42- It originally housed researchers added in the late 1950s. now rusted and unlikely to revolve at to the Electrical Workshop by the Geophysical scanning of the area has ft), there are traces and remnants of a working on radar examinations of the present (although conservation work more recent extension known as indicated that archaeological traces number of early scientific instruments lunar surface. The Telescope workshop, which is the may free this up in future). The aerial the Cryogenics Workshop. It has of the Telescope and its supporting in addition to the Transit Telescope. northernmost of the two buildings, structures are no longer present. retained its original use since it was The Powerhouse includes a large abstract mural in its structures remain underground. built, in 1949. It has been extended entrance foyer, which is believed to The Powerhouse is at the southeast to the east and was connected to the date from 1966. The building was Electrical Workshop in the 1970s by corner of the Green, adjacent to the originally constructed in the early to the construction of the Cryogenics Mark II Telescope. Originally built in mid 1950s as a staff canteen for the Workshop. 1948 to house two 105kW generators, whole site community. The Lounge it was the first permanent building of area at the southern end of the • Polarisation Hut: Located at the the Observatory. It was extended in building was the social hub of the site eastern end of the north side of the 1953 to house an additional 240kW where people would play cards, or Green, this building is now connected generator to satisfy requirements hold parties. It was re-purposed as a to the Cosmic Noise Hut by the for the Lovell Telescope then under workshop in around 1970 following Development Lab. It housed various construction. This generator is still in research offices including those of construction of a café in the recently situ. Roger Jennison and Mrinal Dasgupta constructed visitors centre to the who pioneered early experiments It is constructed of cream brick, with north of the site (now replaced by the in long-baseline interferometry. It is concrete window and door-sills and Discovery Centre). now the control room for the 21-foot lintels. It has metal window frames and Just to the south of the Telescope telescope (sometimes called the 7m a flat roof. telescope’) used in undergraduate Workshop lies the Dormitory Block. experiments. The building still operates as the It was originally designed as an Powerhouse for the Observatory. accommodation block (in keeping with • Radiant Hut: This building is located Internally, it consists of a main central many Observatories worldwide) for at the northern end of the west space that houses the generators scientists who were working overnight side of the Green. It is of the same and switchgear. It has two full-width on site. It retained this use until the construction as the other group of mezzanine floors at either end (East early-mid 2000s and is now used for buildings and has a long-standing and West). Below the East mezzanine storage. timber extension at its rear. It there is a workshop. originally housed instruments that The two buildings were sited on what measured the outputs from arrays To the east there is an area that is used was, for many years, the main entrance of Yagi aerials situated either side of for vehicle maintenance. road to the site, and is now used as the the building used in radar studies of main staff entrance. meteors (hence the name Radiant, after the point on the sky from which a meteor shower appears to radiate). It is currently used as an archive store. Image: Glyn C. Evans
26 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 27 Two large girders and associated Helical Antenna Base Meteor Radar Ground Plane The Botany Huts bolted L-shaped girders resting on timbers across the top of the mount do This concrete footing lies outside the In approximately the centre of the The Botany Huts stand close to the not form part of the original structure. northern end of the Control Building. Green, this consists primarily of a very south perimeter of the Property. It is approximately 4m x 4m in size and tarmacadam surface 27m x 27m in They were built for use by University of Around the pad there is an area of stands in the lawn in that area. It was size. Its southern edge is delineated Manchester Botanists who, from 1939 partly-obscured hard standing that originally constructed as the base of by a concrete cable duct, sitting flush (i.e. prior to the arrival of Bernard Lovell corresponds to the area used as the a distinctive helical antenna deployed with the ground, that runs along the line in December 1945), used the site as a turning circle of the telescope when it at Jodrell Bank by the United States’ of a former field boundary (this can be testing ground. was in operation Space Technology Laboratories team identified clearly by a change in ground in circa 1959 for their spacecraft level). This was used in tandem with a The buildings are built of timber and To either side of this area (east and tracking programme. radar transmitter working at 60 MHz are both single-storey. They are west) run concrete channels that and two receiving aerials at its south unremarkable in themselves, but originally housed cabling. These run 30ft Telescope Base edge, in experiments to measure the significant in that they were the first towards Park Royal and Moon Hut heights of meteors. When in use this structures used by the scientists who Standing immediately to the west of respectively. reflecting plane was covered in wire were instrumental in creating the field the Cosmic Noise Hut, this concrete mesh. The surface is still used as an of radio astronomy. The Searchlight Aerial was originally pad is around 4m x 4m in size and area for experimental apparatus. created by John Clegg, who was an is flush with the tarmac that now Both structures, which are set at expert on radar aerials, in order to surrounds it. Originally constructed Total Rates Antenna Base a slight angle to each other, have observe meteors with more accuracy. in circa 1949, it was the footing of one large room plus some smaller Image: The University of Manchester The searchlight mount was originally the steerable 30ft Telescope that This concrete plinth stands rooms. There is some overgrowth by a loan from the army and was placed was one of the inspirations for the approximately 30m south of the vegetation. at its current position near to the Lovell Telescope. It contains a circle remains of the Searchlight Telescope, (then) location of the Park Royal of mounting bolts (just over 1m in is around 2m x 2m in cross section Following the arrival of Lovell at Jodrell trailer (see section above). It was diameter), slightly west of its centre, and stands around quarter of a metre Bank in 1945, the two huts became subsequently used for several other that indicates the location of the above ground level. It has 4 mounting exclusively used by Lovell’s team as pieces of research and was used as the original telescope fixings. bolts at each corner. This was originally their base; Lovell says that originally backdrop for group photos, including the base block for the ‘Total Rates’ one of the huts had a coke stove where the formal photograph that celebrated antenna. the team thawed out, brewed tea and the appointment of Bernard Lovell ate their packed lunches. The botany as the world’s first Professor of Radio huts continued to be used for around Astronomy in 1951. ten years with former staff recalling that one hut was used for research and In 2017, the structure was Grade storage with a canteen and the other II listed, and archaeological and was used as a dormitory. Eventually conservation work is planned in the they were replaced by a purpose-built near future. canteen building (now the telescope workshop) and companion dormitory building constructed in the mid-1950s. Their ownership then returned to the Botany Department, which used them until, it is believed, the early 1990s. Both huts are presently disused.
28 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 29 2.3 Gazetteer of Elements of the property 2.4 Pre-existing Management Framework
The Conservation Table 1 lists key elements of the The property is fortunate 2.4.1 Site Users 2.4.2 Management Management Plan for property which contribute to the in that it already has a attributes as described above, The Jodrell Bank site is used by three The current management structure the property contains a together with their Gazetteer codes. well-established distinct groups: is represented in Figure 2.7 and complete gazetteer of all its Their positions are noted in the map management framework, described below. 1. The Jodrell Bank Centre for shown in Figure 2.4. elements. which has been in existence Astrophysics (JBCA) – a Division Site Coordination Level since its inception. of the University of Manchester’s Table 1: Key elements of the property School of Physics and Astronomy Coordination of activities on the Jodrell That said, the management has, to Bank property is currently undertaken CMP comprising research activities at Brief description Type Condition Protection Note date, prioritised its world-leading Code Jodrell Bank Observatory and in the by a University committee, the Jodrell science and engineering research, Alan Turing Building on the main Bank Site Governance Group, which Still in use The Lovell Telescope: Radio telescope, standing 89m high, with dish of Grade I rather than focussing on its heritage. includes all key internal stakeholders B07 Structure Good as a radio University campus in Manchester; diameter 76m. First very large radio telescope in the world. listed Alongside the management of telescope including representatives of the three research activities, visitor management 2. The Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre main site user groups. The Group Later has also been developed in a way (JBDC) – one of the University of meets 2-3 times per year and takes a (unlisted) The Control Building: Principal building in the property, completed in 1955 Grade II that is sympathetic to both scientific B05 Building Good extensions Manchester’s Cultural Institutions strategic overview of work, events and and housing the Control Room for the Lovell Telescope. listed in poorer operations and heritage. Management and responsible for visitors to the developments at the Jodrell Bank site condition of the heritage of the property has, to site; with particular focus on where interests date, been more informal. Helical Antenna base: Concrete pad, approx. 4m x 4m, which was originally of the three user groups overlap. This 3. The Square Kilometre Array has, to date, also included discussion of the base of the Helical Antenna installed by the US Space Technology A01 Archaeology Good The nomination process has, for the Laboratories team in around 1959. Organisation (SKAO) – an the World Heritage Site process. first time, initiated the development international research organisation, Good- The Green: Landscape at the heart of the property L05 Landscape and implementation of management collaborating with the Jodrell Bank Operational Level moderate practices that bring the three Centre for Astrophysics and many 30ft Telescope base: Concrete pad, approx. 4m x 4m, originally the footing important elements of science, visitors other similar institutions worldwide In addition to the coordination of the steerable 30ft Telescope that was part of the inspiration for the Lovell A02 Archaeology Good and heritage together. In doing so, and leasing land at Jodrell Bank exercised by the Governance Group, Telescope. the wide group of site stakeholders from the University on which their each of the three site user groups Cosmic Noise Hut: Concrete building now known as the Link Hut, originally (both site users and others) has been has its own well-developed and Grade II international headquarters is sited the control room for the 30ft Telescope, later altered to accommodate B11 Building Mixed independent management and listed involved in the process. (see, for example, Figure 2.5). The solar and optics experiments. SKAO is due to become an Inter‐ operational structures. There are This section sets out the pre-existing Polarisation Hut: Another typical hut in the style of the ensemble around the Governmental Organisation, by however cross-links between each management framework and external Green. Originally used as the base for early experiments in long-baseline B13 Building Good International Treaty, in 2018/19. team and also links from various interferometry. stakeholder relationships at the point points to external stakeholders. of nomination. The management Mechanical Workshop B17 Building Moderate Of these three groups, only the first These management structures framework, post-nomination, is two are located on the nominated are concerned primarily with their Electrical Workshop: Original site of the Main Office for the Observatory, Grade II B19 Building Good described in section 6. property, as the SKAO area sits function at Jodrell Bank (e.g. scientific including Lovell’s office, lecture room and library. listed outside its boundary in the Buffer research and development, telescope Radiant Hut: originally home to the meteor research group B26 Building Moderate Zone, although its building is accessed engineering and operations, public through the property. The three engagement etc). Roles managing Moon Hut: original home to the lunar and planetary radar group B25 Building Moderate groups therefore coexist on the wider the heritage of Jodrell Bank are Park Royal: Original control building for the Transit Telescope, subsequently Grade II B20 Building Good University of Manchester-owned integrated into the day-to-day work used as the control room for the Mark II Telescope listed Jodrell Bank site, and use facilities and of the Observatory element of JBCA Still in use areas in the nominated property on a and the JBDC, supported by other Powerhouse: location for electrical generators B23 Building Moderate for original daily basis. management groups within the purpose University of Manchester. This ensures Still in use that responsibility is taken for the Mark II Telescope: Completed 1964, it was the first large telescope in the Grade I B21 Structure Good as a radio world to be controlled by digital computer. listed protection and enhancement of the telescope heritage aspects of the site, including Grade II the due care of archaeological remains. Remains of searchlight aerial: only the base remains A05 Archaeology Good listed
Remains of 218ft Transit Telescope: first very large paraboloidal telescope A13 Archaeology Good at the site, inspiration for Lovell Telescope
30 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 31 Figure 2.7: Current management structure at Jodrell Bank site These local management • It provides visitor services and support 2.4.3 University structures are: • The property’s Education, Exhibition Planning Cycle The Observatory: Managing Science and Events teams are part of the In addition to the requirements and Engineering Discovery Centre of the process of maintenance engineering, planning of activities The University of Manchester • The Jodrell Bank Centre for • It takes a lead on managing the Astrophysics Directorate has gardens, sustainability, green policies and developments at Jodrell Bank Faculty of Science & Engineering: School of Physics & Astronomy oversight of the research and biodiversity on behalf of the Centre for Astrophysics and the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre is managed SITE Directorate of Estates & Facilities: Site user group, Project Committee(s) and engineering functions of University and has a gardens team OWNER Observatory and the wider research that focus on this. through the University’s planning cycle, University Heritage Committee division, including the e-MERLIN which combines elements of yearly, • The Heritage Officer for the property 5-yearly and long-term planning. The Support for Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Communications & Media National Facility and the relationship with the SKA Organisation. is part of the Discovery Centre team. cycle includes teaching, research and public engagement commitments as • The JBCA Engineering team is University support structures a matter of course, and sets out the responsible for maintenance and framework for resourcing all the various • The University of Manchester conservation of the Telescopes both activities that take place. Overlaid on Heritage Committee (Chaired by at Jodrell Bank and elsewhere in the this are the planning cycles of other Jodrell Bank the University’s Deputy President Jodrell Bank UK’s e-MERLIN network. key stakeholders, such as Government Centre for and Deputy Vice Chancellor), has Discovery research councils (particularly STFC – Astrophysics representation from all relevant Centre Senior Square • The day-to-day management of the the Science and Technology Facilities Directorate University areas, including Jodrell SITE Management Kilometre Observatory Estate and buildings is Council which is a major funder of Bank. The University’s Historian and USERS Scientific & Team Array undertaken by the Observatory team research and observatory operations) Heritage Manager is also supporting engineering research Organisation working alongside the University’s and external bodies such as the Visitor management the process of Nomination to Directorate of Estates and Facilities. European VLBI network with which Telescope operations UNESCO and will be part of the Heritage coordination These areas include all the major telescope observations are regularly & engineering Steering Committee heritage Attributes of the site. coordinated. • The University Estates site ‘User • One of the JBCA Associate Directors This process sits alongside Group’ coordinates ongoing is tasked with managing the heritage management of the heritage and the Estates matters at the site for all of the Observatory. attributes that carry the Outstanding stakeholders. Jodrell Bank Governance Group Universal Value of the property, which SITE • Academic and Engineering staff are described later in this Management COORDINATION Coordination between site users and owner also collaborate with the Discovery • Any major capital projects are Plan. Centre to deliver Education and overseen by a Project Committee public engagement (‘presentation’) established by the University activities. Directorate of Estates and Facilities with senior representation from the The Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre: site users. Managing Visitors, oversight of Heritage • The University’s Sustainability and Green Travel Plan Group provide • The Discovery Centre team support on sustainability. coordinates the World Heritage Site process. • The University also provides functional support from its • It has responsibility for management Professional Support Services of Estate and Buildings open to the (PSS) team, including the Finance public Division; Legal team; HR team; Communications team etc.
32 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 33 2.4.4 External Stakeholders • National and regional communities • Cheshire East Council: Interactions • The International Astronomical • Marketing Manchester: As described later in this Management of interest: These include amateur range from high level strategic Union (IAU) and the IAU/ICOMOS The Discovery Centre also has a Plan, representatives of appropriate The property has a number of external astronomers, history of science links concerned with the benefit Working Group on Astronomy and strong working relationship with groups from the above list are included stakeholders. These include local and engineering groups etc. The to Cheshire of the world leading World Heritage: Jodrell Bank has this agency, which is responsible for in the World Heritage Site Committee. and national communities; the wider main group linked to Jodrell Bank heritage, research and profile of already begun dialogue with the strategic support and promotion scientific community and associated in this category is the Macclesfield Jodrell Bank, to more practical Working Group on Astronomy. A of tourism in Greater Manchester, In addition to the groups above, the governing bodies and funders; the Astronomical Society, which has links concerned with particular ‘Case Study’ on Jodrell Bank is under a significant catchment area for general public are also key stakeholders planning authority and Heritage bodies. a strong relationship with the site. issues (especially planning and preparation for inclusion on the visitors but also the location of the of the site. Consultation with them, The SKAO can also be seen as an Group members participate in conservation). ICOMOS/IAU website on Astronomy main campus of the University of including general visitors and groups external stakeholder. However, it is a astronomy and heritage events at and Heritage. Manchester. (conservation organisations, bee special case as it is located adjacent the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre. • Cheshire West Council: Interactions keepers etc) has taken place over the to the property and access to its site is are linked mainly to planning issues. • Marketing Cheshire: The Discovery Consultation about the Jodrell last 3 to 5 years, while the process of via the property, hence it is dealt with • The international astronomy Centre has a strong working Bank application for World Heritage preparing the nomination dossier has • Historic England: Jodrell Bank and above as a site user. research community, including relationship with this agency, which is Site status has taken place with been underway. Formal consultation national/international users of the University staff have strong working responsible for strategic support and representatives of all stakeholders and and involvement of these groups The main external stakeholders are: telescopes operated by Jodrell Bank, relationships with Historic England promotion of tourism in Cheshire dialogue takes place with them on a will take place at regular intervals in the European VLBI Network (EVN), at many levels, particularly relating and for facilitating wider benefits regular basis. future (see the Action Plan later in this • Local communities: These are, in the Large European Array for Pulsars to listed status of various structures from the visitor economy. document). general, represented by local Parish (LEAP) etc. JBCA astronomers are and buildings. Councils. In the case of Jodrell Bank, leading members of this community the main Parish Councils are those • The Royal Astronomical Society and are in daily contact with others for Lower Withington and Goostrey. (RAS): As the professional body for across these networks. UK astronomy, the Observatory and • Retired and former staff & students: • UK Science and Engineering Discovery Centre have relationships There is a significant community Research Councils (especially the at several levels of the RAS, including of people who have worked and/or Science and Technology Facilities its Heritage Committee. studied at Jodrell Bank and who have Council, STFC): JBCA staff are relevant heritage knowledge and involved in work with the Research experience. Councils at all levels and JBDC staff sit on STFC public engagement panels.
Image: Howard Barlow
34 2 Description of the property 2 Description of the property 35 3 3.1 Outstanding Universal Value of the Property
a. Brief Synthesis The character of the Observatory has Criterion (ii) exhibits an important Significance been determined by the evolution of interchange of human values Jodrell Bank Observatory is the earliest radio astronomy. Scientists first arrived radio astronomy observatory in the at the southern boundary of the site in The Jodrell Bank Observatory world that is still in existence. 1945, and then moved northwards as contains numerous examples of they made new discoveries, creating physical evidence of the international It is the one remaining site, worldwide, and Protection new equipment and experiments, interchange of ideas at a significant that includes evidence of every stage thereby imprinting the development of time in history, as the new science of of the post-1945 emergence of radio the science on the landscape of the site. radio astronomy and the space age astronomy, and, as such, played a developed during the 1940s-60s. This pioneering role in a revolution in our The Observatory is not solely a scientific is epitomised by the structures of the understanding of the Universe. monument as it still carries out world- iconic Lovell Telescope and the Mark leading research. It currently hosts the II Telescope, which dominate the site Radio astronomy showed that there is UK’s national array of 7 radio telescopes, and effectively ‘bracket’ the property. far more to the Universe than meets and collaborates with many other radio It is also embodied in the character of the human eye, and that entirely new telescopes worldwide. the landscape itself and the structures information can be obtained by using that housed and exemplify the work radio waves – a revolution exemplified The scientific importance of the that was at the heart of this unique by a range of features across the site. property is demonstrated by the flowering of international cooperation influence of its work, evidenced by the Located in rural Cheshire in northwest and exchange of values and ideas. data and scientific publications in its England, the Observatory, which is These included developments in archive, and its continuing research. part of the University of Manchester, astronomy, but also extended more widely to include, for example, quantum is dominated by the iconic Lovell b. Justification for Criteria Telescope, the first very large fully- optics; interferometry; spacecraft steerable radio telescope in the world. Criterion (i) represents a masterpiece tracking and satellite communications. Constructed between 1952 and 1957, of human creative genius its first act was to track the carrier rocket for Sputnik 1, the first satellite Jodrell Bank Observatory is an ever launched into orbit and humanity’s outstanding example of supreme first step into space. The Telescope was scientific and technical achievement, the largest of its kind in the world for 15 which revolutionised our understanding years and inspired the construction of of the Universe. The post-1945 many other instruments worldwide. emergence of the science of radio astronomy was a turning point in the The property encompasses a number progress of 20th century astronomy. At of other radio telescopes, including Jodrell Bank, evidence of every stage the Mark II Telescope, and functional of this is present in the property. This buildings on a 17.38-hectare site. Many includes: the early use of recycled radar of these are original structures and equipment; the construction in 1947 of instruments, while remnants of earlier the Transit Telescope (then the world’s structures also persist, some of them largest telescope); and the creation below ground. of the iconic Lovell Telescope in 1957 (superseding the Transit Telescope as the world’s largest). The development of the Observatory, as a whole, was driven by the vision, determination and creative scientific genius of Sir Bernard Lovell and the team that gathered around him.
Image: Anthony Holloway
36 3 Significance and Protection 37 Image: Anthony Holloway
Criterion (iv): an outstanding structures speaks of the revolutionary c. Statement of Integrity d. Statement of Authenticity e. Requirements for The property benefits from being example of a type of building, developments that took place there, Protection and Management solely owned by The University of architectural or technological and represent this significant stage in All the tangible attributes of Despite the rapid and continuing Manchester, which has a robust ensemble or landscape which human history. the property sit within the site developments at Jodrell Bank, the The Lovell Telescope was awarded and successful management illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in boundaries. The nominated property site preserves good evidence for the Grade I Listed status in 1988 and system in place, including a site Criterion (vi) directly or tangibly human history is solely owned by the University of emergence of the science of Radio therefore enjoys full statutory Governance Group, that takes associated with events or living Manchester, and the boundaries of Astronomy and retains a high level protection under this and other oversight of all activities. The property Jodrell Bank Observatory is the traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, the site are clearly identifiable in the of authenticity due to its function as Planning regulations. In 2017, the Mark has a completed World Heritage unique technological and landscape with artistic and literary works of Deeds of Ownership of the land. an observatory. The character of the II Telescope was also Grade I listed and Management Plan. ensemble, globally, that exemplifies, outstanding universal significance The property is generally in a good Observatory landscape persists, major five other historical structures at the through its surviving physical evidence, state of conservation. The integrity structures are preserved in working A Steering Group including all Jodrell Bank Observatory is inextricably site were also listed at Grade II. All new the transition from traditional of some elements of the property order and sites of all the major phases stakeholders will oversee the linked to the fundamental concept developments at the property are also optical astronomy to modern multi- is compromised (for example, only of development survive, even if in some management of the World Heritage underpinning modern astronomy: that controlled through the spatial planning wavelength astrophysics that took 5-10% of some of the original scientific cases only as archaeological evidence. Site. It is also planned to establish a we live on a planet orbiting a star, one system. Both local planning authorities place during the 1940s and the years instruments remain, as traces below The authenticity of this is supported strategy of deemed consent with all in a galaxy of several hundred billion have included specific policies for the that followed. Developments at all ground). However, most of the by a very strong body of associated relevant stakeholders in 2018/19. stars, itself only one of a hundred billion protection of Jodrell Bank and its buffer stages of this history took place within buildings in the property are in good documentation, including many galaxies in the observable universe. zone in their Local Plans. The University of Manchester, owner its boundaries, with many of the earliest condition and the Grade I listing and thousands of international research features, or their locations, extant and of the property, is investing £15million When radio telescopes were first continued research use of the Lovell papers, a variety of archives and a huge The Buffer Zone for the property recognisable. This was a significant in conservation of the property, in pointed at the sky, it became apparent Telescope and the Mark II Telescope number of archived media reports. The (which is 18569.28 hectares in area) stage in the history of understanding order to provide a good basis for future that there were whole aspects of the has ensured that the integrity and contributions of the property to the has been set up using the radio our place in the Universe. management. Universe, including exotic objects function of the most iconic elements science of astronomy are documented telescope protection zone around the of the property have been retained. extensively in scientific literature from Observatory, which was established It was also a significant stage in the previously unimagined, which ordinary The property also benefits from a very its emergence to the present day. by the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope peacetime development of ‘Big (optical) telescopes cannot see. successful visitor facility, the Jodrell Direction (1973). (This is similar to Science’, which followed the Second Bank Discovery Centre, which already Jodrell Bank Observatory is intrinsically an area protecting a ‘dark night sky’ World War, and was characterised by a attracts 185,000 visitors each year, linked to this discovery – that there is around an optical observatory, and has leap in the scale of projects, paralleled including 26,000 school pupils on far more to the Universe than meets acted as a de facto buffer zone since by a leap in scale of funding and in educational visits. The visitor facility the human eye, and that entirely 1973). numbers of collaborating scientists has plans in place for the sustainable new information can be obtained by and engineers. While the size of the management of future visitation using ‘invisible’ light, beyond the usual The Jodrell Bank site is relatively small Lovell Telescope means that it is the levels and recently secured funding ‘rainbow’ of visible colours. Modern (17.38 hectares), has clear boundaries most obvious feature of the site, it is, in of £20.5million (from various sources) Astrophysics now uses this ‘invisible and a single owner. All elements fact, the Observatory as an ensemble for a new visitor gallery that will be light’ as a matter of course, to examine expressing the OUV of the site lie that is at the heart of the property. The constricted in the buffer zone. the Universe, but the first major within the boundaries of the property. character of the landscape and the step towards this was taken by radio interrelation between buildings and astronomy.
38 3 Significance and Protection 3 Significance and Protection 39 3.2 Values and Attributes of the Nominated Property
The Outstanding Universal Value The Lovell Telescope and The Control Building The Green and associated Park Royal building (the control room The site of the Transit of Jodrell Bank Observatory is Mark II Telescope Observatory buildings for the Transit Telescope and later Telescope conveyed by the following attributes: The Control Building was completed the Mark II Telescope); the Electrical The nominated property is dominated in 1955, a decade after the inception This series of modest concrete- Workshop (before the Control Building, In 1947 the Jodrell Bank team built The Landscape and Layout by two very large radio telescopes: of the site. It houses the control room, framed huts, arranged around an open this was the ‘Main Office’ housing the what was then the world’s largest radio of the Site the Lovell Telescope and the Mark purpose-built for the Lovell Telescope, central space (appropriately called site’s library, lecture room and Bernard telescope – the 218-foot (66.4m) II Telescope, which are both Grade I and is still the hub of Observatory ‘The Green’), was built in 1949. Its Lovell’s office); the Link Hut, originally diameter Transit Telescope, a mesh Of all the early radio astronomy sites listed buildings. operations. The first use of the creation marked the transition of the Cosmic Noise Hut (the control room for bowl fixed to point directly upwards at to develop worldwide, Jodrell Bank building was for a Symposium of the Observatory from a place that was a 9.1m telescope used to investigate the sky passing overhead as the Earth Observatory alone retains its original The largest, and most iconic, of International Astronomical Union in simply the location of experimental ‘cosmic noise’ and interstellar turns. Its size was, rather practically, landscape, layout and function. these is the Lovell Telescope. The August 1955, attracting astronomers equipment, mostly housed in ex-army hydrogen. determined by the space between world’s biggest telescope when it from around the world to discuss trailers, to a permanent research hedgerows and on-site roads that The Observatory was founded in 1945 Arranged so that they were was completed in 1957, its collecting the latest developments in radio station. are still in existence. Although it was when Bernard Lovell, a physicist at the interspersed with space for a range of area was almost 10 times more than astronomy. dismantled in the early 1960’s, some University of Manchester, arrived with experimental aerials and telescopes, any similar instrument. It inspired the The buildings, some evocatively named remnants of the telescope still exist army radar equipment on trailers, with It was the site of several landmark the ensemble gives the site a very construction of many other very large after the research carried out by the in concrete footings, below ground the intention of studying cosmic rays. achievements in the space race, particular character, which exists to the paraboloidal telescopes across the occupants – Moon Hut, Radiant Hut, archaeology and steel poles recycled including the point from which the present day. world, and six decades on, it remains Cosmic Noise Hut – still remain. Several for use elsewhere on site. The Mark II The Observatory grew from that point, Lovell Telescope was driven to track the third largest fully-steerable have now been Grade II listed: the Telescope now stands on one edge of as Lovell gathered a team of scientists the carrier rocket for the soviet Sputnik telescope in the world. its location. around him. Over the two decades 1 satellite (the world’s first extra- following this, they pioneered the new The Mark II Telescope is the site’s terrestrial vehicle) on 11 October 1957, It was the largest telescope in the science of radio astronomy, humanity’s second large-scale fully steerable radio and where signals were received from world from 1947 to 1957 (when it was first step beyond traditional optical telescope and the first in the world to the Luna 2 rocket on 13 September superseded by the Lovell Telescope) astronomy, moving from south to north be controlled by a digital computer. 1959 (the first spacecraft to reach the and, in 1950, was used to make the across the site, laying down all traces of Completed in 1964, its design was surface of another celestial body). revolutionary first identification of its emergence on the landscape. used as the basis for the world’s first radio waves originating from an object These early instances of the paraboloidal satellite communications outside our own galaxy, the Andromeda Having been used continuously since international interchange of human antenna, Goonhilly No 1 in Cornwall. Galaxy. it was founded in 1945, it is now a values exemplify the way in which this technological and scientific ensemble Standing 89 metres above the permeates the whole site, including not that gives a clear illustration of the Cheshire plain, the Lovell Telescope only developments in astronomy but evolution of radio astronomy, and is is both an international icon of also quantum optics; interferometry; a testament to the collective vision, science and engineering and a spacecraft tracking & communications; determination and creative scientific popular landmark that dominates the and wider culture. Many of the genius of the people who founded it. surrounding area, looming above the structures on the site housed, and trees and hedgerows of its largely embody, the work that was at the heart The landscape and layout tells the story agricultural surroundings and visible for of this flowering of international co- of the emergence of this new science. many miles. Its unique design stands operation and exchange of values and Early work with innovative instruments The Green in 2015, showing today as a symbol of the emergence ideas. original research buildings and gave way to permanent buildings, of a new science and the peak of a the Mark II Telescope (on the built in arrangements to serve the Image: The University of Manchester particular movement in post-war site of the Transit Telescope). science, culminating in the spectacular science, and in radio astronomy in telescopes that are the emblems of particular, which will never be repeated the Observatory today. or surpassed.
40 3 Significance and Protection 3 Significance and Protection 41 3.3 Heritage Protection
December 1946 meeting of the Royal The Botany Huts remain, now The nominated property is fully Listed Buildings and Conservation Sites and remnants of other Date of Designation Component early scientific instruments Astronomical Society, the President of unoccupied, in the abandoned botany protected through ownership, Areas are designated under the designation the Society announced it as the birth grounds, as a tangible reminder of legislation and planning policy. Planning (Listed Buildings and The Lovell As scientific questions changed and of “an entirely new field of astronomical those first days at Jodrell Bank, the first Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Listed Grade I 1988 Telescope technology developed, instruments research”. Radio Astronomy had days of the Observatory itself. It was 3.3.1 Ownership Buildings are buildings of special were built for specific uses and then arrived. from these modest beginnings that a architectural or historical interest The Mark II The whole nominated site, together Grade I 2017 set aside, modified or dismantled to completely new way of understanding and can be graded I, II*, or II. Listed Telescope with much of the land around it, be recycled into something new. This The Botany Huts the Universe developed. Buildings are listed by the Secretary is owned by The University of The Control characteristic evolution in practice of State for Culture, Digital, Media and Grade II 2017 Bernard Lovell arrived at the University Manchester who are committed Building has left a trail, across the Observatory, Value of science research Sport, advised by Historic England. of Manchester’s Botany Grounds at both to continuing the scientific use of locations of early instruments and Once a building is listed, consent Cosmic Noise Jodrell Bank in December 1945, with In addition to the Attributes of OUV of the site and to the conservation Grade II 2017 some physical remains. is needed from the relevant local Hut two trailers of army radar equipment, described above, the site is a location of its heritage interest (see Section authority for any works that might with which he proposed to study for world-leading science research. 2.1 above for details and map). What Electrical These include the remnants of the change its character. For a building Grade II 2017 Workshop earliest example of a permanent cosmic ray trails in the atmosphere. While this has high value in itself, it happens within the nominated property listed at Grade I or II*, the local radio-astronomical instrument at The iconic first photograph of that day also contributes to the Authenticity of is entirely controlled by the University. authority should seek the comments of Park Grade II 2017 Jodrell Bank, the Searchlight Aerial, shows him, with the trailers, standing Function of the nominated property The University also controls much Historic England when considering an Royal built in 1946. When observations of outside the two wooden Botany and the records of scientific endeavour of the land around the nominated application for listed building consent. the Giacobinid meteor storm made Huts, which were then used by the are a key element of the Integrity of the property either directly or through Remains of the with this were presented at the gardeners. property as a whole. legal agreements with the occupiers. Conservation Areas are designated Grade II 2017 This gives a strong level of protection by the relevant local authority, or in Searchlight Value as a Centre for and proactive management. The way exceptional circumstances by the Aerial Education and Tourism in which the planning system works Secretary of State for Communities to protect the nominated property in and Local Government. World Heritage properties are not in The nominated property and the wider practice is described in Section 4.2.1 of themselves designations under English The only designated assets within site around it also have a high value as this document. law and there is therefore no specific the Jodrell Bank nominated property a centre for Education and for Tourism. consent procedure similar to that for are a number of listed buildings. The At the time of writing, the Education 3.3.2 Legal protection listed buildings. They are therefore Lovell Telescope has been listed at programme welcomes over 26,000 protected through the spatial planning In England there are two interlocking Grade I since 1988. In August 2017 school pupils per year, and this is set system and through the designation of legal approaches to the protection further buildings were listed: The Mark to rise to over 30,000 in the next 3-5 specific assets within them. National of heritage – designation, and spatial II Telescope (Grade I); The Control years. The visitor facilities welcome planning advice (see below) says that, planning policy. Building (Grade II); The Cosmic Noise around 185,000 people per year in as an international designation, they Hut (Grade II); The Electrical Workshop total, and there are plans to widen this should be treated as the equivalent of Designations (Grade II); The Park Royal Building to 250,000 visitors in a sustainable way national designations of the highest (Grade II) and the remains of the in the next 3-5 years. Heritage designation applies to specific significance and that they should be Searchlight Telescope (also known as assets. These can be scheduled protected to a high level. Value of Biodiversity and ancient monuments, listed buildings, the Searchlight Aerial) (Grade II). This the wider environment conservation areas, historic parks and establishes a high level of control since gardens, and battlefields. These are listed building consent is required for The nominated property and the designated under varying powers and any changes to the structure. This wider Jodrell Bank site puts a high consent must be granted for works to consent is normally granted by the value on maintaining, promoting and be carried out to them. local authority who should seek the enhancing the biodiversity of the site. advice of Historic England on any listed The University of Manchester has a Ancient monuments are scheduled building consent application for a Grade biodiversity action plan for the site, under the terms of the 1979 Ancient I or II* structure. Developments within Image: The University of Manchester which supports these aims. Monuments and Archaeological Areas the setting of the Lovell Telescope also Act (as amended). Consent for works have to be considered with regard to The Searchlight Aerial on the Green in around 1951. to them is granted by the Secretary their impact on its character. Setting is of State for Culture, Digital, Media and discussed further below. Here it should Sport, advised by Historic England, the be noted that the scale and height of government’s statutory advisor on the the Lovell Telescope mean that its historic environment. setting is extensive.
42 3 Significance and Protection 3 Significance and Protection 43 3.3.3 Spatial Planning system Cheshire East Local Plan and Strategy Cheshire West and Chester Local 3.3.4 Developing a strategy Plan of deemed consent England has a plan-led spatial planning The principal plan currently affecting the nominated property is the Cheshire The Cheshire West and Chester local system. The basic legal powers are The site managers plan to establish East Local Plan Strategy, which was plan, adopted in 2015, is also relevant provided by primary legislation. a strategy of deemed consent using adopted in July 2017, having been in as part of the Jodrell Bank Consultation powers identified in the Enterprise The legal framework is established draft for several years before that. Zone lies within its boundaries. The and Regulatory Reform Act of 2013. principally by four Acts of Parliament: Consultation Zone is proposed as the These are aimed at making the This builds on the policies of the nominated property’s Buffer Zone. • Town and Country Planning Act previous Congleton and Macclesfield planning system more efficient without 1990 – this consolidated previous Local Plans to provide clear protection The Cheshire West and Chester reducing heritage protection. These town and country planning legislation for Jodrell Bank and its setting. This is Local Plan (part 1) Strategic Policies could be in the form of, for example, and sets out how development is contained in Policy SE14: has a saved policy from the Vale Royal establishing a Heritage Partnership regulated Local Plan BE20 on Jodrell Bank which Agreement involving all stakeholders Jodrell Bank continues the policy to protect the setting out works for which listed • Planning and Compulsory Purchase Referral Zone around Jodrell Bank on building consent is granted (excluding Act 2004 – this made changes to 1. Within the Jodrell Bank Radio its territory. This policy says: demolition), or developing a certificate development control, compulsory Telescope Consultation Zone, as of lawful proposed works (valid for 10 purchase and the application of the defined on the Proposals Map, JODRELL BANK years) that categorically confirms that Planning Acts to Crown land. development will not be permitted if it: the works described in it do not affect Policy BE20 the character of the listed building • Planning Act 2008 – this set out i. Impairs the efficiency of the and do not therefore require consent. the framework for the planning telescopes; or WITHIN THE JODRELL BANK RADIO The shared understanding (based on processes for nationally significant TELESCOPE CONSULTATION ZONE, ii. Has an adverse impact on the OUV and the significance of the site) infrastructure projects and provided AS DEFINED ON THE PROPOSALS historic environment and visual that will be enhanced by developing for the community infrastructure levy MAP, DEVELOPMENT WHICH CAN BE this strategy will help to make the landscape setting of the Jodrell Bank SHOWN TO IMPAIR THE EFFICIENCY management of the site more efficient • Localism Act 2011 – this provides the Radio Telescope. OF THE JODRELL BANK RADIO and effective for the future. legal framework for neighbourhood TELESCOPE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. 2. Conditions will be imposed to mitigate planning powers and the duty identified impacts, especially via to cooperate with neighbouring Reasons and Explanations specialised construction techniques. authorities. (i) The radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank 3. Proposals should consider their impact National Planning Policy are of international importance for on those elements that contribute to Radio Astronomy. Their value depends the potential outstanding universal In 2012 the Government consolidated upon being able to receive radio Image: Anthony Holloway virtually all national planning policy value of Jodrell Bank. emissions from space with a minimum guidance into one National Planning of interference from electrical Jodrell Bank viewed from Teggs Nose near Macclesfield. Note the Radio Telescope Policy Framework (NPPF). This is equipment. Despite technological Consultation Zone has been taken supported by national Planning Practice advances, protection from local to define the Buffer Zone around Guidance (PPG), first published online sources of interference is still of the Property. In addition, there is in 2014 and updated as necessary. At utmost importance. general protection for heritage sites in the local level, policies for protection Policy SE7, which covers the Historic of the historic environment are set (ii) The Town and Country (Jodrell Environment. in the local development plan. The Bank Radio Telescope) Direction 1973 requires the Local Planning Authority nominated property is in the Cheshire The Cheshire East Local Authority also to consult with the University of East local authority area. The Buffer proposes to adopt this Management Manchester before granting planning Zone lies in both Cheshire East and in Plan, including the specification of the permission on any application the neighbouring local authority area of Buffer Zone, into a Supplementary for development (subject to the Cheshire West and Chester (See map Planning Document for Cheshire exceptions specified in the schedule). in Figure 2.3). East Council (this is likely to occur after inscription, if the nomination is successful).
44 3 Significance and Protection 3 Significance and Protection 45 4 4.1 Baseline Condition
4.1.1 Introduction Other buildings are used less In particular, the CMP sets out 4 main Key frequently, or not at all, and will need policy aims: The attributes of OUV of the some intervention to maintain them. nominated property fall into a number The Transit Telescope and some other 1. Conserve and enhance the site’s of different groups. Some are scientific features survive only as archaeological science heritage and maintain its instruments, such as the Lovell monuments. The overall layout of the role as a world leading centre for Issues Telescope and Mark II Telescope. site, which is an important attribute scientific research. These are still very much in use as of the OUV of the property since it 2. Conserve and enhance the site’s scientific research instruments and shows how research developed at the innovative public engagement with are maintained, in excellent condition, location, remains very clear. scientific discoveries and the site’s primarily for that purpose. A number of heritage. the buildings are also still in use and are Some structures on the site are not attributes of OUV, either because they therefore well-maintained. 3. Conserve and enhance the site’s are very recent, or because they were spirit of place. not associated with radio astronomy, (such as the vehicle shed, or Blackett’s 4. Ensure effective governance, Hut). Decisions on whether to retain or resources and monitoring are in remove these buildings will be taken on place to support implementation of the basis of whether or not they have a the plan useful function. The aims cover the entire University A full Conservation Management Plan estate at the site, which is larger than, (CMP) was completed in 2016 and but encompasses the nominated provides a baseline assessment of property. the condition of the property and its attributes. It will also provide guidance Aims 1, 3 and 4 are key to the on future management. In general, management of the nominated this review showed that the overall property, while Aim 2 relates to state of the nominated property is responsible visitation, visitor satisfactory. However, the condition of facilities and infrastructure, and the individual components, summarised presentation and promotion of the in the CMP Gazetteer does vary from property. excellent to moderate or even poor for some unused structures. (The CMP and CMP Gazetteer are included in this Nomination Dossier).
Image: The University of Manchester
46 4 Key Issues 47 The current inspection and The removal, adaptation and re-use Telescope which has been Grade I 4.1.2 Present state of 2. When Bernard Lovell first arrived 2. The property has two major maintenance regime is well- of scientific structures and equipment listed since 1988. In fact, change to conservation of attributes at the site 1945, the land was radio telescopes which, despite established. Its two primary strongly echo the spirit of innovation building interiors and the structure of largely in use for agriculture and being Grade I listed structures, functions, in line with the two and modification that are traditional scientific instruments has happened The following paragraphs summarise botanical research. Adaptation operate at the forefront of radio primary aims of the CMP, are: and essential in science and the throughout the history of the site, while the state of conservation of the and development of landscape astronomy research, improving development of technology. maintaining the elements of external attributes of OUV. has resulted in differing character human understanding of the 1. to maintain the function of Jodrell appearance that give a clear picture of of landscape units across the Universe. This in itself is a tribute Bank as a working scientific In some cases, maintaining the the site as it has developed. Continued The attributes are summarised into site. These are classified in the to the designers, builders and establishment concentrated on function of an attribute of OUV may use of the property is as a key element groups, as similar measures apply to Conservation Management Plan users of these instruments, as it research in radio astronomy therefore mean accepting changes of the property’s authenticity. similar structures. Gazetteer into eight landscape units has proved possible to adapt them to its fabric e.g. the refurbishing of (L01 to L08). Of these, L03, L05, to changing observational needs. 2. to maintain evidence of Jodrell The sections used here are: the dish of the Lovell Telescope, Some building interiors are iconic, L06 – L08 constitute the nominated It is also a glowing testament to Bank’s history and role in replacement of broken bearings, especially the Control Room at • The Landscape and Layout of the property. The remaining zones in the engineering team and their development of radio astronomy. updating of electronics. This practice the heart of the Control Building, Site University ownership are part of the maintenance programme, which is well-established at the Observatory, This will therefore be maintained Within these two primary objectives, buffer zone. have kept the Telescopes operating with the guidance of Historic England at least visually, even if electronic it is recognised that the best way • The Lovell Telescope and The Mark II in peak condition. particularly with regard to the Lovell instrumentation is modified. 3. The different zones have developed to conserve a building or structure Telescope in very different ways. Some are 3. Function and use is a strong is to keep it in beneficial use. This • The Control Building intensively used, others less so. Over component of the authenticity of means that a degree of change to the years, there has been much tree these instruments; to maintain these is accepted, provided that the • The Green, associated Observatory planting on areas not required for functionality and use requires contribution of each attribute to OUV is buildings and the Botany Huts operational work. changes and repairs and these not diminished (e.g. office interiors can are carried out with full regard for be redecorated etc; office equipment • The site and remnants of the Transit 4. The maintenance policy is to maintaining, as far as possible, the can be changed; instrument racks will Telescope and other early scientific maintain the differing characters of historicity of the telescopes and be updated). In fact, this is entirely instruments these various landscape zones, while their control processes. For example, within the spirit of place of Jodrell Bank, recognising that landscapes change the installation of a new working which is one of pioneering science and Fuller descriptions of each attribute, continuously, and with due regard for surface for the Mark II Telescope in engineering, where scientists conceive together with plans and illustrations, the conservation and enhancement 1987, refurbishment of the concrete new research projects that then set can be found in the Site Gazetteer of of the site’s natural heritage. A mount of the Mark II Telescope high aspirations for new engineering the Conservation Management Plan. particular priority is to maintain the in 2015-16, and the like-for-like developments. A summary is provided in Section 2 of this Plan. landscape of the Green in keeping replacement of some of the Lovell with its character as a key element of The site’s raison d’être lies in exploring Telescope wheels in 2007 and the Observatory. the frontiers of knowledge by carrying The Gazetteer reference numbers for subsequently. out world-leading radio astronomy each group of attributes are listed in The Lovell Telescope and Mark II 4. A major programme of conservation research. This is reflected in the each section to enable easy reference Telescope of the Lovell Telescope, funded from southern half of the Site having evolved to these longer descriptions. In addition the University Estates Masterplan in an ad hoc fashion, which responded to a description of each attribute, the (Gazetteer reference numbers: B07; and intended to ensure its function to no considerations other than those CMP Gazetteer comments in detail B21) as a radio telescope, is currently associated with the implementation on its state of repair and on desirable underway. This has various elements of different scientific experiments works. 1. An important part of the overall including: like-for-like replacement (e.g. space and associated equipment, significance of Jodrell Bank Image: John Kitching Landscape of the nominated site of the 1957 surface; maintenance of buildings and structures needed). Observatory is the authenticity foundations; repairs to wheel-girder. (Gazetteer reference numbers: L03, of its use and function as a radio This is in addition to the regular L05, L06, L07, L08) astronomy research facility. programme of maintenance and 1. A particular feature of Jodrell Bank repair. is the way in which radio astronomy 5. In addition to such necessary developed across the site from south changes, working instruments and to north. This has greatly aided the their control facilities are maintained survival and retention of evidence of to very high levels. the development of the site.
48 4 Key Issues 4 Key Issues 49 The Control Building The Green, associated Observatory The site and remnants of the Transit University Estate outside the buildings and the Botany Huts Telescope and other early scientific boundaries of the nominated (Gazetteer reference number: B05) instruments (Gazetteer reference numbers: L05, property 1. The Control Building, which houses B11, B13, B17, B19, B20, B23, B25, B26, (Gazetteer reference numbers: A01, (Gazetteer reference numbers: L01, the Control Room (for the Lovell and B28, B29, B30) A02, A04, A05, A06, A11, A13, A25) Mark II Telescopes, as well as others L02, L04, B01, B02, B04, B04a, B09, on site and in the wider e-MERLIN 1. Jodrell Bank Observatory has a 1. A number of items of early B09a) network), offices and laboratories large number of buildings of historic scientific equipment survive only as 1. A significant part of the University is well-used and therefore well- interest and attributes of OUV, which archaeological sites, whether entirely of Manchester’s land at Jodrell Bank maintained and generally in good are spread across the property. As buried, or as reinforced concrete. is outside the boundaries of the condition. working practices have changed and The Transit Telescope is an example nominated property, but included evolved, some of these buildings of the former and the base of the 2. Regular maintenance schedules within its buffer zone. This includes have become underused or even 30ft Telescope of the latter. two parcels of land: are in place and in use as part of unused. Inevitably this means the the routine maintenance of the condition of some of these have 2. These remains are important a. Landscape Zone L04 which is University Estate. deteriorated, although recent attributes of OUV since they are leased to the Square Kilometre surveys have indicated that they are often the only tangible record of 3. The Control Building has had modest Array Organisation and managed by still in good condition. early phases of the development of changes many times over the years, them under an agreement with the radio astronomy at Jodrell Bank. University; in response to changing needs in 2. The CMP Gazetteer and Section the operation of site. Since 1988, 2 of this Plan summarises their 3. Sites of below-ground remains b. Landscape Zones L01 and L02 when the Lovell Telescope was condition, which is good, overall, have been largely identified in which occupy the northern part of Grade I listed, modifications to the for the landscape, but mixed the CMP Gazetteer. They will be the University property and contain building have been done with due elsewhere. The CMP itself makes protected from disturbance by new the main access route on to the site regard to its historicity. This practice proposals for their conservation and development. Some non-intrusive for visitors, visitor facilities and the will continue in future, especially as for more sustainable use, including survey to establish their full extent Gardens and Arboretum. the original core of the building was conservation works on the Botany may be needed. Appropriate itself awarded Grade II listed status in Huts. conservation measures will be taken, 2. It is important that these areas 2017. as will work on presenting these are managed so that they remain 3. Several of the historic buildings important locations on the site to harmonious to the character of the 4. Some later wooden-framed around the Green now benefit from visitors. property. Any new buildings in both extensions to the original core are in protection following their listing at areas will respect the character of poorer condition and their status is Grade II in 2017. 4. Above ground concrete features are the property. L01 and L02 also need being reviewed. largely stable. Vegetation affecting to retain their landscape character, 4. A major programme of repair and them will be controlled/ removed in part created by Sir Bernard Lovell, maintenance will be carried out in as appropriate and their condition to complement the OUV of the 2018, in order to put the buildings will be regularly monitored. A property. into good condition as a basis for walking tour of these features will be future maintenance. After this point, created, perhaps using appropriate 3. The University also owns all the the buildings will continue to be technologies to marry the existing farmland adjoining the Jodrell Bank maintained as part of the University’s physical elements of the site with the estate along its western boundary. rolling programme of repair and historical structures of which they It therefore has control over change maintenance of its estate. are relics. of use of that land (from farming to other uses) through the tenancy 5. As part of this programme of review 5. A plan will be developed for the agreements with its tenants. Image: Ed Swinden and repair, modern additions of low conservation of the remains of the historical value to some buildings Searchlight Telescope, which was may be removed. Appropriate given Grade II listed status in 2017. experts at Historic England and Cheshire East Council will be consulted on such proposals.
50 4 Key Issues 4 Key Issues 51 4.2 Threats and Risks
All new buildings and facilities will such as parking, which are required 4.2.1 Development The property is in any case well- Operational elements such as the Lottery Fund grant, totalling £12 million, require planning consent and will for operational reasons. New visitor Pressures (e.g. screened by woodland around its telescopes are maintained to the towards its £20 million First Light at be subject to the policies of the facilities, if required, are likely to be boundaries. Views of the site from highest standard because they remain Jodrell Bank project. This project is encroachment, adaptation, newly adopted Cheshire East Local sited in the publicly accessible area at outside are principally of the Lovell in use. now fully funded and will be delivered agriculture, mining) Development Plan which contains a the north end of the University estate Telescope and, from some angles, of over the period 2018-21. Part of this specific policy for the protection of close to the existing facilities (i.e. at the Mark II Telescope. The likelihood At the other extreme, elements project is to put attributes of OUV into The candidate property has a single the proposed World Heritage property. some distance from the attributes of of development outside the property which are now archaeological require good order where necessary. This is in owner, the University of Manchester, They will also be subject to national OUV). having an adverse impact on the visual comparatively little maintenance since addition to the £15 million of its own and has been in this ownership policies on new construction within setting is low. they are largely in a stable condition. resources which it has committed since its inception. This affords it the setting of a Listed Building since New development within the Buffer Some of the surviving buildings are, towards the conservation of the Lovell good protection from development the Lovell and Mark II Telescopes are Zone Lack of maintenance and decay of however, in relatively poor repair Telescope described above. These pressures in general. Specific risk listed Grade I, and the Control Building, New development is always possible attributes of OUV because they have been under-used or programmes of work are currently factors are examined below. Cosmic Noise Hut, Electrical Workshop outside the boundaries of the Jodrell not used at all. underway and will ensure that all and Park Royal are all listed Grade II, Overall the property is well maintained Potential future alterations/ Bank estate. This is, however, a largely attributes of OUV are in good condition as are the remains of the Searchlight and in good condition. The condition The University has been successful additions to the nominated property agricultural area and pressure for for the foreseeable future. Aerial. This is simply an extension of of individual structures is more varied. in its application for a large Heritage development is unlikely to be great. existing practice relating to the setting Jodrell Bank Observatory is still, and Some areas immediately adjoining of the Lovell Telescope, which has will remain, an operational research the Jodrell Bank estate are owned by been Grade I listed since 1988. All establishment. This will mean that the University, which therefore has proposals for new development will it is likely that there will need to be more direct control over proposed be the subject of Heritage Impact changes to individual buildings and developments on that land. that there may be a need for new Assessment according to the buildings and facilities to provide new methodology proposed by ICOMOS In particular, a new extension to the functions or support to research (REF: ICOMOS 2011). existing visitor car park and upcoming activities. New structures may also be additions to the visitor facilities are Proposals for alterations to existing needed to support public access and being developed in the Buffer Zone (on buildings will also be subject to a level interpretation of the property, although land owned by the University) in a way of Heritage Impact Assessment these are likely to be created in the that is entirely under the University’s appropriate to the proposed change. area that the University owns in the control. In recent years, for example, Changes and additions to buildings Buffer Zone, rather than in the property the new HQ for the SKA Organisation will in many cases require planning itself. has been located in an area of the site consent and be subject to national and owned by the University, but which local planning policies. Any proposals The addition of new buildings does not contain any of the attributes for change to a listed historic building and facilities has been happening that carry the OUV of the site. throughout the site’s history. With (such as the Lovell Telescope) will virtually no exception these have been require Listed Building Consent. As described in Section 2 of this of one or two stories at most and, as Plan, developments to date have As far as possible, new buildings will such, they have fitted well into the been controlled by national planning be sited away from the areas with the overall character of the property. This policies and by the policies of the largest concentrations of attributes approach is enshrined in the needs of Cheshire East Local Development of OUV. As with the new headquarters the scientific priorities of the site, as Plan, which includes a specific policy of the Square Kilometre Array taller buildings would obscure parts to protect both the efficiency of the Organisation, it may well be possible of the sky, making them impossible to Lovell Telescope and the historic to place new buildings outside the observe with the telescopes, so are not environment and visual landscape actual nominated property but still desirable. The nature of the site itself setting of Jodrell Bank. This will on land belonging to the University. Image: Anthony Holloway therefore affords it an additional level continue in future. Cheshire West and The southern and eastern parts of of protection. Chester also has a policy to protect the nominated property contain the part of the Jodrell Bank Radio wooded areas which could conceal Telescope Consultation Zone, which necessary new build or other facilities falls in its territory.
52 4 Key Issues 4 Key Issues 53 4.3 Opportunities
4.2.2 Environmental and the fact that it is still operating, A number of specific More research into the authenticity/ Specific interpretation/signage/ Pressures (e.g. pollution, having had a forecast lifetime of 10-15 opportunities have been heritage of the site temporary exhibitions years at the time of construction, is climate change, testament to the outstanding and identified, pre-nomination, University of Manchester colleagues There are several opportunities to desertification) sensitive maintenance and inspection and will be explored by the are interested in this area, for example: deliver improved interpretation and programme that it receives. site managers in the next 5 signage, both in the property itself and No major environmental pressures • the John Rylands University Library in the visitor area that is alongside it. pose a threat to the fabric of the OUV The Lovell Telescope is also managed years (see the Action Plan of Manchester, which hold the This work must of course be delivered of the nominated property. in order to minimise the risk of damage table in Section 5 for a more National Jodrell Bank Archive and is in a way that does not impair the in high winds, see table. A Controller detailed plan). working with the site management attributes of the property. Weather-related impacts is on duty in the Control Room at all team to conserve and interpret the These opportunities will be further archive; Opportunities in this area identified so There are no major weather-related times (24 hours a day, every day of the year) tasked with managing the safe addressed by the First Light at Jodrell far include: threats to the OUV of the site. • the Historian and Heritage Manager operation of the telescopes. Bank project, part-funded by the Weather monitoring (wind speed and who has oversight of collections • signage around the Green at specific national Heritage Lottery Fund, which direction, temperature, precipitation) not in the Manchester Museum and locations; Vegetation Management will be delivered from 2018. has been carried out at the site for Whitworth Art Gallery; • Small exhibition in Radiant Hut in many years (and continues) and is There are no significant issues with These opportunities are listed briefly • the possibility of PhD projects and refurbished meeting space alongside assessed for increased risk. To date, vegetation management, although below: there is no evidence of increased risk there is some encroachment by MA placements (with the School of archive store; due to extreme weather. This will be invasive species (principally Himalayan Specific conservation projects Arts, Languages and Cultures). • augmented reality trail (showing monitored in case of change. Balsam) in some of the less-used Visitor Access to the heritage area views from particular times at landscape areas. A number of specific conservation The Lovell Telescope, one of the projects have been identified to date. around the Green particular locations using old key attributes of the property, is an These are not a threat to the OUV These include: photographs, film, audio etc). At present, this is not possible, as the immense steel structure exposed to of the site and are addressed by the area with the highest concentration of The first two of these will be delivered the elements, which inevitably cause Action Plan. • The Searchlight Aerial (which is Attributes of OUV is part of the working as part of the First Light at Jodrell Bank corrosion. However, its management Grade II listed) Observatory, and is therefore not project. and operation are predicated on this, • The Botany Huts suitable for visitors. Developing access to this area will take place as part of the New galleries and visitor facilities • The site of the Transit Telescope First Light at Jodrell Bank project. This opportunity is a central part of • The ‘Concrete Pad Trail’ (looking at the First Light at Jodrell Bank project. the mounting bases of early scientific It will deliver a new gallery, exhibition instruments) and projection space, with new Wind limits for the Lovell Telescope interpretation and a new Education This work will need inputs/oversight programme for schools. Its focus will Wind regime Action by professional archaeologists, be on presenting the heritage story management of volunteers, funding etc. Continuous wind speed over 30miles/hour (48km/hour) Operate the of Jodrell Bank to a wide audience. Lovell Telescope Archaeological surveys/ improving This gallery will be located outside the Persistent gusts over 35miles/hour (56km/hour) above 30degrees knowledge about the site property in the area managed by the elevation Discovery Centre. A good example, is further analysis of Continuous wind speed over 35miles/hour (56km/hour) Park the Lovell the site of the Transit Telescope. Again, A draft Tourism Action Plan has Telescope at the this work will require specialist inputs, been prepared in order to promote Persistent gusts over 45miles/hour (72km/hour) zenith and will need resources assigned to it. sustainable visitations.
54 4 Key Issues 4 Key Issues 55 5 5.1 Guiding principles
The Management Plan • Sustainable use for the benefit of the • Commitment to ensuring effective Policies local population and economy. governance, resources and for the Jodrell Bank monitoring are in place to support Observatory World Heritage • Commitment to a comprehensive implementation of the plan, including Site has the following guiding programme of presentation and a commitment to capacity building principles: education, including a commitment and to the planning, implementation, and Actions to sustainable visitation. evaluation and feedback cycle. • Protection, conservation and • Importance of gathering maintenance of the Outstanding In the following sections, we list the all stakeholders in a shared Universal Value, Integrity and policies relating to each principle and understanding of the property; in In Section 1 of this Management Plan, Authenticity of the property, the actions required to meet the a commitment to developing and including the identification and objectives of each of these policies. implementing the management plan; the Vision and a number of guiding promotion of change that conserves and to furthering the obligations of and enhances these qualities and the World Heritage Convention. principles were defined. We set them the other significant values of the site; and the modification and/ out again below for the sake of clarity. or mitigation of development and change that might damage them.
• The Jodrell Bank Observatory continues to perform its function as a radio astronomy facility. It is Vision important to conserve and enhance the heritage of the site whilst The Jodrell Bank Observatory will be a World Heritage Site that changes maintaining this role as a world- people’s lives for the better and demonstrates humanity’s ongoing leading scientific research facility, thus retaining its authenticity of use exploration of our place in the Universe. It will bring together stakeholders and function. to continue to protect and develop a site that people from regional, national and global communities can learn about or visit and have a genuinely world-class experience. Visitors will bring a sustainable growth in tourism to local communities, benefiting their quality of life and raising the profile of the region as a place to live, work and invest. This nomination will transform this regional and national icon into an international icon of science, a showcase of international cooperation and endeavour that exemplifies astronomy and engineering at its best. The World Heritage Site Steering Committee aspires towards this ambition and this Management Plan describes the ways in which it might be achieved.
Image: Anthony Holloway
Image: The University of Manchester
56 5 Policies and Actions 57 5.2 Policies
Principle 1. Principle 2. Principle 3. Principle 4. Principle 5. Principle 6.
Protection, conservation and Jodrell Bank Observatory continues Sustainable use for the benefit of the Commitment to a comprehensive Importance of gathering Commitment to ensuring effective maintenance of the Outstanding to perform its function as a radio local population and economy programme of presentation and all stakeholders in a shared governance, resources and Universal Value, Integrity and astronomy facility. It is important to education, including a commitment understanding of the property; in monitoring are in place to support Authenticity of the property, conserve and enhance the heritage of Policy 3a – The economic benefits of to sustainable visitation a commitment to developing and implementation of the plan, including including the identification and the site whilst maintaining this role tourism and visitation should be spread implementing the management plan; a commitment to capacity building promotion of change that conserves as a world-leading scientific research as widely as possible to local and Policy 4a – Management of visitors and to furthering the obligations of and to the planning, implementation, and enhances these qualities; and facility, thus retaining its authenticity regional communities. should be of the highest standard the World Heritage Convention. evaluation and feedback cycle. the modification and/or mitigation of of use and function. and comply with relevant national and Policy 3b – Management of local development and change that might international guidance on sustainable Policy 5a – Ensure that the WHS Policy 6a – Coordinate the impacts (such as traffic circulation damage them. Policy 2a – Ensure a strong partnership tourism Steering Committee is representative implementation of the management between the Jodrell Bank Observatory and parking etc) should be organised of all relevant stakeholder groups plan and liaise with stakeholders to The protection and enhancement World Heritage Site Steering in order to minimise disruption for the Policy 4b – Develop new visitor arrival ensure a joint approach for the benefit of the Outstanding Universal Committee and the site’s scientific local community and residents. facilities and interpretation spaces, Policy 5b – Reflect the needs of the of all. Value, Authenticity and Integrity of community (who will be represented on with due regard for the site OUV. stakeholder group in the WHS site Policy 3c – Sustainability the property is at the heart of the the Committee). Management Plan Policy 6b – Ensure that appropriate considerations (including biodiversity, Policy 4c – Develop arrangements for Management Plan. It is also important resources are available for the delivery green transport, mitigation of managed and sustainable access to Policy 5c – Develop a Heritage that other significant values of the Policy 2b – Combine the requirement of the Plan. Seek adequate funding greenhouse gas emissions, recycling the area of the property around ‘the Partnership Agreement between property are protected and conserved. to conserve and enhance the site’s for particular projects for the World OUV with the needs of the scientific etc) should be included in all decisions Green’ (Landscape area L05). the site owners, users and relevant Heritage Site. Policy 1a – Appropriate management research in order to ensure its made about the management of the stakeholders Policy 4d – Involve local communities practices should be developed and sustainable use for science. WHS. Policy 6c – Ensure that appropriate and communities of interest in the Policy 5d – Develop an understanding implemented in order to maximise the skills and advice are available for the WHS via initiatives such as volunteering of the obligations of the World Heritage protection of all attributes of OUV. Policy 2c – Continue to protect the effective management and monitoring Jodrell Bank Consultation Zone/ WHS programmes, community access Convention together with all partners. of the World Heritage Site. Policy 1b – The condition of all Buffer Zone with the support of the days and particular events for special Attributes of OUV should be reviewed relevant Local Authorities. groups. Policy 6d – Ensure regular monitoring regularly in order to guide future of the World Heritage Site. Policy 4e – Develop new, high quality, priorities and actions. interpretation and presentation both Policy 1c – Archaeological features of on and off site, in order to promote an the site should be conserved and/or understanding of the OUV of Jodrell made more visible without detracting Bank and its attributes, along with from their intrinsic form and character. the values of the WHS convention and enhance the enjoyment and Policy 1d – Appropriate risk appreciation of the site by the widest management strategies should be possible range of people. kept under review and updated as necessary. Policy 4f – Develop and deliver high quality learning facilities, materials and Policy 1e – Further research into the programmes for education groups, in authenticity and of the site should be order to provide learning opportunities promoted. for local, regional and national schools
Policy 1f – Maintain and enhance the site’s biodiversity and environmental management procedures.
58 5 Policies and Actions 5 Policies and Actions 59 Policy Action Timescale/ Delivery Group Number 5.3 Actions to meet policy objectives Combining Conservation & Enhancement of Heritage with Scientific Research i. Ensure senior scientific research and telescope engineering representation on the World Heritage Site Steering Committee (currently via both Director Ongoing/Steering Committee/JBCA and Associate Directors JBCA) 2a ii. Ensure senior heritage representation on the Directorate of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (currently via Associate Director Public Ongoing/JBCA Engagement & Heritage) i. Continue to implement repair and maintenance programme for telescopes/ The Action Plan is designed to work Ongoing/JBO and University colleagues This section describes the scientific equipment Action Plan for delivery of with the requirements of the standard reporting cycle to UNESCO for World ii. Continue to make detailed records of modifications to telescopes Ongoing/JBO each Policy; the way in which Ongoing (major conservation work programme Heritage Sites. It organises the relevant iii. Continue to carry out conservation and maintenance works on the Lovell on the Lovell Telescope in progress)/ JBO and delivery will be implemented; Telescope and Mark II Telescopes actions into areas that are related to the 2b University colleagues particular Guiding Principles and Policies the indicative timescales for iv. Further develop and implement detailed induction processes which delivery; and the way that set out in the previous section. The educate staff and contractors about their personal and professional Action Plan will be revised as necessary responsibilities to sustain the heritage significance of the Observatory Ongoing/JBO/University estates delivery will be resourced. when new evidence, or new needs, arise. in order to ensure these requirements are taken into account when considering any change. Policy i. Work with local, regional and national agencies to ensure that tourism and Action Timescale/ Delivery Group 2c Ongoing/JBO and Local Planning Authority Number visitation benefits are aximized for local and regional communities Outstanding Universal Value, Integrity and Authenticity Sustainable Use i. Work with local, regional and national agencies to ensure that tourism and i. Provide briefings and training for all staff and stakeholders on the OUV, 3a Ongoing/ JBDC and appropriate Agencies Integrity and Authenticity of the WHS and on this Management Plan and Year 1/ JBO, JBDC and University colleagues visitation benefits are aximized for local and regional communities 1a Action Plan i. Work with the local authority and appropriate agencies to mitigate Ongoing/ JBDC and appropriate Agencies ii. Implement protocol for undertaking heritage impact assessments 3b disruption to local communities and residents Year 1/ JBO, JBDC and University colleagues (compliant with ICOMOS process) ii. Develop new onsite parking facilities for visitors Year 1/ JBDC and University colleagues i. Establish process for annual review of the condition of the Attributes of Short-medium term/ JBO, JBDC, SKAO and 1b Year 1/ Coordination Team i. Implement the site-wide sustainable Transport Plan OUV (part of the Monitoring Programme and Plan) University colleagues 3c i. Develop archaeology programme for property Year 1/ C JBO, JBDC and University colleagues ii. Continue to manage waste using the University of Manchester’s Ongoing/ JBO, JBDC, SKAO and University Short-medium term/ Coordination Team to Sustainable Waste Plan colleagues ii. Remove and control vegetation growth on extant archaeological features organise Presentation, Education, Visitation iii. Update grounds maintenance specification to reflect archaeological Short-medium term/ JBO, JBDC & University i. Maintain the site’s high standard of visitor management, ensuring national Ongoing/ JBDC considerations Division of Estates quality accreditation is achieved each year iv. Undertake programme of non-intrusive surveys on sites of known historic Short-medium term/ Coordination Team to ii. Undertake regular visitor surveys and evaluation in order to generate 4a 1c experiments organise information on which to base developments of the management of the Ongoing/ JBDC v. Accurately survey/locate identified extant archaeological remains where Short-medium term/ Coordination Team to visitor experience not currently mapped organise iii. Publish the Tourism Action Plan following review in 2-3 years Ongoing/ JBDC vi. Undertake magnetometer survey on the site of the former Transit Short-medium term/ Coordination Team to i. Create new arrival facilities in order to mitigate queuing at busy times and Year 1/ JBDC and University colleagues Telescope to identify possible extant features organise provide a more rounded visitor experience 4b vii. Ensure that existing and new information on archaeological features is Short-medium term/ JBO, JBDC & University ii. Create a new gallery and projection space, in which visitors can engage with Short-medium term/ JBDC and University shared with all staff and stakeholders Division of Estates the stories of the history and heritage of the property colleagues 1d i. Annual review of Risk Register and Management Strategies Ongoing / Steering Committee, The University 4c i. Develop programme of guided visits to the Green Short-medium term/ JBDC and JBO i. Develop a research programme to better understand different aspects of Short-medium term/ Coordination Team to i. Develop volunteering programme Year 1/ JBDC the property’s history, use and development convene ii. Hold regular community access days, for both local communities and ii. Undertake Community History research, both for local communities and for 4d Ongoing/ JBDC Ongoing/ Coordination Team communities of interest communities of interest 1e iii. Hold regular events for special groups Ongoing/ JBDC Medium term and Long Term/ JBO, JBDC and iii. Undertake scientific history research i. Develop new exhibition and projection content for new gallery and University colleagues projection space, promoting the OUV of the property and its attributes, Short-medium term/ JBDC and JBO iv. Conserve and enhance collections and archives related to the property, Short-medium term/ JBO, JBDC and University along with the values of the World Heritage convention using best practice colleagues ii. Develop new outdoor interpretation and audio guide system for the Lovell i. Maintain the existing high level of biodiversity within the property and on the Short-medium term/ JBDC and JBO Ongoing/ JBO, JBDC and University colleagues 4e Telescope surrounding Jodrell Bank site as a whole iii. Develop new outdoor interpretation for the guided tour of the Green Short-medium term/ JBDC and JBO ii. Develop an integrated site-wide Landscape and Ecology Maintenance Plan, Medium term/ JBO, JBDC and University iv. Develop AV tour for the guided tour of the Green Medium-Long term/ JBDC and JBO based initially on the existing Biodiversity Survey colleagues v. Redevelop website in order to promote engagement with the property iii. Align the Grounds Maintenance Specification with the Landscape and Medium term/ JBO, JBDC and University Short-medium term/ JBDC amongst people who are unable to visit Ecology Maintenance Plan colleagues 1f i. Create new education facilities in the new gallery and projection space Short-medium term/ JBDC Short- medium term/ JBDC and University iv. Implement an Invasive Species Control Programme ii. Develop new education material to engage schools groups with the colleagues Short-medium term/ JBDC heritage of the property v. Formalise the current strategy for monitoring and controlling pests and Short- medium term/ JBDC and University 4f iii. Embed engagement with the heritage of the property within the existing diseases colleagues Short-medium term/ JBDC successful schools programme Longer term/ JBO, JBDC and University vi. Develop a Climate Change mitigation and adaptation strategy colleagues iv. Provide learning opportunities for special groups and bodies Short-medium term/ JBDC
60 5 Policies and Actions 5 Policies and Actions 61 5.4 Timetable for first year
Policy Action Timescale/ Delivery Group Timeframe Action Number 2018 Shared Understanding i. Review the membership of the Steering Committee every 3 years, in order January Submit Nomination Dossier to UNESCO World Heritage Centre 5a Ongoing/ Steering Committee to ensure that all relevant stakeholder groups are represented. Autumn Site visit/ Inspection i. Review the WHS Management Plan on a 5-year cycle, including updates on Ongoing/ Steering Committee the needs of the Stakeholder group as relevant Autumn Begin process of setting up Heritage Partnership Agreement 5b ii. Develop a Heritage Partnership Agreement between the site owners, users Short-medium term/ Historic England, Local Autumn Implement new parking and arrival facilities in visitor area near to property and relevant stakeholders Planning Authorities, JBO, University colleagues Steering Committee members will be updated on developments, invited to comment 5c i. Develop a strategy of deemed consent Ongoing/ Steering Committee Ongoing upon issues and invited to attend and participate in relevant events at the property. i. Review and share information on the obligations of the World Heritage 5d Ongoing/ Steering Committee Convention Ongoing JBDC team develop plans for new visitor facilities, Education, Interpretation and Presentation materials Governance, Resources, Monitoring Ongoing Fundraising for specific projects 6a i. Oversee and coordinate the implementation of this Management Plan Ongoing/ Steering Committee 2019 i. Ensure adequate resources are available for the delivery of this plan Ongoing/ JBDC with University colleagues 6b ii. Identify fundraising opportunities for specific conservation, maintenance Ongoing/ JBO & JBDC with University July Decision of World Heritage Committee and engagement projects and secure funding for these colleagues July Presentation and celebration of inscription i. Appoint a Heritage Officer Short-medium term/ JBDC with JBO Autumn Set up regular programme of Ongoing/ Steering Committee meetings ii. Expand JBDC Education and Interpretation team to support delivery of Short-medium term/ JBDC Education, engagement and volunteering plans Autumn Develop Monitoring Programme and Plan and begin implementation iii. Review staff training needs and provide relevant training Short-medium term/ JBO and JBDC 6c Provide briefings and training for all staff and stakeholders on the OUV, Integrity and Authenticity of the WHS and on this Autumn iv. Explore the possibility of developing formal apprenticeship schemes for Management Plan and Action Plan various aspects of the conservation, maintenance, visitor management and Short-medium term/ JBO and JBDC visitor engagement work undertaken at the property Autumn Develop and implement protocol for undertaking heritage impact assessments (compliant with ICOMOS process)
v. Seek funding to support staffing initiatives where appropriate Short-medium term/ JBO and JBDC Autumn Establish process for annual review of the condition of the Attributes of OUV Year 1/ JBDC, JBO, and Steering Committee, i. Develop full Monitoring Programme and Plan for the WHS, including with support from Historic England and Late 2019 / 2020 timetable and budgets etc UNESCO UK Begin to develop Archaeology programme with guidance from HE and external experts 6d ii. Prepare biennial monitoring report on implementation of this Action Plan Ongoing/ Steering Committee 2020 iii. Review priorities and progress on this Action Plan at regular meetings Ongoing/ Steering Committee iv. Review and update this Action Plan on a 5-year basis Ongoing/ Steering Committee Feb/March Implement new volunteering programme for communities and special groups
Key to terms
Short-term: within 3 years of inscription Short-medium term: within 5 years of inscription Medium term: 5-10 years after inscription Long term: > 10 years after inscription The University: The University of Manchester, the site owner and manager JBCA: Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, research division in the School of Physics and Astronomy of the University JBO: Jodrell Bank Observatory, within JBCA JBDC: Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, one of the University’s Cultural Institutions SKAO: The SKA Organisation, an international research organisation with strong links to JBCA based at Jodrell Bank outside the Property Local Planning Authorities: Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council
62 5 Policies and Actions 5 Policies and Actions 63 6 6.1 Financial Resources
Overview The University has also committed Future Management of Implementation £15million to a major project to carry the nominated property Existing areas of activity at Jodrell out work on the Lovell Telescope, Bank are resourced from a variety of other heritage elements of the The future management of the sources. The science and engineering site and improve infrastructure, in property will be taken forward research under the management order to put these on a firm basis for by existing University structures of the Jodrell Bank Centre for future operation, conservation and described in Section 2.4, augmented Astrophysics is currently funded by the maintenance. This project, which will by the World Heritage Site Steering UK Science and Technology Facilities take several years to deliver, is now Committee (See Figure 6.1). Council, the European Commission, underway. the University of Manchester and WHS Coordination will be managed various other bodies. Resourcing Discovery Centre – Presentation, by the Director of the Discovery for visitor facilities and engagement Education and Sustainable Visitation Centre and an appropriate Steering is part-funded by the University of Committee as described in Section The Discovery Centre is responsible Manchester and part-funded by the 1.3, that will include all stakeholders, for managing visitor access to Jodrell operation of the Discovery Centre as a will oversee the way in which the site is Bank, which it facilitates on a 7-day/ not-for-profit business. managed. It is expected that additional week basis. The Centre is open most costs of management will be managed days in the year, with the exception of The resourcing required for the via existing budget structures, offset in Christmas and New Year’s days. It has a management of Jodrell Bank as a part by increased revenues generated closure week just prior to Christmas to World Heritage Site is in addition to by increased visitor activity. this and includes both investment allow for essential maintenance. (pre-nomination) and ongoing running It is not anticipated that visitor The Director oversees around 50 staff costs (post-nomination). This section numbers will increase due to inscription (allowing for seasonal variation), who examines this in the context of the to the extent that major works will be work on a rota basis, covering around resourcing of existing operations. required on the local highways etc. 29 FTE roles. Additional staff will be However, an estimated increase of recruited in the near future as part of Observatory – Operations and around 30-50% will be accommodated the University’s strategy to manage the Maintenance in the new visitor facilities funded by heritage of the site in a planned way. the national Heritage Lottery Fund, The bulk of the management, UK Government, the University of operation and maintenance of the The Discovery Centre is a not-for- Manchester and other donors. The Observatory, and of the telescopes are profit visitor facility and is part-funded operation of this will be supported already borne by the research budgets (around 20%) by the University via a full Business Plan (see Tourism at the property. These include funds of Manchester. It generates the Management Plan) based around visitor for the operation of the e-MERLIN remainder of its operating income from numbers in a similar way to the current network, which includes the Lovell and ticket sales, Cafe commission, shop operation, ensuring its sustainability. the Mark II Telescopes, and funds for revenue and event hire etc. The Centre specific use of the Lovell Telescope opened in April 2011 and since then e.g. in observations of pulsars. (at the time of writing) has increased visitor numbers from around 60,000 In addition to this, the University (prior to opening) to around 185,000 of Manchester contributes circa per annum. This includes just over £200,000 per annum to the ‘heritage’ 26,000 school pupils per annum, who costs of the site, which include non- all receive high quality curriculum- staff costs related to particular repairs linked learning sessions when they visit. and painting etc. This sum is largely The revenue the Centre generates is spent on the Lovell Telescope, which is directly related to visitor numbers, as the major structure on site, are the Centre’s operating costs.
Further details are provided in the separate draft Tourism Action Plan.
Image: Anthony Holloway
64 6 Implementation 65 Figure 6.1: Post-inscription management structure at Jodrell Bank site Major Capital Expenditure
As mentioned above, the University has committed £15million capital investment into the Jodrell Bank site. This is funding a major conservation The University of Manchester and restoration project on the Lovell Telescope, as well as some work on the Faculty of Science & Engineering: School of Physics & Astronomy Control Building and other elements of SITE Directorate of Estates & Facilities: Site user group, Project Committee(s) the property. OWNER University Heritage Committee In addition, in 2018 an investment of Support for Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Communications & Media £1.8million will be made in extending the current car park, creating a new arrivals plaza and new ticket booths. These are being created in an area in the Buffer Zone, adjacent to the property. Jodrell Bank Jodrell Bank Centre for The University is also now working on Discovery Astrophysics a major project (‘First Light at Jodrell Centre Senior Square Directorate Bank’) to create new visitor facilities. SITE Management Kilometre The new facilities will also be in the USERS Scientific & Team Array Buffer Zone, near to the new car park engineering research Organisation Visitor management and arrivals area. It will also include Telescope operations some conservation work on buildings Heritage coordination & engineering around the Green on the property itself. The project has an overall value of around £20.5 million. The project is fully funded, including £12 million from the UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund, £4 SITE Jodrell Bank Governance Group million from the UK Government and £2.5 million donated from Trusts and COORDINATION Coordination between site users and owner Foundations. Image: HASSELL
The ‘First Light’ project will deliver Artist’s impression of the foyer of the further development of the proposed First Light Pavilion, a visitor facility management of the site; will resource focused on the heritage of Jodrell Bank. World Heritage Site Steering Committee ‘heritage’ staff to work on overseeing WORLD External stakeholders the property’s heritage assets and HERITAGE SITE Oversight of World Heritage Site engage visitors in appropriate history COORDINATION Represented on WHSSC Coordination between site owner, users and external stakeholders projects; underpin the development of a new heritage education offer, enable visitors to engage with the area of the property around the Green and, most importantly, create a new gallery in which visitors will be able to learn about and engage with the heritage of the property for the first time.
66 6 Implementation 6 Implementation 67 6.2 Teams
The WHS Steering If the World Heritage Committee Development team for a The Jodrell Bank The Directorate of JBCA meets The University Estates team manage Committee decide that the property should be strategy of deemed consent Observatory Team monthly and decides on the the non-technical ‘Observatory’ inscribed on the World Heritage List, prioritisation and allocation of estate and buildings, in collaboration As part of the preparation for the the Steering Committee will then begin As described in Section 3.3.4, the site The Observatory is responsible for resources, the development of with Observatory staff. Contractors submission of the Nomination its programme of work and regular managers plan to establish a strategy the management, maintenance and strategic objectives, operational currently maintain the landscape Dossier, the WHS Steering Committee meetings. of deemed consent in order to make conservation of the telescopes on planning, communication and institute elements according to a Grounds was constituted in 2017. Steering the planning system more efficient the property (the Lovell, Mark II, 42ft policy. The Directorate includes the Maintenance Specification. Buildings If the application for inscription is Committee members (listed in without reducing heritage protection. and 21ft telescopes). They are also Associate Director for the Observatory are maintained and inspected on a deferred, referred (to the State Party) Section 1.3) have made inputs to this The shared understanding (based responsible for the telescopes at and the Associate Director for Public continuing basis. or rejected, the group’s purpose and Management Plan as it was developed. on OUV and the significance of the remote e-MERLIN sites (Pickmere, Engagement & Heritage. membership will be reviewed. As the ICOMOS/IAU Thematic Study site) will build upon the excellent Darnhall, Knockin, Defford and Weekly Observatory engineering on Astronomical Heritage describes, Following the submission of the working relationship that already exists Cambridge) which are also part of the meetings are chaired by the Associate it is essential that ‘the specificities of Nomination Dossier in January 2018, between JBO, Historic England, the Observatory’s current operations. Director of the Observatory and astronomical heritage management’ the Steering Committee will remain in University of Manchester Division attended by all lead engineers. are addressed in the Management Plan place until the decision of the UNESCO of Estates and the Local Planning Observatory staff comprise This team is responsible for the for an astronomical property. Heritage Committee in 2019. Steering Authority. Representatives of these approximately 60 technicians, Committee members will be updated engineers and astronomers who work maintenance and conservation of bodies will be convened in 2018 in In the case of Jodrell Bank Observatory, on developments, invited to comment directly on or with the telescopes at the telescopes, all of which are inspected order to begin the process. Once it is this is relatively simple to address. upon issues and invited to attend and site on a daily basis. Their maintenance and maintained regularly. Conserving established, oversight of the strategy The JBCA ’s Associate Director for participate in relevant events at the and conservation regimes have been and enhancing the authenticity/ will revert to the WHS Steering Public Engagement & Heritage takes property. developed over decades, and the integrity of telescopes and scientific Committee. oversight of these on behalf of the fact that the telescopes are in superb equipment, as far as practicable, is key Observatory as a whole, while the condition is evidence of the high level to management and maintenance expert team of engineers, technicians of skill in this team. regimes, alongside their scientific priorities. and astronomers who work at the In addition to this, there is a group of site address the delivery of these as a academic astronomers in the Jodrell The Lovell Telescope is inspected daily matter of course. This is a significant Bank Centre for Astrophysics (JBCA, during operations by highly specialised advantage stemming from the of which the Observatory is part and staff (this is critical to prevent damage). property being a working Observatory. which has around 150 members), some A more detailed inspection and regular The Observatory team also works of whom also use the telescopes for maintenance is carried out weekly closely with advisors at Historic England their research. Astronomers worldwide (involving approximately 8 hours and Cheshire East local authority. also use the Observatory instruments, downtime) and reported to weekly These external experts provide advice either on their own or in collaboration engineering meetings. and guidance on maintenance and with Jodrell Bank scientists. Time A rolling programme of repairs, conservation of the fabric of the site. on the telescopes is allocated upgrades and maintenance is in place They also provide advice on ‘addressing competitively between the various for all telescopes on site (covering the gaps’ in terms of skills needed as potential users. Operations are typically weekly, monthly, three-monthly the property implements its action plan carried out by observatory staff with schedules etc). Major proactive and for the future. data being accessed remotely by reactive maintenance tasks and astronomers across the world. The painting are planned on an annual team also maintains and manages basis. The Lovell Telescope is taken associated scientific equipment out of service for up to 2-3 months (e.g. signal processing equipment, each summer so that major tasks can supercomputers etc). be delivered when the weather and Image: Howard Barlow daylight conditions are most favourable.
68 6 Implementation 6 Implementation 69 The Jodrell Bank Discovery The wider team at The Industrial and Centre Team University of Manchester Technological Archaeology
The staff team in the Jodrell The skills required for managing The most significant ‘gap’ in terms of Bank Discovery Centre has all the archives and collections, as well as the skills required to uncover, conserve, appropriate expertise required for training, advice and support, are maintain and celebrate the heritage of managing visitors to the site, as well provided by colleagues within the the property is in Archaeology. In order as its presentation and delivery via University. Chief amongst these are to address this, the property managers, education programmes. The team, the University’s Historian and Heritage with the advice of Historic England and which now numbers around 50, has a Manager, the Keeper of Collections Cheshire East Conservation Officers, high level of education in the sector, at the John Rylands University Library commission archaeologists as needed, including first degrees in appropriate and Curators at Manchester Museum to provide advice; supervise and carry subjects, alongside post-graduate (which is part of University). The out activities (e.g. the survey of the and professional qualifications in National Jodrell Bank Archive is kept Transit Telescope site); and document public engagement, education, in archive conditions in the University progress and findings. This area will be marketing etc, as well as many years of Library and Manchester Museum has developed further I the action plan. experience working in this sector. some objects related to Jodrell Bank kept in its storage spaces. New staff are recruited to very high standards and training is provided for In addition to this, the University any new staff members with skills or provides support in a number of key experience gaps. The University has areas, including financial and legal a well-developed and diverse Staff oversight, HR, Communications and Training and Development scheme. Fundraising. The new ‘First Light at Jodrell Bank’ Specialist Structural project includes the recruitment of a expertise specialist heritage manager. Significant repairs to the Lovell The Director of the Discovery Centre Telescope are typically carried out by will act as overall Coordinator of the external teams of specialist structural World Heritage Site process. The engineers, working to specifications Image: Howard Barlow Discovery Centre’s Deputy Director will defined by the Observatory’s team of oversee Presentation and Responsible engineers and astronomers. Visitation and the Discovery Centre’s School students work with the education team at the Head of Education and Interpretation All painting of the Lovell Telescope Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and The University of will oversee Education and is carried out by an external project Manchester’s School of Arts, Languages & Culture to Interpretation. team, which works in planned phases explore the site’s heritage. each summer.
External contracts are overseen by the University’s Directorate of Estates, which engages a full project team including contract administrators, CDM coordinators, principal contractor and sub- contractors.
70 6 Implementation 6 Implementation 71 7
Jodrell Bank Observatory A staff of approximately 60 technicians, Working with the University Monitoring engineers and scientists work directly Directorate of Estates, the Jodrell Bank has the advantage of having on or with the Lovell Telescope and Discovery Centre (JBDC) manages been in single ownership Mark II Telescope on a daily basis. Both and maintains the estate and buildings since its inception. The are inspected daily during operations open to the public. Contractors carry property owner, The by highly specialised staff (this is critical out maintenance works relating to plan to prevent damage). A more detailed buildings and look after part of the University of Manchester inspection and regular maintenance soft landscape (including boundary oversees all activities is carried out weekly (involving hedges, grassed areas, weed control within its boundaries, approximately 8 hours downtime) and and litter clearance). Other soft and is responsible for the reported to the weekly engineering landscape features (e.g. the gardens) maintenance and upkeep meeting. A rolling programme of are managed and maintained by repairs, upgrades and maintenance members of the Discovery Centre of all its elements. This is in place (covering weekly, monthly, Team. Landscape infrastructure means that all Attributes three-monthly schedules etc). Major components (fences, interpretation that carry the OUV of the proactive and reactive maintenance boards, pathways etc.) are currently property are within its tasks and painting are planned on an managed and maintained on an annual basis and carried out every informal basis. Staff from the University control and have already summer, when the Lovell Telescope of Manchester’s Arboricultural been monitored for decades. is taken out of service for up to 2-3 Team inspect trees onsite and carry months, dependent on the nature of out and/or commission necessary the work being undertaken. arboricultural works.
All significant repairs to the Lovell A condition survey for the property, Telescope are carried out in which will use the original Conservation consultation with external structural Management Plan and Gazetteer as a engineers and all painting is carried baseline, will be commissioned every 5 out under the aegis of the University’s years from external consultants. Estates Directorate, who engages a full project team including contract administrators and CDM coordinators to manage the principal contractor and their sub- contractors.
The Observatory also works alongside the University Estates team to manage the ‘Observatory’ Estate and buildings. Contractors currently maintain the landscape elements according to a Grounds Maintenance Specification. Buildings are maintained and inspected on a continuing basis.
Image: Anthony Holloway
72 7 Monitoring plan 73 7.1 Indicators
A table of key indicators is provided below categorised according to the elements of the property being addressed. The periodicity of the review of each of these indicators is also included.
Category Periodicity Indicator • Days lost to planned maintenance • Days lost to unplanned maintenance Condition of the • Days lost to high wind Lovell and Mark II Annually • Days lost for other reasons (to be specified) Telescopes • Description of maintenance tasks undertaken, including engineering specification if relevant, budget, time taken, illustrated by photographs as appropriate, comments by conservation officer and Historic England as appropriate
• Reports on any major conservation projects underway, to include: - Description of work including extent of structure concerned, engineering specifications - Heritage Impact Assessments - Comments from conservation officer and Historic England as appropriate Any major - Time before the project is due to be completed conservation - Estimated budget required projects on the Annually - Illustrated by photographs as appropriate Lovell and Mark II • Reports on any major conservation projects which appear likely to be required in future, to include: Telescopes - Description of work including extent of structure concerned, engineering specifications - Comments from conservation officer and Historic England as appropriate - Estimated timescale before work to start - Estimate of time required to complete - Estimate of budget required
• General update on use of building • Description of any works carried out, including budget, estimate of time taken, illustrated by photographs as appropriate Repairs and • Relevant Heritage Impact Assessments maintenance • Report from conservation officer on any works to listed buildings (Control Building, Cosmic Noise Annually to Observatory Hut, Electrical Workshop, Park Royal) Buildings • Description of any future work identified to be required, including estimated budget and time required, illustrated by photographs as appropriate • Photographs of building from several specified external and internal locations, for comparison to previous years
• Description of any works carried out, including budget, estimate of time taken, volunteer days, illustrated by photographs as appropriate Conservation and • Relevant Heritage Impact Assessments maintenance to Annually • Report from conservation officer on any works to listed building (Searchlight Aerial) archaeological • Description of any future work identified to be required, including estimated budget and time remains required, illustrated by photographs as appropriate • Photographs of remains from several specified locations, for comparison to previous years
• Description of any works carried out, including budget, estimate of time taken, volunteer days, illustrated by photographs as appropriate Maintenance to • Description of any future work identified to be required, including estimated budget and time Annually Landscape areas required, illustrated by photographs as appropriate • Photographs of landscape from several specified locations, for comparison to previous years • Heritage Impact Assessments
• Visitor numbers, • Evaluation of visitor satisfaction Level of visitation Annually • Education programme numbers • Evaluation of education programme • Assessment of level of impact on property
Condition survey of • Condition survey report to collate the annual reporting and provide update to the conservation 5 yearly property management plan
Conservation 5 yearly • Updated version of Conservation Management Plan
Conservation Management Plan
74 7 Monitoring plan Image: Anthony Holloway