Ward: Dollis Hill Former Post Office Research Station, Gates, piers and lodge, Brook Road, NW2 7DW For underground bunker - see separate entry Date: 1933 Conservation area: No Architect: A. R. Myers (senior architect with the Significance score - 10 Office of Works) Authenticity: 3 Style: Neo-Georgian Architectural: 2 Original use: Research station Historical/archaeological: 3 Existing use: Residential Townscape: 2 Description Architectural significance – An imposing 5 bay building in the Neo-Georgian style with projecting end bays and central projecting 3-storey pedimented entrance bay. Brick porte-cochère leads to a recessed entry framed by two full height brick Corinthian columns and opposing pilasters. Pitched roof behind tall brick parapet featuring copper cupola and weather vein in Swedish style. Constructed in warm brown bricks with sandstone plinth, string course and cornice. Windows were originally steel Crittall multi-paned, circular headed to the ground floor with red brick dressings. End bays with pedimented central window stone surrounds and stone ocellus window above. Central bay pediment features cartouche and swag decoration. The original landscaped setting survives with sweeping carriageway and cast iron lampposts along with original canted brick walled and stone capped entranceway, squared piers, lanterns and metal gates as well as matching entrance lodge. Historic significance – The Post Office Research Station was first established in 1925 and opened by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in 1933. In 1943 the world's first programmable electronic computer, Colossus Mark 1 was built by Tommy Flowers and his team, followed in 1944 and 1945 by nine Colossus Mark 2s. These were used at Bletchley Park in Cryptanalysis of the Lorenz cipher. In 1957 ERNIE (Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment) was built for the government's Premium Bond lottery, by Sidney Broadhurst's team. In 1971 Samuel Fedida conceived Viewdata and the Prestel service was launched in 1979. In 1968 it was announced that the station would be relocated to Adastral Park, Martlesham Heath in Suffolk. The old Dollis Hill site was released for housing, with the main building converted into a block of luxury flats in the mid-1990s. An access road named Flowers Close, in honour of Tommy Flowers. Much of the rest of the site contains affordable housing. Paddock (q.v.), the World War II concrete underground bunker, was built in secret in 1939 as an alternative Cabinet War Room underneath a corner of the Dollis Hill site. Authenticity – The building is virtually unaltered except the windows have been replaced and fire escape stairs have been added to the rear. Townscape significance – The building is a landmark as it is situated on a hill and can be seen from many streets below and from afar. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Office_Research_Station .