THE POST OFFICE TOWER (now known as the BT Tower) (1964)

The BT Tower is a communications tower located in Fitzrovia, London, and has been previously known as the Post Office Tower, Thames TV Tower, the London Telecom Tower and the British Telecom Tower.

The main structure is 177 metres (581 ft) high, with a further section of aerial rigging bringing the total height to 191 metres (627 ft). Commissioned by the General Post Office, its primary purpose was to support the microwave aerials then used to carry telecommunications traffic from London to the rest of the country.

The tower was designed by Eric Bedford and G. R. Yeats, chief architects of the Ministry of Public Building and Works. The building is concrete clad in glass an architectural hallmark of its time.

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT… Until its closure in 1981, the BT Tower featured London’s only revolving restaurant to date.

TIME WARP… Upon completion it overtook the Millbank Tower to once again become the tallest building in both London and the United Kingdom, titles it held until 1980, when it in turn was overtaken by the NatWest Tower.

Presented by Chris Barrie

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