The building designed by Sam Scorer at the Markham Moor services (sometimes known as the Markham Moor Filling Station, Markham Moor Hypar or Markham Moor Papilo) is a Grade II listed building originally designed as a petrol station. It is beside the A1 south-bound at the Markham Moor junction services and was built between 1959 and 1960 with the aid of engineer Kalman Hajnal-Kónyi. It is currently a Starbucks.[1]
Designed by Lincoln-based architect Sam Scorer, the original structure consisted only of hyperbolic paraboloid – to serve as a petrol station: the building underneath was a later addition. The petrol station was one of a series of buildings designed by Scorer which included hyperbolic structures. These structures (sometimes known as 'hypars') were experimental structures with the intention of making them appear to hover and also in this case a show of engineering efficiency, since the concrete roof structure is only 75mm thick.[2]
The cantilever canopy is constructed using a shell concrete structure which forms a continuous plane developed from two parabolas inverted relative to each other at right angles. The canopy thus acts as two systems of arches with one set of arches under compression and the other under tension.[citation needed]
While the canopy was designed as an architectural curiosity, it was also designed to catch the eye of a motorist, giving them plenty of time to pull into the petrol station.[3]
Happy Eater
Bassetlaw Council gave permission to become a restaurant in February 1982, and full planning a month later.[4] Allen Edward Jones, the managing director of Happy Eater attended a licences meeting at Retford Court House, on Exchange Street, in May 1982, to apply for a restaurant table licence, for selling alcohol. Happy Eater was headquartered in Epsom.[5]
It held interviews for staff in early June 1982.[6] It converted to a 'Happy Eater Family Restaurant' in August 1982, which seated 80 people, being open from 7.30am to 10pm. The restaurant manager was Mrs Mary Crookes. The phone number was Gamston 712. The beefburgers were supplied by St Ives Food Products, of Cambridgeshire. It served Seagram Table Wine.[7] In 1986 the manager was 27 year-old Ray Whytock, of Retford.[8]
A corresponding Happy Eater opened northbound at Elkesley,[9] on 4 July 1985,[10] which also had a table licence; it had closed by 1996, and was raided by Nottinghamshire Police Vice Squad on 14 May 1998,[11] resulting in a conviction for the Chinese-Italian owner at Nottingham Court in late June 1999. The roadside establishment had been known as 'Angels Health Club' from March 1998.[12][13][14][15]
Another Happy Eater was planned to open at Ollerton at the Crossroads Filling Station on the A614 by the end of October 1985,[16] but the Newark and Sherwood district planners binned the scheme in April 1986.[17]
Incidents
On 18 February 1985, two large tyres from an articulated vehicle came free from the vehicle. One crossed the carriageways, bounced over a car in the restaurant car park, and hit a restaurant window. Police estimated the impact speed to have been 80mph. It injured people in the restaurant.[18]
Around 1996 the structure was converted to a Little Chef restaurant, as Trusthouse Forte had been taken over in early 1996.
In 2003 the Highways Agency proposed plans for a flyover which would involve the demolition of the Little Chef, however the plans were later revised.[21] The Little Chef on this site closed in 2012.[22]
Interim years
The building was disused between 2012 and 2019. On 27 March 2012, shortly after the Little Chef restaurant closed, Historic England awarded Grade II listed building status to the canopy to the former petrol station and its structural supports.[1]
Starbucks
In 2019 the site was taken over by Starbucks. The building and roof were renovated and converted into a drive-through.
Threat of demolition
In 2003 the Highways Agency proposed a junction improvement which involved the construction of a flyover necessitating the demolition of the building.[21] However, after many objections from the residents of nearby Elkesley and those interested in the welfare of the building, the plans were revised, including improved access to the site.[23][24]
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