South

Trip to Frimley ‘Elephant Houses’ and Farnborough’s RAE wind tunnels

Saturday 13 July

Meet: Frimley, 10.30am (get details by email, below)
End: approx 4pm, Farnborough Business Park

In Frimley we will visit at least one of the so-called ‘Elephant Houses’ designed by renowned architect Lawrence Abbott – once director at Richard Rogers Partnership – and built by the Apex Society in the 1960s. Described by some as ‘Brutalist’, these upside-down house are fun to visit and we shall hear from the owners if they are also fun to inhabit.

After lunch (at guests own cost) we visit Farnborough Business Park, the site of the former Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) for a guided tour of two Grade I and II listed wind tunnels, considered world-class monuments to 20th century technology. Our expert guides are volunteers from the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) and we will go inside the larger of the two wind tunnels where we can stand in the 30ft diameter fan blades. The wind tunnels are only open to the public via group bookings.

Price: £20, including a £15 entrance fee to FAST.

For more details and to book please email c20southerngroup@gmail.com