News
8th August 2022
Celebrating 75 Years – 1970s Case Study: TGWU Offices
The Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) was created in 1922, at the time it was the largest and most ambitious amalgamation brought about within trade unionism. In 2007, following talks between various unions, a merger with Amicus was agreed and Unite the Union was formed. The TGWU comprised twelve geographic regions and each one was run by a committee, a secretary and had its own Trade Group Committees. During the 1970’s, and on into the 1980’s, Perega contributed structural engineering design services to support the construction of several of these regional office buildings.
One such building was situated in Eastbourne, known as the TGWU Convalescence Hotel and Conference Centre. The first stone was laid in September 1974 and it was opened in October 1976 by Jack Jones, General Secretary of the union at the time. The nine-storey building was dual purpose, offering a workers’ recuperation and holiday centre, as well as being an education and conference centre for the union.
Designed by a British architect, one of the key features of the design was that all the materials in its build and furnishing were of British origin. This included the use of ceramics from Staffordshire Potteries, aluminium windows and framing by British Alcan, and beautiful heather slate on the frontage. The slate quarry which supplied it was saved from closure by the size of the order.
Now known as The View Hotel, there is still union memorabilia housed on the mezzanine floor which replaced the original balcony overlooking the dining area, that was adorned with the 27m long International Workers Mural.
Another building Perega provided their engineering expertise on during the 1970’s was the five-storey, 35,000 sq ft, Transport House in Liverpool which occupies a key location on the main approach to the city centre from the M62. In 2009, the building was reacquired and refurbished for use by Unite and renamed Jack Jones House, in memory of the former general secretary.
Perega’s partnership with the TGWU carried onto the 1980’s when we worked as part of the design team on the Glasgow regional office. Planning requirements meant the building had to align with the adjacent Victorian terrace. Therefore, we assisted by surveying the site and existing façade, before preparing drawings to help with the planning submission. To meet the client’s aspirations of a clear span meeting hall with maximum headroom whilst adhering to budgetary and programme constraints, we utilised a reinforced concrete frame for the building with steel beams cast compositely with the concrete floor.