The Solar Building
The Solar Building, Emslie A Morgan Academy, Leasowe Road
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1246185
- Date first listed:
- 22-Jan-1996
- List Entry Name:
- The Solar Building
- Statutory Address:
- The Solar Building, Emslie A Morgan Academy, Leasowe Road
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-05-28
- Reference:
- IOE01/16005/07
- Rights:
- © Dr Geoffrey Court. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1246185
- Date first listed:
- 22-Jan-1996
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 07-Feb-1996
- List Entry Name:
- The Solar Building
- Statutory Address 1:
- The Solar Building, Emslie A Morgan Academy, Leasowe Road
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- The Solar Building, Emslie A Morgan Academy, Leasowe Road
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wirral (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ2837491974
Details
This List entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 11/04/2018
SJ 29 SE
1916- /2/10006
WALLASEY
LEASOWE ROAD
EMSLIE A. MORGAN ACADEMY
The Solar Building
(Formerly listed as Solar Campus (formerly St Mary's Buildings) LEASOWE ROAD)
II
School building. Completed 1962. Designed by Emslie A. Morgan, Assistant Borough Architect of Wallasey Corporation.
South elevations completely glazed with two skins of glass, 24 inches apart; metal frames. The outer skin is clear whilst the inner comprises mainly translucent diffusing glass, with some reversible aluminium panels, which are painted black on one side to absorb maximum heat for winter use. There are also areas of black-painted masonry behind the outer skin of glass, designed to absorb heat. A series of white-painted shutters can be opened or closed over these to determine whether heat is absorbed or not. At intervals there are openable, single-glazed windows. Other walls are of masonry and timber, some of it insulated and clad in felt for weather protection. Steeply pitched insulated and felted roof.
Brick kitchen wing to rear with circular brick boiler house chimney. Mainly two storeys with linked cranked blocks facing southwards. Assembly Hall to west and gymnasium to east are both the full height of the building. Corridor to the north side, with ventilators opening from the classrooms.
Interiors retain original light fittings. Assembly hall has fine suspended ceiling feature of curved form above the entrance area and stage. The school was a pioneer in the use of passive solar energy and consciously used energy conservation methods well in advance of their widespread adoption.
AJ 13- 7- 66; The Architecture of the Well Tempered Environment, R Banham; Energy Research vol 10 (1986), vol 11 (1987); Institute of Heating and Ventilation Engineer's Journal 1971, July, pp77-88; UK Patent Specification 1022411, Morgan (1966).
Listing NGR: SJ2837491974
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 454624
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Banham, R, The Architecture of the Well Tempered Environment, ()
Energy Research in Energy Research, Vol. 10, (1986)
Energy Research in Energy Research, Vol. 11, (1987)
Architectural Journal in 13 July, (1966)
Institute of Heating and Ventilation Engineer's Journal in July, (1971)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 05:24:15.
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