The Beehive (Former Combined Terminal and Control Tower)
THE BEEHIVE (FORMER COMBINED TERMINAL AND CONTROL TOWER), BEEHIVE RING ROAD, GATWICK AIRPORT
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1268327
- Date first listed:
- 19-Aug-1996
- List Entry Name:
- The Beehive (Former Combined Terminal and Control Tower)
- Statutory Address:
- THE BEEHIVE (FORMER COMBINED TERMINAL AND CONTROL TOWER), BEEHIVE RING ROAD, GATWICK AIRPORT
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-02-18
- Reference:
- IOE01/01828/09
- Rights:
- © Mr Daniel Eugenio. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1268327
- Date first listed:
- 19-Aug-1996
- List Entry Name:
- The Beehive (Former Combined Terminal and Control Tower)
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE BEEHIVE (FORMER COMBINED TERMINAL AND CONTROL TOWER), BEEHIVE RING ROAD, GATWICK AIRPORT
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 BEEHIVE (FORMER COMBINED TERMINAL AND CONTROL TOWER), BEEHIVE RING ROAD, GATWICK AIRPORT
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- West Sussex
- District:
- Crawley (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 28577 39938
Details
TQ 23 NE
3/10004
CRAWLEY
BEEHIVE RING ROAD
Gatwick Airport
The Beehive (Former Combined Terminal and Control Tower)
II*
Former airport combined terminal and control tower, now staff rest rooms and offices. 1934-36. By Hoar, Marlow and Lovett for Morris Jackaman. Reinforced concrete, steel frame and brick infill. Circular plan with concentric circles of rooms and corridor. One, two and three storeys.
EXTERIOR: outer single-storey section has doorways and mainly four-light windows at intervals. Behind rises the first floor with windows at various intervals and a section of continuous glazing. Above in the centre is the former control tower with glazing all round at 60 degrees to the floor.
INTERIOR: surrounding the central drum, which originally held the control tower, meteorological offices, post office and shop; is the two-storey corridor for passenger circulation and handling of baggage, as well as the double staircase. On the outer side the first floor had the restaurant with offices below. From the central corridor passengers arrived and left through six telescopic corridors (no longer surviving) which were extended on rails to the aircraft steps.
The Beehive is important not only in the history of British aviation but also in terms of world airport design. It is a rare example of how airport owners and architects collaborated to put passenger comfort as a top consideration when designing a terminal building.
Listing NGR: TQ2857739938
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 461938
- Legacy System:
- LBS
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 07-Jun-2026 at 10:07:42.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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