Station museum celebrates wartime role of Malvern radar experts

A new museum at Great Malvern railway station recalls the work of the technology experts in Malvern who contributed to Britain’s role in winning the Second World War.

It was 1942 when Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the evacuation of two top-secret government radar research establishments to the Worcestershire countryside to escape German bombardment. The work carried out in Malvern was transformative to the war effort and subsequently to modern electronic technology worldwide.

Now, thanks in part to a grant from the West Midlands Railway (WMR), the story will be told at The Technology Station, situated in the historic Great Malvern station.

Mike Burstow, from the Malvern Radar and Technology History Society, said: “We are delighted to unveil The Technology Station, which celebrates the remarkable impact that the Malvern area has had on the technology we all still use today. By linking stories of wartime research to the modern day, we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at WMR, said: “I am certain this fascinating slice of history will prove popular with our customers and will build on Great Malvern’s existing status as a ‘destination station’.”

The museum’s features include interactive displays and information boards showcasing Malvern’s substantial international science and technology legacy, including: radar, integrated circuits, electronic computers, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), touch screens, x-ray detectors, passive infra-red detectors (motion sensors), gas lasers and more. The museum will show how the Telecommunications Research Establishment and its successors made a major contribution to the culture, environment and development of Malvern.

The Technology Station will open to the public on Wednesday 22 May. Its opening hours are 2-6pm on Wednesdays and 10am-2pm on Saturdays. Entry is free, with supporting donations optional.

The exhibition is the initiative of Victoria Carman, visitor economy manager at Malvern Hills District Council. It has been organised by The Malvern Radar and Technology History Society and is sponsored by WMR, Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership and Malvern Town Council.