The BT Tower - A Communications Icon
50 Years 1965-2015
The BT Tower - A Communications Icon

Welcome to one of the few pages detailing the history of The (London) Post Office Tower, designed by Eric Bedford.  A personal view brought to you by the management of Light Straw ATE.

The Post Office Tower was opened by The Right Honourable Harold Wilson OBE MP Prime Minister on the 8th October 1965


Construction of the Tower began in June 1961. The topping out ceremony took place on 15th July 1964 (at the invitation of Mr. T.M. Jaeger, chairman of Peter Lind & Co.Ltd) with the Minister of Works, Mr. Geoffrey Rippon levelling off the last area of concrete (the roof of the lift motor room) with an inscribed silver trowel.

The Tower was operationally opened on Friday 8th October 1965 by the Prime Minister (Harold Wilson) making an inaugural telephone call to the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Mr. Wilson later unveiled a plaque near the foot of the Tower [fourth floor VIP area] and then rode in one of the lifts to the restaurant floor for a view of  London 540 feet below.

The Tower was opened to the Public at 3pm on 19th May 1966 by Tony Benn and Billy Butlin.


Tower images © Light Straw Archive 2004 - 2012
Photo opposite: The 'new look' aerial galleries (Feb 2012)
| EXIT | Post Office Tower... British Telecom Tower... BT Tower, London.

In 1966 the Postmaster General, Anthony Wedgwood Benn, said that the Post Office Tower symbolised 20th-century Britain. Lean, practical and futuristic, it epitomised the technical and architectural skills of the second industrial revolution.
 
Tour the Tower
Tour the Tower The Tower - Not open to the public
Today the Tower is as popular as ever, but visits are strictly by special invitation only.
     
Design, images and text compiled by © Light-Straw. Page last updated July 2024 revision.

The Post Office Tower. The London Telecom Tower. The British Telecom Tower. The BT Tower.

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