Hirst Research Centre

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This was one of the first specialised industrial research laboratories to be built in Britain. As such it paved the way for its own demise since it was impossible to wire it up properly for modern ethernet type connections, this as much as anything lead to its demolition in the 1990's.

It was named after Hugo Hirst - one of the original movers and shakers of the company that would in time become GEC. Its most famous solution was the production of the cavity magnetron during WWII the concept of which was established by Randall and Boot working at Birmingham University, but staff of the building were also important in developing radars for use during that conflict. In so doing they created one of the other landmarks in the Wembley area besides the eponymous Stadium, the 60m tower at the back of the building. They were also instrumental in setting up the National Grid system which to this date provides power to the whole of the UK.