Wednesday 9th April

Appraisal of historical significance of the huts site at Stoke Mandeville Stadium and their role in the development of the Paralympic Movement 

Overview

The Board of Trustees of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust is seeking an independent history/historic buildings expert to produce a statement on the historic significance of 20th Century huts and commentary on the wider context of which they form part of the Stoke Mandeville Stadium site, where the early national and international Stoke Mandeville Games took place. 

Background

The Paralympic Movement began with the work of Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann in the 1940s at the National Spinal Injuries Centre.  Dr Guttmann, a neurosurgeon, introduced sport as part of the rehabilitation of his patients at the spinal unit and in 1948 held the first archery competition on the lawns of the hospital.  Stoke Mandeville is recognised as the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement.  
 
The site hosted the first 8 international Games from 1952 to 1959 prior to the first official Paralympic Games in Rome 1960, and from 1955, 6 huts were erected for the events, 4 of which remain. The site has also been home to World Abilitysport (formerly the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation before becoming the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation and more recently World Abilitysport), Several other important sports organisations under WheelPower’s umbrella have had their home at Stoke Mandeville Stadium including Disability Shooting GB and British Weightlifting for the Disabled, British Wheelchair Cue Sports Association. Stoke Mandeville Stadium has hosted many national and international disability sport events, and hosted part of the Paralympic Games in 1984, when the huts were used again as part of the event. 
 
The Paralympic Heritage Flame lighting has been held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium prior to each Paralympic Winter and Summer Games (every two years) since London 2012.  
 
The Paralympics grew from medical practice for spinal injuries patients to the inspirational World Games we know today from Stoke Mandeville, from 1944 until 1989 when the International Paralympic Committee was established, now based in Germany. 
 
Today the Stoke Mandeville Stadium site, consists of a variety of facilities and buildings to provide sports, leisure and event accommodation and is the home of WheelPower - British Wheelchair Sport, a national charity and owners of the facilities, with its  
origins in the work of Dr Guttmann. Stoke Mandeville Stadium was originally opened in 1969 and redeveloped in 2003 and includes a wide range of facilities. The land is owned by the Department of Health and Social Care and is leased to WheelPower until 2067. Sitting alongside is Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which includes the National Spinal Injuries Centre, opened in 1984 following the closure of the original spinal unit. The Stadium is used by patients and staff of the hospital as well as the local community and disabled people from across the country.

The Brief

The appointed consultant will produce a document that explores the historic significance of the remaining 4 large former military huts that played a key role in the hosting of the first international Games and a commentary, on the site where they are located, related to the Paralympic Movement and key individuals like Dr Ludwig Guttmann and Joan Scruton MBE. Alongside any merit in the fixtures and fittings in the buildings themselves.  
 
The document will provide the Board of Trustees with information to consider the merit of commissioning condition surveys and options appraisals in collaboration with site owners.  

Scope of work (time estimate 5-10 days)

The work will consist of three areas starting with desk research and discussions with the NPHT collections officer on historical documentation, a visit to view the huts and site externally, and an internal viewing of the huts to photograph and record, once access is approved.

1. Review of historical documentation related to the huts and their position liaising with the NPHT staff and trustees and drawing on records.
2. To visit the site and view/photograph the huts (inside and out), including fixtures and fittings. (Please see Note below)
3. To consider the significance of the huts in relationship to the overall site in the context of local, national and international historical interest.
4. To recommend to the Board of Trustees the relevance of seeking to incorporate these buildings/and or elements of their contents into the collections as stated in NPHTs charitable objects, subject to future liaison with the owners.
5. The production of a document that reflects the suggested format of Statements of Heritage Significance as laid out by the National Planning Policy Framework. 

Note to applicants: The Huts contain asbestos, an Asbestos report can be provided on request, and access requires permission from WheelPower, the owners, complying with Health and Safety conditions including PPE and insurance.  

Out of scope

The report is not a structural or condition assessment and is not to assess the relocation of one or more of the huts in the future.

Fee:  Up to £5000 inclusive of VAT

Timescales: To be complete by end May 2025 

Reporting: The appointed consultant will report and present to the Board of Trustees and be supported by the CEO and Head of Programmes.

Application Process

This information can be viewed and downloaded as a pdf file here or downloaded as a Microsoft word document here.

Please submit your application by 23rd April 2025 to [email protected]  outlining your approach and a breakdown of costs for the three areas stated in the scope of works.

For further information and an informal discussion please email [email protected]