The History of The Dome
Why the Dome?
The original concept for the construction of a purpose-built badminton hall in Hounslow was formed by John Motler and Gerry Davies. Their idea was to construct some badminton courts within a budget limited by what they could raise between them, and the first notion was an inflatable structure as was seen in some school campuses in the borough. John worked for Hounslow Council and was very aware of the facilities in the region. Both he and Gerry Davies played the game, indeed Gerry used to coach and run the club GBs (Gerry’s Bunch) at halls in the area, which later moved to the new Dome.
“A badminton playing architect.” The words uttered by John Motler to Tim Renton in the early nineteen-eighties probably at a committee meeting of Hounslow Badminton Association, but that is what began the project. During the design consideration process the costs of forming a more substantial building were researched and a portal frame structure seemed the best way forward. Proposals were put to several manufacturers and John Reid and son, of Christchurch were more than helpful.
With John’s contacts, part of the playing field of Norwood Green Junior school was put aside by Hounslow Council for the project with the proviso that the hall should be set back from North Hyde Lane and the site shared with a facility building for the Multiple Sclerosis Society (this did not come to fruition). Planning permission was applied for in 1983 by Tim Renton on behalf of Renton, Westwood & Associates Ltd who would manage the project on a Design and Build basis.
Negotiations rolled on and the building work was carried out in 1985. The badminton hall was a single skin construction portal frame sized to the then (at that time) design criteria of Badminton England with a 7m ceiling internally at the eaves. The building included changing facilities and two rooms on the first floor, one fitted out as a bar and rest room; the other as a committee room.
As funds were limited much of the final fitting out was completed with the help of volunteers whose names are listed on the two framed documents on the Second Floor landing at the Dome.
The playing floor at this stage was power floated concrete and fitted with “mat” type courts laid out on the concrete. The disadvantage of single skin construction became rapidly evident as in winter the temperature difference between the outside air and the internal space filled with energetic bodies meant condensation became a big problem. Sometimes the warm air would freeze on the underside of the roof and fall as rain on the courts when the sun warmed the building in the morning.
Various attempts were made to cure the problem including fitting an internal insulated skin, and extractor fans. Trace heating on the steel beams was fitted but the problem although much diminished would not go away.
Improvements
The use of the hall by Middlesex County for matches added cachet to the building and in May 1990 the Middlesex County Badminton Association (MCBA) closed their 3-court hall in Stamford Hill, Hackney (Orion Hall) and obtained funding approval from the Sports Council, now Sport England, to enable a sprung maple floor to be installed at the Dome. Maintenance of the floor was done by volunteers, including Reg Catlin.
The County Association was then able to adopt the Dome as the home for Middlesex County badminton. Since then, it has also become a focus for local residents as well as local leagues and other groups of like-minded people -both adults and juniors to enjoy badminton in a sociable atmosphere.
During this period both John Motler and Gerry Davies retired from the area to Wales. The Management committee was then headed by first Andy Saunders and then Sheila Collins.
In the early “noughties” after much trawling for funds by the committee; a substantial Badminton England / Sport England Grant was allocated to the building. This was supported by a loan from Middlesex County Badminton under the chairmanship of Don Parker, allowing for both an extension to six courts and also the over-cladding of the building to form a double-skinned hall to combat the condensation issue. At the same time a single-storey side walkway was added to keep players and spectators off the playing surface. Heating systems were upgraded and a full capacity shower system fitted for the changing rooms.
Design was once again carried out by Tim Renton. It was begun in 2002 and was submitted in April 2004 in conjunction with Nigel Upchurch and Associates. The steelwork was again carried out by John Reid and the main contractor this time was Harry Neal Ltd.
Sadly the funds did not allow the car park to be improved and it remained a “temporary solution” covered in scalpings to at least allow some use of the space. This was not at all good for the maple floor!
At last a car park!
A further grant from Badminton England in 2011, did allow for the car park to be finished with drainage, kerbs and tarmac. It also allowed a second floor to be formed providing more flexible accommodation for the use of the committee. Drawings and permissions by Tim Renton, building by Tolent Limited.
In 2011 the Dome was a designated training centre for the World Championships (held at Wembley) and in 2012 the courts were made available to Olympic teams for training prior to their events.
Up to 2019 The Dome continued to be managed by HBA but with the specific encouragement of Badminton England this was transferred to MCBA in early 2020 and MCBA are now running it.
Many people have played and / or coached at the Dome over the years, most notably Gillian Gilks (who won several All England Titles and in 1976 held all 3 at the same time (Ladies Doubles, Ladies Singles and Mixed Doubles). This has never been matched either before or since. More recently Aamir Ghaffar, who represented England in singles as No. 1 on 39 occasions up to 2005 and most recently Rajiv Ouseph also England No. 1 and who retired in 2020 having won many singles titles including the European MS U19 title, a commonwealth silver medal in India in 2012 as well as appearing in the Olympic QF in Rio in 2016.
The vision of John Motler and Gerry Davies for the encouragement of badminton in Hounslow and a place for clubs to develop, has grown way beyond their original dreams.
The original concept for the construction of a purpose-built badminton hall in Hounslow was formed by John Motler and Gerry Davies. Their idea was to construct some badminton courts within a budget limited by what they could raise between them, and the first notion was an inflatable structure as was seen in some school campuses in the borough. John worked for Hounslow Council and was very aware of the facilities in the region. Both he and Gerry Davies played the game, indeed Gerry used to coach and run the club GBs (Gerry’s Bunch) at halls in the area, which later moved to the new Dome.
“A badminton playing architect.” The words uttered by John Motler to Tim Renton in the early nineteen-eighties probably at a committee meeting of Hounslow Badminton Association, but that is what began the project. During the design consideration process the costs of forming a more substantial building were researched and a portal frame structure seemed the best way forward. Proposals were put to several manufacturers and John Reid and son, of Christchurch were more than helpful.
With John’s contacts, part of the playing field of Norwood Green Junior school was put aside by Hounslow Council for the project with the proviso that the hall should be set back from North Hyde Lane and the site shared with a facility building for the Multiple Sclerosis Society (this did not come to fruition). Planning permission was applied for in 1983 by Tim Renton on behalf of Renton, Westwood & Associates Ltd who would manage the project on a Design and Build basis.
Negotiations rolled on and the building work was carried out in 1985. The badminton hall was a single skin construction portal frame sized to the then (at that time) design criteria of Badminton England with a 7m ceiling internally at the eaves. The building included changing facilities and two rooms on the first floor, one fitted out as a bar and rest room; the other as a committee room.
As funds were limited much of the final fitting out was completed with the help of volunteers whose names are listed on the two framed documents on the Second Floor landing at the Dome.
The playing floor at this stage was power floated concrete and fitted with “mat” type courts laid out on the concrete. The disadvantage of single skin construction became rapidly evident as in winter the temperature difference between the outside air and the internal space filled with energetic bodies meant condensation became a big problem. Sometimes the warm air would freeze on the underside of the roof and fall as rain on the courts when the sun warmed the building in the morning.
Various attempts were made to cure the problem including fitting an internal insulated skin, and extractor fans. Trace heating on the steel beams was fitted but the problem although much diminished would not go away.
Improvements
The use of the hall by Middlesex County for matches added cachet to the building and in May 1990 the Middlesex County Badminton Association (MCBA) closed their 3-court hall in Stamford Hill, Hackney (Orion Hall) and obtained funding approval from the Sports Council, now Sport England, to enable a sprung maple floor to be installed at the Dome. Maintenance of the floor was done by volunteers, including Reg Catlin.
The County Association was then able to adopt the Dome as the home for Middlesex County badminton. Since then, it has also become a focus for local residents as well as local leagues and other groups of like-minded people -both adults and juniors to enjoy badminton in a sociable atmosphere.
During this period both John Motler and Gerry Davies retired from the area to Wales. The Management committee was then headed by first Andy Saunders and then Sheila Collins.
In the early “noughties” after much trawling for funds by the committee; a substantial Badminton England / Sport England Grant was allocated to the building. This was supported by a loan from Middlesex County Badminton under the chairmanship of Don Parker, allowing for both an extension to six courts and also the over-cladding of the building to form a double-skinned hall to combat the condensation issue. At the same time a single-storey side walkway was added to keep players and spectators off the playing surface. Heating systems were upgraded and a full capacity shower system fitted for the changing rooms.
Design was once again carried out by Tim Renton. It was begun in 2002 and was submitted in April 2004 in conjunction with Nigel Upchurch and Associates. The steelwork was again carried out by John Reid and the main contractor this time was Harry Neal Ltd.
Sadly the funds did not allow the car park to be improved and it remained a “temporary solution” covered in scalpings to at least allow some use of the space. This was not at all good for the maple floor!
At last a car park!
A further grant from Badminton England in 2011, did allow for the car park to be finished with drainage, kerbs and tarmac. It also allowed a second floor to be formed providing more flexible accommodation for the use of the committee. Drawings and permissions by Tim Renton, building by Tolent Limited.
In 2011 the Dome was a designated training centre for the World Championships (held at Wembley) and in 2012 the courts were made available to Olympic teams for training prior to their events.
Up to 2019 The Dome continued to be managed by HBA but with the specific encouragement of Badminton England this was transferred to MCBA in early 2020 and MCBA are now running it.
Many people have played and / or coached at the Dome over the years, most notably Gillian Gilks (who won several All England Titles and in 1976 held all 3 at the same time (Ladies Doubles, Ladies Singles and Mixed Doubles). This has never been matched either before or since. More recently Aamir Ghaffar, who represented England in singles as No. 1 on 39 occasions up to 2005 and most recently Rajiv Ouseph also England No. 1 and who retired in 2020 having won many singles titles including the European MS U19 title, a commonwealth silver medal in India in 2012 as well as appearing in the Olympic QF in Rio in 2016.
The vision of John Motler and Gerry Davies for the encouragement of badminton in Hounslow and a place for clubs to develop, has grown way beyond their original dreams.