Maida Vale

From IPS-Compendium

Located in Delaware Road off Sutherland Avenue, this 1914 built roller skating rink fell into disuse when skating became less fashionable and it had a brief career as a WD surplus store. The BBC bought the lease of the vast hanger-like building in 1934 and within its structure built 5 studios. The biggest, MV1, is 108 x 40 x 60 (feet) and became the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Behind this was MV2 and 3, both as long as MV1 was wide and behind these again were studios 4 & 5, two small studios. MV4 was a dryish studio, MV5 was a wood-panelled one intended for recitals. The whole complex was heated by coke and, behind 4 & 5, was a vast boiler room piled high with coke. When the Beeb went high speed gas, this area became redundant and in it was built MV6 - a medium studio intended for the BBC Radio Orchestra – and, later MV7, a Drama Suite with the fabric of the studio complex mounted on springs to prevent the transmission of underground trains and traffic rumble.