The BCURA Leatherhead site in August 2024


Following M.Fisher's June 2010 visit to Randalls Way, he visited again in August 2024.
The pictures below show further significant changes as one walks up Randalls Way, from Randalls Road. The three Research Associations i.e. Paper, Food and BCURA, that previously occupied the Randalls Way site, are all long gone.

The images immediately below show the entrance to Randalls Way, left and right.The entrance signage is dominated by directions to modern office buildings to rent, namely The Square and Cassini Court.

The apartment building to the right of the entrance replaces the previous Paper Industries Research Association (PIRA) that seeems to be now run by Smithers Distribution Testing Laboratory on Cleeve Road. Cleeve Road runs parallel to Randalls Way, a short distance further along Randalls Road from the town. During my time working at BCURA in the early 1970s, Cleeve Road was 'home' to two electrical technology laboratories. Firstly, CERL (the Central Electricity Research Laboratory) that opened in 1962, but closed in 1992 following the 1990 privatisation of the electricity industry; secondly ERA (the Electrical Research Association) which opened there in 1957 but moved to Worthing, Surrey around 2014.

   
Below is the site that was previously the Food Research Association.
The homes 'Build To Rent' (BTR) development was nearing completion at the time of my visit.		 Following the small housing development located on the left hand side of Randalls Way, and on the opposite side to the BTR development, are Bytes (an IT Services and Solutions Company) and Cassini Court, a two storey modern office building providing mainly open plan space.

   
On the opposite side of Randalls Way to Cassini court (the right hand side as one walks away from Randalls Road) is 'The Square', a new office scheme of four self-contained buildings.
"The specification is high, offering Grade A new space".		 Beyond Cassini Court, there is 'The Care House', described as a "Modern Freehold Office Opportunity in Affluent commuter town~ a modern two storey office building on a site of 0.77 Acres."
Seemingly sold at auction in April 2023. In August 2024, "Bubbles ~ The Learning Experience" for child care, were enrolling as a new facility, though probably only occupying part of the building.

   

At the end of Randalls Way, where BCURA were once located, is now an open vehicle turning area with, on the right hand side, a Howdens 'depot' (extensive experience in the kitchen and joinery business) and, facing back up Randalls Way, is Intertek, an Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and environmental testing laboratory.

To the side of Intertek is a short pedestrian footpath leading to a further footpath that borders alongside the railway line. Turning right onto this latter path takes you to Leatherhead railway station and towards the town.

   

   
When I worked at bCURA in the 1970s, F.W.Woolworth's was a major retailer on the town High St (as was the case on most UK town High Streets until the demise in 2007). As someone who remembered shopping there, I felt I had to have lunch in the same building, now a Wetherspoons pub' called The Edmund Tylney. The end building, No.34 "Barber Shop", used to also be part of Woorlworth's. The Edmund Tylney was clean, light and airy, the staff were friendly and the food was excellent at a good price.
   




This page last updated: 30th November 2024