Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage

ing the shingle traverse and protecting a large rectangular air intake or vent with a metal grill over.
To the northwest of the plant room is an originally freestanding small rectangular building (3.52m
(11ft 6ins) x 2.45 (8ft 0ins) and 2.45 (8ft 0ins) high) constructed of Burwell white bricks laid to
English bond, which was formerly covered with a flat, steel framed, felted roof (now missing). It is
entered from the east through a single wooden door opening with a concrete lintel. To the west
is a wooden louvred vent and to the east originally was a small rectangular window subsequently
blocked with red bricks. In the north wall are 5 pipe openings of various diameters. Internally are
the remains of a switch and fuse box. The building might have been used to house a compressor.
This small block was subsequently extended to the south in red brick, which match
those used to block the window. The new building was laid to English bond with closers
with a rectangular window in the west side with a concrete lintel and a red tile
sill. On the south side is a double wooden door, outward opening with a concrete lintel.
This extended building was subsequently linked to the main concrete plant room by the insertion
of a new plant room and smaller toilet block, its north and south walls are constructed with red
bricks cavity walls laid to stretcher bond, the west wall is laid to English bond and crudely tied in to
the existing structure. Its roof is of reinforced concrete covered in asphalt. There are single outward
opening wooden framed doors placed centrally in the southa nd north walls. In the north wall is
also a metal framed 6-light window. The floor of the northern room is dissected by cable ducts
and in the southeast corner are the remains of an electrical switch box and cable trunking. On the
wall of this room are various electrical conduits, sockets, switches and lighting. The southern part
of the extension was given over to a pair of toilet cubicles toilet and a washbasin compartment.
At the north end of the traverse is a large concrete cube 0.92 x 0.90 x 0.82m (3ft) with the remains
of two steel channels set vertically in the top.