Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage
Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage
Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage
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Impact Facility<br />
AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTURE No. F5 was 171<br />
DATE: Late 1963 or early 1964 NGR: TM 44227 48670<br />
ORIGINAL FUNCTION: Impact Facility<br />
LATEST FUNCTION: Impact Facility<br />
CONSTRUCTIONAL TYPE: Reinforced concrete DIMENSIONS: 15.27m (50ft)x 3.67m<br />
(12ft) Concrete base maximum height 3.05m (10ft)<br />
DOCUMENTARY REFERENCE: AWRE 1971 171; PSA 1973 impact facility (disused)<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS: NMR 20457, RAF/58/6492 (F41) frames 079-083 27 Aug 64; OS65054, V, frame<br />
108 30 Apr 65; AA99/08519 and AA99/08520; DP068429-37, Kinsey 1981, 107<br />
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER FEATURES: F4 (124)<br />
DESCRIPTION:<br />
The remains of the Impact Facility comprise a reinforced concrete wall oriented southeast to northwest<br />
with a battered rear (southwest)this side also has an extended tank at its base now infilled with shingle.<br />
On the top of this wall are the remains of the steel and timber superstructure which housed cameras to<br />
record the impact of the rocket sledge at the base of the wall, these remains project about 1.7m above<br />
the concrete base. On the rear wall there are also the remains of steel mountings that are also probably<br />
associated with the superstructure. At the southeast end of the wall are the remains of electrical fittings<br />
and a small well formed square section bronze fitting of unknown function below. Adjacent to it are the<br />
remains of a telegraph pole with electrical fittings. On the northeast face of the wall are a number of<br />
spalled areas that represent where the bombs impacted on the wall. To the northeast a large expanse of<br />
largely featureless cast concrete slab extends away from the wall. On this slab are two electrical switch<br />
boxes and a number of metal grid covers that gave access to the cable ducts. Around the boundary<br />
of the slab are a number of fixing point for guy wires, probably to secure the track for the rocket sleds.<br />
This facility was specifically constructed to assist in the developement of the nuclear WE177 ‘lay<br />
down’ series of bombs.<br />
ENGLISH HERITAGE<br />
AWRE ORFORDNESS