Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage
Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage
Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Black Beacon<br />
AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTURE No. G1 was 40<br />
DATE: 1928 NGR: TM 44510 48811<br />
ORIGINAL FUNCTION: Black Beacon<br />
CONSTRUCTIONAL TYPE:Concrete and timber<br />
LATEST FUNCTION: Black Beacon<br />
DIMENSIONS: see below<br />
DOCUMENTARY REFERENCE: AWRE 1971 not shown; PSA 1973 40 Beacon (disused)<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS: AA99/08471-3; A000117-124, DP068424-7, Kinsey 1981, 97<br />
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER FEATURES: G2<br />
DESCRIPTION:<br />
The Black Beacon is an octagonal tower set on a mass concrete base with buttresses at each corner<br />
standing to a height of 2.9m (9ft 6ins), each of its walls measures 2.7m (8ft 10ins). In its north elevation<br />
is a 4 light wooden casemate window with a tile sill protected by an iron grille, below the window is<br />
a hole through which protrude a bunch of cut-off co-axial cables. In the south elevation is an identical<br />
window. To the west is an abutting brick concrete entry porch. To the north a set of double wooden<br />
outward opening doors give access to the west side of the octagonal brick base. Internally are remains<br />
of electrical switch gear. The upper storeys of the Black Beacon are timber framed and covered by<br />
tarred weather boards and it has a felt roof, its eastern side is protected by a lightning conductor. Entry<br />
to the beacon is at first floor level by means of a modern flight of wooden and steel stairs. Its first<br />
floor is lit by wooden 4 light windows with central hinges in its northwest, southwest, southeast and<br />
northeast sides. On the second storey are hinged observation ports on all side. The tower continued<br />
into use with AWRE and adjacent to it was a telemetry mast whose concrete footings survive..<br />
ENGLISH HERITAGE<br />
AWRE ORFORDNESS