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

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Orford Ness formally passed from AWRE to the RAF, a number of buildings were identified for their use, while the future of the more specialised buildings was yet to be determined (TNA: PRO AIR2/18780, E30 23 May 1972). With the withdrawal of AWRE the local planning authority wished to see the removal of the ‘clutter’ from the skyline, in 1971 it was estimated that to reduce the laboratories to shingle covered mounds would cost £50,000 (TNA: PRO AB 44/75 E18 1 Nov 71: AIR2/18780, E64 24 July 1972). With the departure of AWRE, No.2 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (RAF), which had arrived to clear the Cobra Mist site in 1967, assumed charge of the site. In the following decades they worked to clear the range of unexploded munitions and brought other munitions on to the spit for destruction. This work ceased about 1986, although many unexploded munitions still remain on Orford Beach. Around this time the National Trust began negotiations with the Ministry of Defence to acquire Orford Ness, and an agreement was concluded in 1993. © ENGLISH HERITAGE 26 10 - 2009
Description The former AWRE area on Orford Ness may conveniently be divided into two parts to the north and south of the muddy creek of Stony Ditch (Figure 44). To the north is the former flying field of the Royal Flying Corps station and the remains of its buildings ‘The Street’, which are set along a track to the north of Stony Ditch. To the south of the creek is Orford Beach, until the arrival of AWRE this area was mainly used as bombing range, although close to the southern bank of Stony Ditch were a number of explosives magazines. In addition to the facilities on Orford Ness, AWRE constructed the present Orford town car park, which was equipped with a Cycle Shelter 157. On Orford Quay the National Trust office originated as the establishment’s Clocking Station 156, AWRE also operated a 7 ton crane on the end of the quay. The Royal Flying Corps flying field and buildings Orford Ness is accessed from Orford town quay by boat to a Jetty A1 at the northern tip of the spit (Figure 45). To its south is a concrete ramp that allows vehicles to be driven off a landing craft (Figure 14). Adjacent to the jetty a submarine cable was laid to supply the establishment’s electrical power. At the quay are a small number of buildings, including a concrete framed barn-like structure that was erected by AWRE as a Bus Shelter 134. To the south of these buildings was the site of the early 1950s radar station that was used to guide aircraft on their bombing tracks and to monitor the fall of bombs. Its site is marked by an octagonal brick pier on which a Kinetheodolite 100 was mounted (Figure 15). To their south were two features that were also probably used by the ballistics range to plot the course of test devices, a Non Metallic Gantry 121/A50 and an Aerial Measurement Building 122/A7. From the jetty a track follows the south shore of the River Ore from which two arms head south towards the old Royal Flying Corps station. This track in part follows the line of the First World War tramway that ran up to and along The Street. Close to the jetty one relic of this system is the former Locomotive Shed 88. To the west the first road that is encountered was constructed by AWRE in about 1960 and heads for the west end of The Street, while the second arm heads to the establishment’s main gate. About 1960, The Street was surrounded by a cranked concrete post, wire mesh and barbed fence, enclosing just over 12 hectares (29.5acres). In 1971, at the end of AWRE’s occupation this area comprised about 33 roofed buildings, most of which it had inherited from former occupiers. When the National Trust acquired the site in 1993 many of the buildings were in a derelict and dangerous condition and all but 16 were subsequnetly demolished. Prior to demolition a plan of The Street was made and its buildings were photographically recorded by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. The results of this work are held by the National Monuments Record. The buildings of The Street may be considered as two groups, west and east (Figures 46 and 47). The western group of buildings is laid out on a rectangular grid established by the Royal Flying Corps and may slightly post-date the buildings to the east. At the © ENGLISH HERITAGE 27 10 - 2009
Page 1 and 2: RESEARCH DEPARTMENT REPORT SERIES n
Page 3: Research Department Report Series 1
Page 6 and 7: © ENGLISH HERITAGE 2009 10 -
Page 8 and 9: Sources 64 Primary sources 64 Secon
Page 10 and 11: Introduction The Atomic Weapons Res
Page 12 and 13: Topography and land use Orford Ness
Page 14 and 15: Previous archaeological and histori
Page 16 and 17: The First World War In 1915, the Ar
Page 18 and 19: Figure 4: Photograph taken during t
Page 20 and 21: sorties were flown from RAF Martles
Page 22 and 23: Ballistics Building and was able to
Page 24 and 25: With the closure of the Ministry of
Page 26 and 27: Figure 11: Vibration Test Buildings
Page 28 and 29: Figure 12: WE177A freefall tactical
Page 32 and 33: Figure 14: RAF Orford Ness in May 1
Page 34 and 35: Figure 16: The remains of the Model
Page 36 and 37: hostel. Adjacent to this is the sit
Page 38 and 39: Figure 21: First World War Magazine
Page 40 and 41: First phase AWRE buildings Air phot
Page 42 and 43: Figure 24: View of the area to the
Page 44 and 45: Figure 25: Laboratory 1 F3/123 show
Page 46 and 47: on its northeast side that gave acc
Page 48 and 49: To support the functions of this bu
Page 50 and 51: The centrifuge arm was 16ft (4.88m)
Page 52 and 53: Figure 32: The Control Room E4, sho
Page 54 and 55: Figure 34: Vibration Laboratory E2,
Page 56 and 57: was supported on concrete piers. Th
Page 58 and 59: Figure 38: The Impact Facility F5,
Page 60 and 61: uildings, are covered by a shingle
Page 62 and 63: for solitary sheep and cattle graze
Page 64 and 65: Figure 42: AWRE in July 1958, by th
Page 66 and 67: programme, the development of the W
Page 68 and 69: Sources Primary sources The Nationa
Page 70 and 71: Secondary sources Anon 1931 ‘Radi
Page 72 and 73: Building list This list was compile
Page 74 and 75: 62 7 ton crane - quay 63 7 ton cran
Page 76 and 77: 125 F1 1956 Lab II & control room (
Page 78 and 79: Magazine AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTURE N
Page 80 and 81:
Fuze Magazine AREA/LOCATION: STRUCT
Page 82 and 83:
Fuze Magazine AREA/LOCATION: STRUCT
Page 84 and 85:
a cruciform framework to support th
Page 86 and 87:
Vibration Test Building AREA/LOCATI
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are 3 large concrete machinery moun
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At the south end of the main plant
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At the east end there is a slightly
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a similar sign on the south door re
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Electrical Sub Station 2 AREA/LOCAT
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Laboratory 2 AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTU
Page 100 and 101:
Laboratory 3 AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTU
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ing the shingle traverse and protec
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and running along the north wall. T
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cylinder. Roughly in the centre of
Page 108 and 109:
tion board/fuse box, and a single s
Page 110 and 111:
Impact Facility AREA/LOCATION: STRU
Page 112 and 113:
Plinth E AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTURE N
Page 114 and 115:
Black Beacon AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTU
Page 116 and 117:
Headquarters AREA/LOCATION: STRUCTU
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Small Vibration Laboratory AREA/LOC
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Office Annexe AREA/LOCATION: STRUCT
Page 122 and 123:
Compound AREA/LOCATION: G Area STRU
Page 124 and 125:
Electronics Workshop AREA/LOCATION:
Page 126 and 127:
Plinth G AREA/LOCATION: Lighthouse
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Figure 44: Reference plan (1:10000
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Figure 46: West end of The Street (
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Figure 48: AWRE headquarters area (
Page 134 and 135:
Figure 50: Laboratory F5 (1:1000 at
Page 136 and 137:
Figure 52: Pagodas and Control Room
Page 138:
ENGLISH HERITAGE RESEARCH DEPARTMEN
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Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage

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