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

Figure 21: First World War Magazine D2 showing storage platforms and later alterations. (c)
English Heritage DP070014
fair faced red bricks laid to stretcher bond. At the eastern end of the building is a selfcontained
bay that was entered from a single wooden outward opening door. At the
western end of the building was a similar door that gave access to a shifting lobby, with
coat hooks surviving on one wall. From this area it was possible to access the central bay,
surviving wooden batons on the dividing wall indicate the position of a toe board dividing
the changing area from the clean area, where loose explosives might be present. All
the bays were lit by a pair of hinged wooden windows with wired glass. Other features
typical of explosives handling buildings, include the use of copper or bronze fittings on
the doors, sealed electric light units and external pipes housing electricity cables, and
fittings for external lightning straps.
To the west is a third Fuze Magazine D5, the use of metal-framed windows in this
structure may suggest that it is of a slightly later date. It is also of brick cavity wall
construction set on a slate damp proof course and has a T-shape plan. To the northeast
is an entrance porch and changing area, entry into the magazine area was over a toe
board, whose position is marked by wooden batons fixed to the wall. Internally, the
Magazine is divided into three separate storage bays to the west, each closed by wooden
outward opening doors and accessed from a longitudinal corridor. This was lit by a pair
of four light metal-framed windows to either side of the porch, which was lit by a similar
window.
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10 - 2009