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

Pre-war range buildings
At the eastern end of the AWRE area were a number of structures associated with the
bombing range (Figure 44). To the west of the lighthouse is the Black Beacon G1/40,
constructed in 1928 to house an experimental rotating radio beacon to aid marine
navigation. It comprises an octagonal mass concrete base with a wooden superstructure
that has recently been reclad in weatherboards. Adjacent to this building, but perhaps
built a few years later is the Generator House G2/46. This is a well-built brick structure
with gable ends lit by wooden ocular windows, and to the north probably retains its
original wooden windows. Later modifications include the addition of a porch, and an
outshot to the east that has subsequently been removed.
To its north Bomb Ballistics Building H1/44 was built in 1933 to monitor the fall of
bombs on the range to the east. It comprises a substantial mass concrete ground floor
storey with a single room and a double door opening to the west. Above is a brick
Figure 22: The Black Beacon G1/40 and to the left the Generator House G2/46. (c) English
Heritage DP068424
observation room with a flat roof that could also be used for monitoring purposes. To
its east is another unidentified feature H2, it was not visited during the course of this
survey. Air photographs reveal bomb craters created by this trials work across most of
the Orford Ness. The densest concentrations of cratering lie to the south of the Cobra
Mist complex, and between it and the sea. To its east is feature H2 that was not visited
during this survey.
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10 - 2009