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

was supported on concrete piers. This was probably to allow the use of under floor
cabling and ventilation pipes. At the northern end of the plant room is a bricked up
door opening that formerly gave access to the passage way running along the north side
of the main building. One difference between the two Vibration Test Buildings, is that
in the northeast angle of E3, is a concrete vehicle ramp. A historic photograph (Kinsey
1981, 108) shows a mobile air conditioning van on this ramp, with two large diameter
pipes connecting back to the building, as well as electrical leads plugged into fittings on its
north wall.
Magazine
As described above one branch of the new access road across Stony Ditch headed
southwards and a loop road gave access to the new Magazine E5/140 (Figures 32 and
53). This is a reinforced concrete structure with a barrel vaulted roof and is revetted
on all sides by shingle traverses. The main drive through entrance passage is oriented
roughly north to south and surfaced in smooth concrete. To either end it was closed by
wooden doors that were set back from the ends of the passageway. These comprised
a set of double doors and a separate single pedestrian entrance door to one side. At
eaves height above the passage way are a series of mounting plates that supported an
overhead monorail. On the western side of the passage are two self-contained storage
magazines, each of which was formerly closed by outward opening wooden doors. At
the entrance to each of the rooms wooden batons on the walls indicate the presence
Figure 36: The Magazine E5, to the left is the door to the plant room. (c) English Heritage
DP068522
© ENGLISH HERITAGE
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10 - 2009