Orford Ness: Atomic Weapons Establishment Research
Remains of the former Atomic Weapons Establishment Research buildings at Orford Ness. The site was built after Britain, despite its major contribution to the Manhattan Project, was effectively frozen out of the nuclear weapons programme by America after the Second World War, and was used to test simulated environmental conditions on Britain's nuclear weapons. Many of the buildings were designed to be bomb proof because although no nuclear materials were used in the tests, the high explosive part of the warhead would have been present and a failure could result in a catastrophic explosion.
Orford Ness: Airfield
The airfield was built in 1913 and used throughout the interwar period and Second World War as a weapons testing facility. Many of the buildings and structures from the former Orford Ness airfield remain, some of which are now used as an information centre and ranger’s accommodation. When operating as airfield facilities, these would have included accommodation blocks, machine shops, photo processing laboratories, stores and even a petrol station; as well specialist facilities constructed for the various test programmes. Now slowly deteriorating and being degraded by nature, the site has an eerie feeling of a world forgotten. Many artefacts however remain, like the fuel pump which lists its volume in gallons, which was officially phased out in 1995. Besides weapons testing the buildings at the site were used in the early development of radar by Robert Watson-Watt, giving Britain an important advantage in the Battle of Britain.
Orford Ness: Lighthouse
Prior to its construction in c.a. 1792, there had been several previous attempts at building a lighthouse on Orford Ness, but these however were washed away or succumbed to coastal erosion. Once completed the lighthouse formed part of the chain of lighthouses dotted along England's North Sea coastline to warn shipping of navigational hazards. Throughout its life the lighthouse was upgraded, with newer and more powerful lights and reflectors. Due to coastal erosion the lighthouse was demolished in 2020.
Orford Ness: Black Beacon & its Power House
Black Beacon, with its imposing enigmatic structure towering over the desolate landscape, played an important role in the early development of radio navigation systems. Black Beacon and its adjacent Power House were built in the 1930s to house experimental radio apparatus, including early radio navigation systems for shipping. The navigational beacon was reported by the Merchant Marine to be effective out to a hundred miles.
Read more about Orford Ness and its secretive past on my 1705 Photography blog
