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Derelict-UK
17-10-2011, 12:16 AM
This was a great opportunity, to see one of England's most unusual man made nature reserves.

Orford Ness has a military use ever since 1913 and has been bombed and tested so many times, there may never be a time when you will know where all the unexploded bombs lie.

In it's heyday the island has been the proud site for the invention of Radar. They also stress tested both our Nuclear bombs to the point of destruction. The Pagoda's were built in a manner that if the bombs (minus the fissile material) did explode, the explosion would be funneled upwards and the shingle on top of the roof would collapse on to the area to contain any contamination.

ALL the information you will ever need on this place can be found below,

http://www.talkurbex.com/2010/10/a-view-inside-the-secret-atomic-weapons-research-establishment-awre/

With thanks to Digital-Nomad from Talk Urbex & The National Trust for allowing us on site for 8 hours of enjoyment!!

On with my pics (and there are a few!)...

A Birds eye view of the site taken in 1965, you can see the bomb craters from many years of practice bombing...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6251112111_f19f831f39_o.jpg

1. This is Lab 4 aka one of the 'Pagoda's' in the early morning sun...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/6251533410_f375a93dca_o.jpg

2. Lab 5
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/6251533982_0f6a93463e_o.jpg

3. One of the various tracks used to prevent the vehicles from sinking into the shingle...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6047/6251007207_cf1b1b8ef1_o.jpg

4. Lab 5
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6251535242_54afec1a1b_o.jpg

5.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6251008511_8b2607a28b_o.jpg

6. Lab 6 to the right with Lab 5 just ahead
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6251536336_07d9220534_o.jpg

7. Lab 4
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/6251009699_cdfb18cbe3_o.jpg

8. A room inside Lab 4
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6251010395_48564c8534_o.jpg

9. Bomb testing chamber inside Lab 4
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6211/6251176579_e6bc96c8be_o.jpg

10.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6172/6251538228_725d812de8_o.jpg

11. Lab 4.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/6251538758_989efed2a0_o.jpg

12. Inside the centrifuge in Lab 6.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6039/6251539410_2ec4890db3_o.jpg

13. Looking out from the Control Room to Labs 5 & 6
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6103/6251540020_cb49b4ffa2_o.jpg

14.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6251541028_11bce39b04_o.jpg

15.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6251117249_9cee5693e1_o.jpg

16. A metal dump from scrap dealers who visited during the 90's, off limits now due to protected species and unknown whereabouts of sunken bombs (Lab 2 in the background)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6251014561_d8468f9efb_o.jpg

17. The Armoury
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6251015645_ce09c15f6d_o.jpg

18.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/6251015017_d97b8c077f_o.jpg

19. I have a new love for shooting into the Sun! From Right to left, Lab 6, Lab 5, Lab 4 & Lab 2.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6251016421_8d57e57718_o.jpg

Continued in the next post...

Derelict-UK
17-10-2011, 12:17 AM
20. Lab 2.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6251546614_165ee85ceb_o.jpg

21. Inside Lab 2
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6251544466_6ff8ef4981_o.jpg

22.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6251017595_36ac2792fc_o.jpg

23.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/6251545460_8232c2cd76_o.jpg

24.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/6251546096_f25d35bdbc_o.jpg

25. Inside Lab 3 which was a thermal testing unit to put the bombs under extreme heat tests
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6222/6251019713_c3cc6d3e7e_o.jpg

26.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6235/6251021393_208352cabb_o.jpg

27.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6251548332_0b1a0a1137_o.jpg

28. Looking out towards Lab 1.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6057/6251549432_b8b82aeeca_o.jpg

29. Lab 3, Lab 2 & Lab 4 in the distance.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6213/6251022251_e51b055e7a_o.jpg

30. The rear of Lab 1
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6251753810_7de24ae969_o.jpg

31.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6251754398_7f73300fb9_o.jpg

32. Military Police HQ/Black Beacon
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6055/6251227425_731b53a4f5_o.jpg

33.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6102/6251755698_491e597f2d_o.jpg

34.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/6251228677_b61e7960ee_o.jpg

35. This original watch tower was, along with the lighthouse, the first structures to be built on the island, dating back to 1925!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6251756762_56726be470_o.jpg

36. Due to it's location, the lighthouse cannot be saved, the unexploded ordnance together with the marshland under the shingle mean it would not be worth attempting to 'slide it back' and save it. Therefor it will be swallowed up by the sea.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6251229771_e364d093a7_o.jpg

37.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6251023605_dd6854d9de_o.jpg

38.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6223/6251758484_7b98c04576_o.jpg

39.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6251801916_9c10ed1aa4_o.jpg

40. I am not sure what this is for, maybe contacting another universe?
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6251759228_b0f57765ae_o.jpg


D-UK

Derelict-UK
17-10-2011, 09:39 PM
Here is a video I have made of the trip...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imh9fxkZ1V8

Derelict-UK
18-10-2011, 10:03 PM
Thanks for the feedback people.

They run tours around the non-nuclear side (nuclear side = the bits with bunkers/labs) during the Summer, however you need to book in advance to see the nuclear side. They said they don't usually do tours under 6 people at £60 per head for the Nuke side. I am not sure of the standard shortened tour cost.

This was arranged nearly a year in advance.

You need to get in touch with the National Trust at Orford Ness, they should be able to give you more info.

-----------------


I have also found an excellent English Heritage site survey, included is this picture of film stills from experiments carried out at AWRE Foulness, Essex, to prove the design
for the Orford Ness Vibration Test Buildings...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6258607293_20f0dc941e_o.jpg


http://services.english-heritage.org.uk/ResearchReportsPdfs/010_2009WEB.pdf