Laboratories 4 & 5

Introduction

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For many people, the first things they see looking across to Orford Ness are the strange and other-worldly ‘Pagodas’. To some extent these mysterious structures characterise the Ness. Some people think they are sinister, others are in awe of the brutalist architecture. For sure, these well-known landmarks on the Suffolk coast have inspired musicians, artists, writers and film-makers.

Click here for the report which sheds some light on how the Pagodas came into being on Orford Ness, why they have such distinctive structures, the environmental testing trials and activities that took place in these laboratories and the people that worked there during this period (1960-67) - at the height of the Cold War.

However, details of the experimental research undertaken are still unknown as relevant files in the National Archives are still closed to the public at this time.

Laboratories 4 & 5 - Location

Drawings - click image to enlarge view  - for full size please contact IRGON

Graphics - click image to enlarge  view or play video

Laboratories 4 & 5

Laboratories 4 & 5

Construction with panning cameras