Page 27 - CAMPAIGN Spring 2022

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IRGON
In 1949 Aldermaston was chosen as the site for the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE), slightly later a range was developed in Orford Ness (sometimes Orfordness) to test assembled weapons. According to the National Trust no nuclear material was said to be involved in these tests although the high explosive initiator was present and a test failure could have potentially caused a catastrophic explosion
Buildings were specifically designed to absorb an explosion and some are also covered with shingle.
Orford Ness is a shingle spit some ten miles in length used for weapons testing from 1950s onwards. It is situated on the Suffolk coast, connected to land at Aldeburgh and currently owned by the National Trust who have designated it a National Nature Reserve, and this limits access at certain times of year mainly due to nesting birds.
The volunteer rangers working for the National Trust enjoyed the flora and fauna but felt that there should also be a focus on the military history (which extends back to World War 1) and unique buildings.
Thus IRGON, an informal and self-funded team, operating independently of the National Trust, was formed when other volunteers with similar views joined.
The BNTVA is proud to say that we have established a collaborative agreement with IRGON particularly in its objectives to discover and archive new information about the many and wide-ranging military trials; To raise awareness of the s ignificant role that Orford Ness played in the UK’s defence; To make that information freely available to the general public via their website. IRGON’s research, and links to other relevant sources of Orford Ness military trial information are expanding.
IRGON’s website is highly recommended as a resource of photographs, drawings and research reports and is constantly under development. (A personal favourite is a Computer-Generated Image of a “fly-by” showing the site).
The website is
https://www.irgon.org.uk
IRGON’s research has been significantly helped by AWE’s (Atomic Weapons Establishment) de-classification of over 800 documents and have also been fortunate to have been supported by people personally involved in, or experts aware of, the UK’s nuclear weapons programme.
In July 2020 IRGON gave the opening presentation to the King's College London’s biennial Nuclear History Conference and continue to give presentations, both directly or virtually, of their research results and future plans.
David Warren and his team are seeking people with any knowledge of the site who could expand their current knowledge and the BNTVA would be happy to provide you with contact details, please contact me via e-mail (m.harding@bntva.com) or on the usual telephone number 0208 144 3080.
CAMPAIGN SPRING 2022