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Radar locations

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Introduction

First there is Chelmsford in the immediate area of which all of the early locations concerned with radar were located and from where all were eventually controlled. As the origin of the Marconi family of companies and also in its own right it has a long history and so deserves a page to itself.

 

 

The main body of this section is an extract, from an alphabetical list of all known Marconi sites, showing those currently identified as being used for one or other Radar activity since WW2 up to and including the last manifestation in New Street. For interest the complete list is here in its spreadsheet form

 

We must thank David Emery and <ANO> for their work in recording the old Marconi sites and some of the background, prior to any more memories being lost, that then triggered this historic archive for MRSL. There is also credit due to the foresight of JWS/RS in archiving much material to the museum while they were still in office that we have been able to access.

 

Other Locations

Subsequent to the formation of Marconi Radar Systems Limited there were many more locations associated with Radar. These are being listed as details are found in this separate sub-section. NB see "Other Locations" for Gateshead/Bill Quay/Felling Works/Scanners.

 

Many entries have an SMR (Sites and Monuments Record) code - this can be entered into the search facility here    [Editors note - the numeric part of the code] which brings up a wealth of additional information. It is suggested that you "right-click" this link to open it in a new tab or window so you can "cut-and-paste" the code for the site of interest into it without having to scroll back to here each time to do so.

 

There is also the associated Viewfinder site which houses photographs - enter a search term to access (just entering "Marconi" brings up a fascinating selection).

 

There are numerous gaps and some locations do not have sufficient detail - would subscribed readers with the necessary information to fill or enhance an entry please leave a comment at the foot of the page, alternatively use this form to contact the owner.

 

Also we are lacking in equivalent information for the later additions made when MRSL was formed, for example Leicester and Gatehead, so any contributions for these would be welcomed.

 

Marconi Radar Locations in Essex

 

Site Name: Baddow Research

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under construction 1938 

Address:                West Hanningfield Road, Great Baddow

Location:               TL 728 038

Links:                     SMR 15672   Plan of site   Other Wiki pages   Reminiscence   CH Tower  The End  Pastscape

Site Type:              MultipleUse

Dates:                    1937 - present

Divisions:              Broadcast, Radar, Microelectronic

Current State:       Acquired by BAE Systems, later sold with part leased back by BAE AI Laboratories, now known as Chelmsford Technology Park.

 

2018 - as shown by Taylor and Company

Details:

Research facilities. Site was purchased in 1937 and operating by March 1939. The main office block is built of brick, two storeys, with a projecting central entrance with some limestone details. It appears that some structures on the site were referred to as Buildings and others as Blocks (eg A Building and M Block). No reason for this is known.

 

A Building

Built in 1938 it was  the first permanent building on the site (the first was a wooden hut used for TV development where D block is now. It became the carpenter's shop before being dismantled)

 

During WW2 the car park end (the north end) was devoted to the manufacture of special valves, magnetrons, and quartz crystals. Latterly magnetrons went to Waterhouse Lane.

 

The other end (the south end) housed on the ground floor a selection of laboratories (details in the RMS note on Baddow in 1942), the Drawing Office, Chemistry lab, the Library, and the Patents Department evacuated form London  The upper floor was used for admin offices, magnetron testing and Theoretical sciences (Mathematics). Propagation prediction and the Interservice Bureau.

 

At the time of the plan, most of the north end was devoted to microelectronics research and associated techniques. The rest of this end and the south end was almost exclusively radar.

 

The spur to the west originally housed the stores, two canteens and the workshop, which was about half the length shown. At the time of the plan it was all workshops.

 

There were many moves inbetween WW2 and the time of the plan. Too many to list. The plan does not show the building attached to the north end which housed the Deuce computer, moved from the drawing office space.. The computer staff occupied the space that was the D.O and the library, which was moved temporarily to the canteen. 

 

B Building

 Built to deal with the expansion of research activities and to house the drawing office which occupied the whole of the north end upper floor.  Physics, Communications, Radar and Materials research labs were established, (see the article on Baddow by David Speake).

 

This use continued to the time of the plan.  Much changed when radar moved out.

 

C Building

 For a period Room 100 in A block was used to house an IBM computer.  The replacement outgrew the space and the lower floor of C block became the computer building.  The upper floor was for a period one of the radar development labs.

 

D Block

 Second-hand buildings used as offices by radar, engineering services and patents

 

E Block

 Sheet metal shop.  Built as an air raid shelter. (RWS - I slept in it on many nights).

 

F Block

Baddow had a contract in about 1956 to develop a 10MW peak klystron driven transmitter, the valve was made by EMI and continuously pumped, and F Block was set up with a lead-lined pit to house it due to X-ray radiation.  The transmitter did feed full power into a dummy load , and trials were carried out at Bushy in 1957 during which breakdown and reliability problems were experienced.  The project was eventually abandoned at the end of 1958, and the Type 84 was then adopted by the MOD. The building was subsequently used for radar research

Note by Nigel Clarke:

The "lead lined cellar" was originally an open pit with rail tracks that allowed moving the klystron back and forth from its operating position. When I joined Ken Perry's Microwave Components Group in early 1966 the project was over and the lining was removed shortly thereafter.
At that time it could be seen that the lining was approximately 9 inches of lead capped with 3 inches of steel and it was cut into manageable chunks using gas torches before being removed in trucks for disposal.

 

The pit was then indeed turned into a cellar by the addition of a reinforced concrete roof that aligned with the floof of the rest of the building. Access was via a horizontal metal trap door set into the building floor and a flight of stairs into the "cellar". It was shelved and used for storage, allowing the area above the pit to be used for additional test benches, and that was still the case when I left in September 1969.

 

I did come across the documentation for the original project when checking back on some previously manufactured waveguide products and I'm pretty sure that showed it had been funded, partially at least, by the Scientific and Research Council, SERC. I also seem to recall mention of the operating frequency being somewhere around 400 or 500 Megahertz, certainly lower than traditional L-Band, which again seemed to tie in with accounts from some of the other engineers regarding the waveguide size.

 

 

G Block

 Built as the garage for the cars of senior staff. Became a store.

 

H Building

 Known as the high voltage lab. Built at the time of Blue Streak, Then used for Type 11 work and then with the transfer of RDG from Broomfield was the home of all Radar Transmitter Engineering until the move to Crompton’s

 

J Block

 The Winkle hut. Moved from Bard Hill to continue the passive detection work. Subsequently used for a variety of purposes from Quality assurance to the GEC archives.

 

K Block

Built to house the expansion of the microwave work and opened by a government minister. This did not last. Became the home of the Marconi archives until they went to Oxford 

 

L Block

 The last home for the library

 

M Block

 Microelectronic assembly lab. Developing new methods for use in the factory

 

Hut 17/18

 A WW2 RAF hut, used by RAF personnel to assemble D.F equipment.  In its heyday during the 1960's and 70's, was the home of the TID Drawing Office. Latterly one end used by the site gardener and the other end as a store

 

Hut 30

 An old Field Services installation group hut. Initially the ground base for the passive detection work that used the 200’ platform on the tower. Then used by H block as a store

 

Canteen

 Built to house two canteens, moved from A block and to deal with the very large increase in site personnel.  A senior staff room and a visitor’s lunch room were also included.

 

For a period the library was in part of the building.  With the reduction in personnel, after radar moved out, the ‘works’ canteen part was converted into the Telford Lecture theatre.

 

Reception

 The wartime gatehouse, plus a new temporary building

 

Mast

In the 1950s, one Chain Home metal Tx mast from RAF Canewdon was taken down and rebuilt at Gt Baddow for various communications tests and links. It has been suggested that the Planning Committee thought that the request was for a 36ft mast rather than the complete 360ft one that arrived!

 

Other Huts

There were many other huts in the field to the south of the site. These do not appear on the plan.  Some were used during WW2 and others much more recently, by radar development people.

 

Site Name: Baryta House

Address:                29 Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea

Location:               879864

Links:   

Site Type:             Offices/Labs

Dates:   

Current State:       Building (tall office block) extant

Divisions:              Radar,

Details:

Satellite Radar Drawing Office used for short period of overload during 1970-2

 

Site Name: Bedell's End

Address:                Roxwell Road, Writtle

Location:               TL 67840762

Links:                     SMR 15939  Reminiscence   Pastscape

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:                    1940s -

Current State:        Demolished. Site now open fields.

Divisions:               Radar, Research

Details:

During the early 1950s Marconi was commissioned to develop a radar system for the RAF. The first experimental model of this device was installed on the Writtle site. Bedell’s End (near Writtle) test station was used for moving target indicator experiments. Originally an HF/DF ‘Y’ station it was described as an Interservice Research facility. Located on the western edge of current Chelmsford a few 100m north of the A1060 Roxwell Road the site was one of the original war time ‘Y-stations’ where British Signals Intelligence collection and receiving sites operated by a range of agencies including the Marconi Company. The site lies adjacent to a recently installed roundabout beneath an arable field - a length of tarmac path close to the hedgerow along Roxwell Road is the only surface indication that structures once stood here. When the site was in operation an AMES Type 7 radar was installed. Later Marconi was engaged in the development of L-band, 23cm wavelength radar, for the RAF including a clutter rejection system. To support this work the first experimental model was built here. However the site is located in a saucer shaped depression, and topographically proved to be too good for testing the equipment against permanent echoes. A new site was developed at Bushy Hill, near South Woodham Ferrers (TQ 89 NW 27). Bedell's End continued to be used for some DF work but was eventually closed.

 

Two clusters of huts were spaced 1/2 mile apart. In 1956 one with three people was half-a-mile up the track from the road. It was in use in for Type 7 Modifications and for metric naval radar array design. The other huts at the junction of the track and road dealt with HFDF. The former was 'running down' 2-3 years later.

 

The site was also known as Hodges Farm (whose land it was).

 

Site Name: Bradwell (a.k.a Dengie)

Address:                Sandbeach Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea

Location:               TM 033053

Links:                     SMR 46141 (bombing range)

Site Type:              Test

Dates:                    1982 - present

Current State:        Extant and still in use by BAE Systems.

Divisions:              Radar,

Details:

Dengie was a radar site during WW2. The Army built a CD/CHL [Coastal Defence / Chain Home Low] station (M140) there (late 1941?) and on 11
May 1942 the installation of a Type 271 equipment (CD No 1 Mk VI** / AMES Type 54) on a 200 foot tower was approved [TNA Kew WO 199/532] The new station was designated as 'K140'. It was required to carry obstruction lights despite the blackout restrictions. In November 1947, the Dengie Type 54 installation was being preserved on a care and maintenance basis.

In 1983 - 1984 Marconi carried out High Frequency Surfacewave Radar (HFSWR) trials nearby - Project 'HEARTBREAK'

Original system with separate transmit and receive antenna arrays installed in the early 1980s. New installation c.2004, replaced both original arrays with a single array of tetrahedral dipoles.

The site was originally a military bombing and air-to-ground firing range, of which some remains can be seen.

 

Input from David Emery:

1) The Marconi/RSRE HFSWR Dengie/Bradwell radar test site was several miles from, and un-associated with RAF Dengie (the WWII radar site); the latter being just to the SE of Tillingham village. The concrete bases of the CHEL tower are still visible just off Grange Road.

 

2) The use of Bradwell for HF development is a matter of public record - see Hansard 1988:
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1988/may/26/radar-station-bradwell

 

 

3) Ken Perry and Peter Hamshere wrote a paper describing the early work performed at Bradwell:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=7029&newsearch=true&queryText=perry%20gronud%20wave%20radar
There was a partner theoretical paper by John Bodonyi and Ted Pegram
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=7028&newsearch=true&queryText=bodonyi%20radar

 

Site Name: Broomfield Road

Address:                Broomfield Rd, Chelmsford

Location:               between Duke and Railway streets

Links:   

Site Type:             Offices

Dates:                   late 1950s to 1963

Current State:      

Divisions:             

Details:

David Samways input: Broomfield Road (can't recall the number but between Duke and Railway streets looking at Google Maps) also housed the project office for the USAF Microwave System contract - I was based there, when not on site, for two years from 1961. I recall there were some 10 people full time plus itinerants such as me! I guess it opened for that purpose in the late 50s and closed at contract completion in 1963.

 

 

 Site Name: Bushy Hill

 

   

                                                                     Courtesy BAE

 

      

 

Address:                South Woodham Ferrers

Location:               TQ 813986

Links:                     SMR 15930  Reminiscences

Site Type:              Test

Dates:                    1955 - present

Current State:       Decommissioned and disposed

Divisions:              Radar,

Details:

A radar test site. Acquired in 1955 in response to a contract to develop an L band (23 cm wavelength) radar with a clutter rejection system for the RAF. In 1955, the installation of a Type 80 reflector and turning gear for experimental work had commenced. In 1959, the Marconi Company  was awarded a government development contract for a passive detection system known as Winkle and in conjunction with the government establishment at Malvern, Worcestershire, had produced an operational system by the end of 1962. The principal ground equipment installed at Bushy Hill for this work was a high speed receiving aerial. In the mid-1960s, Bushy Hill became the main demonstration site for Marconi's S600 series.

 

In the 1959/60, strange radar interference signals were being received twice a day (early morning and late evening). Doc. Eastwood identified these as echoes from great flocks (500,000) of starlings moving between their roosts and feeding places in rings spaced at ~3 minutes; he had previously identified geese using Chain Home Low during WW2.

 

Update March 2016 - site is being closed and kit recovered where possible - some interesting documents have come to light - 1. 2.

 

Update September 2018 - as from last April, the Bushy Hill site is owned by Supported Business Holdings Limited. Plans for the site are understood to still being formulated. Presumably Airwave Solutions, who operate the UK emergency services telecoms network, will continue to lease space for their collection of masts etc. The site post code of CM3 8RU was discontinued in 2016 but is now listed by Royal Mail as above.

 

Site Name: Church Green

Address:                Broomfield

Location:               TL 705104 (?)

Links:   

Site Type:             Offices/Labs

Dates:                   to c.1970

Current State:      Broomfield House, outbuildings and stables demolished circa 1975

Divisions:             Broadcast, Radar,

Details:

Housed a fairly large Radar Systems group with Field Services, Installation Design, Installation Planning and a Drawing Office also on site. It had its own canteen. A large brick country house (possibly called Broomfield House), that was opposite the church. Prefabricated outbuildings used for DO, TID and Field Services.


 

Site Name: Danbury

Address:                "Chicken Compound", Bakers Lane, Danbury

Location:               TL 784053

Links:   

Site Type:              Test

Dates:                   1950s - 1960s

Current State:       Replaced by new towers

Divisions:             

Details:

A 100' tower and small hut were located here. Originally used for propagation tests (in line of sight of the Marconi sites at Great Bromley, Baddow and Writtle).

 

Site Name: Eastwood House

Address:                Glebe Road

Location:               TL 706073

Links:                     Picture

Site Type:              Offices/laboratories

Dates:                    1995 - 2017

Current State:        Extant but no longer occupied by BAE

Divisions:               Radar

Details: (

MRSL , then AMS, then BAE Systems Insyte. On part of New St site and built for MCSL but reallocated by GEC to MRSL (moved here from Writtle Road) prior to completion (See New Street). Became Mission Systems and then part of Maritime Services with the business group’s ‘Head Office’ function at another site. Gradually numbers reduced from three floors, to two, then one and finally a half floor before the decision was taken to move those remaining to Room A100 at Baddow (in early 2017).

 

Named by MRSL after Dr Eric Eastwood

 

 

Site Name: Elettra House

Address:                Westway, Widford

Location:               TL 694 053

Links:                    SMR 15674

Site Type:              MultipleUse

Dates:    196

Current State:       Extant, but modified to serve as car showrooms.

Divisions:              Marine, Radar,

Details:

Marconi Marine HQ until 1990/1 and bought by MRSL/AMS in 1993. It was used by radar Field Services group, the Drawing Office, Standards, PCTG and Customer Support's sales and engineering staff who moved in Aug 1994. Staff had moved to Eastwood House by March 2003 and site was effectively closed by September 2003.

 

Site Name: Galleywood

Address:                Galleywood

Location:               ?

Links:   

Site Type:              Related

Dates:    1950s?

Current State:       Unknown, presumably demolished

Divisions:             

Details:

The site at Galleywood was on the old racecourse and was used to test out Tropospheric Receiver/Transmitters between Galleywood Common and Start Point in Devon (1957-60).  It consisted of two huge dish aerials and a hut with a quad diversity receiver set. John Nuttall and Sam Woolard were two of the chosen apprentices to sit there listening to music and speech while monitoring the quality of the reception.  This was thought to be pre-commissioning tests prior to the equipment's shipment and subsequent installation on two Caribbean islands.  They spent many happy weeks there doing very little other than answering questions from their counterparts in Devon about which receiver and which aerial combination was producing the best quality. "Marconi Companies and Their People" describe the manufacture of these dishes in the edition of February 1958.

 


 

Other memories recall the old Grandstand's lower floor being used for various things including a Publicity Store. In the late 1940s, Mr. A. W. Lay, worked on Diathermy @ Gt Baddow using frequencies in the range 30-45MHz. This interfered with TV IFs and he left and set up another company (LayLabs) in the Grandstand too. LayLabs did not survive very long.

 

Site Name: Gt Bromley

Address:                Park Farm, Hilliards Road, Gt Bromley

Location:               TM 104265

Links:   

Site Type:              AMES 24, one of the earliest Chain Home radar stations, was built in the area of Honeypot Lane and Hilliards Road

Dates:    1946 - ?

Current State:       Ownership reverted to farmer, some building in use for private storage

Divisions:             

Details:

Marconi began to rent the site in 1946 and the old radar T (Transmitter) Site in Hilliards Road was used for radio and television tests and was also used for storage. There were 3 metal CH towers, two later removed. Ivor Salway was site superintendent for many years.

 

Site Name: Gt Totham Methodist Church

Address:                Gt Totham

Location:               ?

Links:                     ERO D/NM5/34/1

Site Type:             

Dates:                    1943 - 1946

Current State:        ?

Divisions:             

Details:

Building loaned to Marconi company during WW2. Use unknown.

 

Site Name: Guy's Farm

Address:                Writtle

Location:               TL 679 064

Links:                     SMR 15938
                              Guys Farm

 

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:   

Current State:       Now housing  - Guys Farm Road

Divisions:              Specialised Components, Radar

Details:

Close to Lawford Lane site, still in use 1969 (mechanical engineering laboratory) and had previously housed the Specialised Components Division which moved to Billericay in 1965.#

 

Site Name: Hampton House 

Address:                Beehive Lane, Great Baddow

Location:               TL 720050 (approx)

Links:                 

Site Type:             Guest house 

Dates:                  ? - 1998

Current State:      The building now Serviced Offices. The gardens have been built on.

Divisions:             Radar

Details:

Used for functions and overnight stays for company guests and Marconi executives, sold c.1998. Formerly the residence of E.K.Cole (of Ekco electronics). During the war was home for many members of the WRNS who worked at Baddow. Although originally a Marconi property it was transferred to Radar. It provided the land on which the new Social Club was built, using the proceeds from the sale of Pottery Lane. It was a facility much appreciated by overseas visitors because of its homely atmosphere. I'm sure  MOGS members will have many reminiscences of it.

 

Site Name: Hostel -

Brooklands

Address:                New London Road, Chelmsford

Location:              

Links:   

Site Type:              Social

Dates:    ?

Current State:       Now thought to be covered by the enlarged Wood Street roundabout.

Divisions:             

Details:

A Marconi Apprentice Hostel and consisted of two houses linked by a covered path. It was run by the Cuthberts.

 

Site Name: Hostel -

Phoenix House

Address:                New London Road, Chelmsford

Location:               ?

Links:   

Site Type:              Social

Dates:                   Pre 1969-?

Current State:       Extant. Sold

Divisions:              Broadcast, Radio, Radar, Line,

Details:

Apprentice Hostel. Originally the Crompton's apprentice hostel until they sold their Writtle Road site to GEC in the late 60s. It might (TBC) have been physically linked to the Crompton's sport club area (used by MRSL as Y and Z Blocks) as they were adjacent and an old diagram shows the whole area as one unit (though that might just have been to relate MRSL owned property).

 

Marconi apprentices from further afield could lodge here for a charge during their 1st year. They were assisted for subsequent years to find board at various locations around town. The training dept kept lists of families willing to provide B&B. Some apprentices grouped together and rented a house.

 

Site Name: Kensal House

Address:                Springfield Road, Chelmsford

Location:               TL 712068

Links:   

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:    1960s

Current State:       Extant

Divisions:              Computer,

Details:

Standardization Division, 1967, then used by Computer Division

 

Site Name: Marconi College

Address:                Arbour Lane, Springfield

Location:               TL 718075

Links:                     SMR 15732;

                             EH Viewfinder photos

                             Closure report

Site Type:              Related

Dates:                    1921 - 1997

Current State:       Site cleared March 2000; replaced by housing (Telford Place)

Divisions:              Aeronautical, Broadcast, Specialised Components, Radio, Computer, Space, Radar, Line,

Details:

Originally the 'School of Wireless Communications' or the 'WirelessTelegraphSchool' which was founded in 1901 at Frinton, for a short period. Purpose built site established at Arbour Lane in 1921 in an existing Victorian villa (Telford Lodge) for customer training in the company's products. After the GEC partitioning, it continued to provide training for both MCSL and MRSL and possibly other units too. There were two main buildings with various extensions in 1930s, 50s and 60s. One building used for Customer accomodation, another was used for classrooms. Later extensions provided a location for staff development courses previously provided at Springfield Place.

 

Known Principals; Ladner    Stanford     R E Burnett    R G Hulse     Ian  Donaldson     Roger Woodcock  

 

Site Name: Marrable House

Address:                The Vineyards, Gt Baddow

Location:               TL 728051

Links:   

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:    1968 -

Current State:       Demolished - see pictures of demolition

Divisions:              Space, Radar,

Details:

Development. Building probably named after former employee. In 1965 it was base for Marconi Space Communications Division and where their Satellite dishes were designed (design later moved to the Three Bays). Seems to have later housed the patents department. Radar Division housed Drawing Office here. Automation Division was here in 1960s.

 

Input from David Emery: Marrable House, and the adjacent shopping centre and flats were built 1965 - 68 on the site of the Vineyards, a beautiful country house of 1740. According to information in "Great Baddow Oral History" (compiled by Allen Buckroyd, himself a Marconi man) the Vineyards was a hotel from c. 1947 to 1961, run by Miles Humbert. It was often used by visiting Marconi engineers. Prior to that it had been used by the military in WWII.

 

Input from Roy Simons: Marable house was the permanent residence for a number of Baddow engineers during the hotel period, mostly ex RAF bachelors . Rogers and Mercer were there for several years

 

 

Site Name: New Street

Address:                New Street, Chelmsford (West side)

Location:               TL 708 073

Links:                      SMR 15671;  Maps from 1912 to 2007  EH Viewfinder photos; http://www.adarkertrantor.co.uk/?p=99; A new book

Site Type:              MultipleUse

Dates:                   1912 - 2008

Current State:       Site extant but buildings completely removed for redeveloped as housing, with the exception of the listed Front Office block,                              the Water Tower and the Power House.

Divisions:              Aeronautical, Broadcast, Radio, Marine, Radar, Line,

Details:

Prior to 1912, the 10 acre site was the Essex County Cricket ground. It was then bought by Marconi to become the first purpose-built radio factory in the world. For most of the 20th century this site was the centre of the Marconi empire. Various extensions and modifications were made to the original buildings.

 

New Street was the site of the worlds first public radio broadcast by Dame Nellie Melba on 15th June 1920. The original buildings were designed by the architects W Dunn and R Watson. By 1920 two 450' masts had been raised, and these remained a Chelmsford landmark until c.1936 (see New St Archive entry). The factory was extended in 1927 and again in 1936. 1937 saw the construction of Marconi House to accommodate the main company offices. Building 46 was constructed in 1941, and Building 720 (the Canteen) in 1949. A railway track crossed New Street connecting the main factory to the railway goods yard (See New Street, Railway Yd) and hence to the main line. The factory had its own loading platform along the North side. The platform still existed prior to the whole site's demolition. The track was believed to have been still visible in 1969.

 

New Street (Building 720, Canteen and ATC)

In 1960s, Bld 720 used the whole 2nd Floor for food with three adjacent canteens. Furthest from NSt was a works canteen (long queues and collect, two/three serving hatches), adjacent was a waitress canteen (same menu) and then a third 'Semi-Important' silver service one (nearest to NSt) that had another menu for more senior staff and visitors. (Another separate executive restaurant was in the building adjacent to NSt).

 

Also in 1960s, on the 1st Floor of 720, was the Apprentice Training Centre (ATC) Admin offices and outside 30ish clerical/secretarial trainees and their typewriters (The annual apprentice/graduate/clerical intake in 1969 filled the MASC dance floor on the first day induction - See Writtle Road Apprentices). On the ground floor, production of large system racks occurred and, down a short ramp, the infamous 'PIT' where all apprentices learnt in year 1 the basics of the machine shop's tools.

 

Aeronautical operations moved to Basildon in 1961.

 

New Street (Archive)

A photocopy of the original 1st Marconi News Bulletin (page 1) dated Jan 1937 was shown in the MRSL 'News and View' magazine (June 1983 edition). It cost employees, in 1937, 1d a copy and included the following extracts.

"A year ago we watched the dismantling of the two 450' masts" ......

[In common with other large companies we] " introduced a pension scheme to make some provision for employees in their old age.

 

The restoration of the ground floor of the canteen as an additional dining room is a direct advantage of the extra accommodation provided by the new extension. The cost of the equipment has been largely defrayed by a generous grant from the management.

 

The Girls Club having served as a store for the past few months has been reconditioned and restored to its former and more congenial use."

The late Mrs Taylor was Vice President of the Girls Section of the MASC.

 

New Street (Eastwood House)

In 1995 Building 46 and various others on the New St site were demolished and replaced by Eastwood House. This was originally intended for use by MCSL staff. MRSL had been planning their own new building at either Writtle Rd or Gt Baddow when GEC issued a policy statement and allocated the new building to MRSL. No debate was offered !!! (See Writtle Road Works - Gt Baddow Move. The new building though on the same New Street site was now operated by MRSL and named Eastwood House (after Dr Eric Eastwood). It is identified as a separate site.

 

New Street (Drivers Yard)

On the Goods Yard side of New St (opposite the factory) but on the Victoria Road side of the railway bridge was a large site known as 'Drivers Yard'. It extended from the railway line to Victoria Road and had significant depth. Access was from both New St and Victoria Rd. This was the base for the company Chauffeurs and their cars. Company fleet cars were based here and there was a company petrol pump. Buildings adjacent to Victoria Rd were originally used for a social club until the MASC was built circa 1960. (See Social Club Initial). The Marconi Apprentice Association (MAA) used some buildings in the late 60s.Circa 2019 one remaining building has become an Islamic Centre.

 

The site housed the company 'Print Works'. At the farthest end, was 'Reclaim Stores' or 'Disposals'. This provided employees with surplus components, wire and test gear very cheaply - most small things were 6d, test gear was more, perhaps a pound or so. This was the heyday of home designed electronics. Employees developed their skills building their own radios, tvs, stereos etc and the company benefited from their self-interest and skill development in their own time; losing out perhaps with subsequent problem solving during the day! An electronics component shop further up New St., towards the Cathedral, and whose prices were slightly higher (!) could hardly have appreciated the competition.

 

New Street Railway Yard

On the other side of New St (opposite the factory) were the railway goods yard and the stables. A single track crossed New Street and entered the main site via the 2nd gate nearest to Marconi Rd.

 

New Street (Young Male Pay)

A record of the Marconi Wireless & Telegraph male juvenile rates of pay was found (dated 29th December 1936). It was reprinted for interest in MRSL's News and Views magazine (Nov 1983). A piecework bonus could also be available. A 25% additional amount could be paid in some circumstances when the piecework rate was not available to all.

 

 

Basic

 

Ability

 

Food

 

 

 

 

 

Rate

 

Rate

 

Bonus

 

Total

Age

Grade

s

d

 

s

d

 

s

d

 

s

d

14

1

6

 

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

10

6

15

2

7

 

 

1

6

 

4

6

 

13

0

15

1

7

 

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

11

6

16

2

9

 

 

1

6

 

4

6

 

15

0

16

1

9

 

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

13

6

17

2

11

3

 

1

6

 

4

6

 

17

3

17

1

11

3

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

15

9

18

2

13

6

 

3

 

 

4

6

 

21

0

18

1

13

6

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

18

0

19

2

18

 

 

3

 

 

4

6

 

25

6

19

1

18

 

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

22

6

20

2

22

6

 

5

 

 

4

6

 

32

0

20

 

22

6

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

27

0

 

New Street (WW2)

Chelmsford at War (ISBN 0 86025 497 6) records that

(1) 3 bombs hit New St hitting machine, carpenters and spray shops on 9-5-41, killing 17 with many hurt. Houses 70, 72, 74 in Marconi Rd were destroyed with 2 killed. On 19-7-42, bombs hit Hoffmans (which extended to Railway Yd opposite Marconi) killing 4.

(2) Model of site found in Germany12/6/45 at Quedlingburg.

(3) A Chelmsford Area Planning Group unofficially established in 1935, held an open conference and invited the 3 big employers (Marconi, Hoffman and Crompton) to fund a planning survey for post-war development. The outcome was exhibited on 14-5-45.

(4) On 19-12-44, a V2 hit Hoffmans killing 30.

(5) A greater London plan, 19-12-45, proposed a new town at Margaretting with the Central Line being extendedfrom Ongar to Chelmsford joining near Widford.

 

Site Name: Pottery Lane

Address:                Pottery Lane, Broomfield

Location:               TL 7017 0844

Links:                     SMR 15935

Site Type:              Factory

Dates:                   1903 - c.1970

Current State:       Sold for housing and the proceeds used to purchase the site that has become the new MASC.

Divisions:              Broadcast, Radar,

Details:

Established as a receiving station in 1903. By 1911 it was a research station and part of the Marconi Apprentice Training School (ATC) until the ATC moved to New St Bld 720.

In 1912 consisted of a single hut and several aerials on masts.

 

The site was bombed in May 1943, and nearby houses damaged. . The site had been manufacturing CR 100 receivers. By 1946 there were a group of Nissan huts.

 

It was used by Broadcast Division in 1950s.  The site was also home of the Radar Development Group in the late 1940s and 50s until 1959 when the staff moved (swapped sites with the TV Development Lab) to Gt Baddow.

 

The SR1000 transmitter and the display and height finder control systems for the S244 were developed at Pottery Lane.

 

Pottery Lane

Chelmsford at War (ISBN 0 86025 497 6) records that on 14-5-43, 2 parachute  mines fell flattening Pottery Lane factory of 9 various sized single storey buildings sited in the centre of a 10acre field accessed from Pottery Lane. Previously a testing station, it had just been adapted to be a dispersed New St site for making CR100 anti submarine devices and receivers with 70% to the Admiralty. Normal complement was 150 operators, producing 100 sets a week at £48 10s. Work returned to New St, by the end of May work went to Waterhouse Lane and then to Bettawear Brush factory in Romford from mid Aug 43.

 


 

Main Broomfield Road extreme right - Patching Hall Lane across top - Marconi site in upper left field

 

Site Name: RAF Birch

Address:                Near Tiptree

Location:               TL 912196

Links:   

Site Type:              Test

Dates:                   1950s

Current State:       Derelict, very few remains.

Divisions:              Radar,

Details:

Radar testing in the 1950s (TBC)

 

Site Name: Rainsford Lane

Address:                Rainsford Lane, Chelmsford

Location:               ?

Links:   

Site Type:             

Dates:    1960s

Current State:     ?

Divisions:             

Details:

Possible repeat of Waterhouse Lane, although seems to be a separate site? (housed SQG in 1966)

 

Site Name: Rivenhall Airfield (a.k.a. Silver End)

Address:                Sheepcotes Lane, Rivenhall

Location:               TL 824 205  Map of Test Site

Links:                       Rivenhall history     Reminiscence   Pastscape

Site Type:              Test

Dates:                    c.1950 - c.2003

Current State:       Derelict (gravel extraction). Some buildings from airfield usage still visible (2010)

Divisions:              Radar,

Details:

Used both as a factory and as a test site. Marconi began leasing some of the former airfield about 1956. Used for assembly and test of radar systems including CNFT (Cylindrical Near Field Test). The site was shared by Radar and Communications.

 

The testing of antennas under development by the Baddow antenna design group took place over a number of years. The firing butts (where aircraft tested their guns before a sortie) were a good spot to locate the signal source and provided a clear path down the main runway for antenna calibration.

 

The Marconi Rivenhall administration building was located close to Sheepcotes Farm. Nearby, Hangar 1 housed the stores and in the early days the packing facility. The stores area was built inside the hangar which was later extended to accommodate an electronics assembly area.

 

The tower, which is now believed to be a cellular ‘phone site, was little used throughout the tenure by Marconi Radar and was initially erected by Communications Division.

 

Radar transmissions (in L band UHF TV frequencies especially) had to include a blank sector to avoid interference to Silver Ends' TVs.

 

The airfield was used as a Polish displaced persons (ex army personnel released from POW captivity till mid '50s) camp just after WW2.

 

Ex USAF 397 Bomb Group HQ buildings were used as "Wayfarers" a camp set up by Essex Council for travellers of the road. This began in 1950 for 5-6 years until Marconi operations began on the site.

 

Various old war-time buildings were used, including the canteen. Marconi also constructed new buildings on the site in particular the building used to test and develop the first S264, S264A and SECAR systems.

 

Hut 28 was used for many years to test and demonstrate various radar systems including the S244, S247, S264 and SECAR. It is believed it was extended in the early 50’s to facilitate the demonstration of military radar technology to NATO. The extension housed a workshop, office, display room and “radar office” (where all the electronic racks were neatly lined up and cooled by under floor blown air).

 

A number of plinths were built on which various antennas could be mounted with the turning gear housed in the plinth such as the Type 13, 14 and S233.

 

White Gates entrance (by Sheepcotes Farm, from Silver End) was adjacent to most buildings and Marconi activity.

 

Woodhouse farm / Allshotts Farm entrance by Hangar 2 (Kelvedon side of airfield) involved a drive around the peritrack. Hanger 2, not originally used in the first days Marconi was there, was later leased from the owner and used for packing and storage.

 

Site Name: Romford

Address:                Romford

Location:               ?

Links:   

Site Type:              Factory

Dates:                    1943 - ?

Current State:       Unknown, presumably demolished

Divisions:             

Details:

Factory taken August 1943, and work from the Fulham premises (sheet metal and frame construction) moved there after that site was gutted by incendiaries 20th February 1944. Not known if related to the Plessey site in Romford.

 

 Site Name: Skating Rink

Address:                New London Road - opposite the hospital

Location:               TL 705063

Links:                    ERO D/F 33/5/10

Site Type:              Services

Dates:                    1945 - 1962+

Current State:       Demolished. Garage on site.

Divisions:             

Details:                 

Used for 'Aircraft Test' c.1946, equipment being assembled by Ben Burnell. Building had coke stoves and no windows. In 1962  held the Valve Depot. Called the Skating Rink because was in the building (or on site of) the County Skating Rink. This had been for sale in 1921, when it included an American rock maple skating floor. (This was on the site on an iron foundry.)

 

Site Name: Social Club (MASC)

Address:                Beehive Lane, Gt Baddow

Location:               TL 720050 (approx)

Links:   

Site Type:              Social

Dates:                    c. 1960 to present

Current State:       Still in use

Divisions:             

Details:

Marconi sports and social club. Site acquired c.1960 bought with the proceeds from the sale of Pottery Lane. Was previously based in New St Drivers Yard (See Social Club Initial). Sold off by BAe.

 

 

Site Name: Social Club

(Initial)

Address:                Victoria Road, Chelmsford (corner of New Street)

Location:               TL 709072

Links:                     SMR 15940

Site Type:              Social

Dates:   

Current State:       demolished c.2005 - now housing/retail

Divisions:             

Details:

Original Social Club - (see New St, Drivers Yard) prior to its move to the MASC site in Beehive Lane (1960). In late 1969/70 some buildings were used by the Marconi Apprentice Association, including a dark room for photography.

 

Site Name: Springfield Place

Address:                Springfield

Location:               TL 719081

Links:   

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:                   1970s?

Current State:       Extant.

Divisions:             

Details:

It was used as a Training / Drawing office, and apprentice hostel (Mrs Cuthbert in the 1970s) and as the Staff Development Centre from about 1966 until it moved to an extension at the Marconi College in the 1970.

 

Site Name: St. Mary's Lodge

Address:                Cottage Place, off New St., Chelmsford

Location:               TL 708071

Links:   

Site Type:              Hostel

Dates:                   1942 - c.1960?

Current State:       Demolished

Divisions:              Marconi Company

Details:                  Mainly an apprentice hostel but see this page St Mary's Lodge and St Mary's House  

 

Site Name: St. Mary's House

Address:                Victoria Road, Chelmsford (same site as St Mary's Lodge above but different access.

Location:               TL 708071

Links:   

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:                    fl. 1968

Current State:       Demolished in 2013. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart166axe/8974540066

Divisions:              Radar

Details:

In 1967-8, it was the location of the Marconi 'Organisation and Methods' department - also some Drawing Office staff. Site was leased from Costains. During the 1960-80s this site was also was home to the Radar Technical Information Dept (TID, also known as Technical Publications), the TID Manuals library, Spares and Repairs Engineering Dept on 2nd floor with S&R Pricing Dept on 1st floor and Estimating on Gnd floor. S&R Eng moved to WRW C Blk prior to moving to Elettra House. (S&R Workshop was at WRW K Blk). At some point was also home to the main Publicity Unit.

 

See also this page St Mary's Lodge and St Mary's House  

 

Site Name: Staff Development Centre

Address:                Springfield Place then MarconiCollege

Location:              

Links:   

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:                    fl. 1968

Current State:    

Divisions:             

Details:

Originally rooms at Springfield Place were used for internal staff training courses. Later an Annex was built to the MarconiCollege and the SDC moved there.

 

Site Name: Stock

Address:                Stock

Location:               ?

Links:   

Site Type:              Test

Dates:    WW2

Current State:       Presumably removed

Divisions:             

Details:

Unmanned site used for ionospheric measurements during WW2

 

Site Name: Trimley Heath

Address:               

Location:              

Links:   

Site Type:              Test

Dates:   

Current State:    

Divisions:             

Details:

In Suffolk on the left along the (current A14, old A45) towards Felixstowe was a RAF WW2 radar site. Not strictly a Marconi site, Trimley Heath was used during the study phase that preceded the ROTOR program. George Slack was the RAF W.O. at Trimley Heath radar site and remembered for his preparation of the 'Slack Diagram' which was used to set up the design of the Head Selector Unit. This unit enabled the information on any 'head' to be available at any display console.

 

Site Name: Valve Labs

Address:                Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford

Location:               TL 698067

Links:   

Site Type:              Factory

Dates:                    1941 - 1945?

Current State:        Now e2v

Divisions:             

Details:

Valve Laboratories' was set up during war as secret factory for valve production. Site then became EEV (which became 'Marconi Applied Technologies' from 1999 to the management buy-out in 2002). It is now known as Teledyne E2V.

 

Site Name: Wanstead

Address:                Wanstead

Location:              

Links:   

Site Type:              Related

Dates:    WW2

Current State:       Now the Central line

Divisions:             

Details:

During WW2, Plessey used underground tunnels (the unopened central line extension from Wanstead to Gant's Hill) around Wanstead for factory purposes. Marconi may also have used these tunnels.

 

Site Name: Wells Street

Address:                Wells Street, Chelmsford

Location:               TL 705072

Links:   

Site Type:              Offices/Labs

Dates:                    1960s

Current State:       ? 

Divisions:              Radar,  

Details:

One section of the Drawing Office, prior to m oving to Writtle Road

 

Site Name:  Writtle Road Works (a.k.a Cromptons Works)

 


Address:                Writtle Road, Chelmsford

Location:               TL 698 060

Links:                    SMR 15670   Location memorabilia   Pastscape

Site Type:              MultipleUse

Dates:                   1968 - 1995

Current State:       Mostly demolished and replaced by housing ("The Village"). Original Cromptons frontage retained.

Divisions:              Radar,

Details:

A former Crompton Parkinson factory which had been established on the site c.1796. C-P closed this site in 1968? It was then bought by GEC and Radar Systems Division moved here in 1972 (??) as GEC split the Marconi company into self-administering companies. This site became the HQ and main factory of MRSL and is often referred to as WRW.

 


 

The site had been connected to the Colchester-London railway line by a single-track branch. Extensive tracks were still visible at the start of Marconi occupation though not used by MRSL. Tracks were gradually covered by tarmac.

 

The C-P buildings were internally changed and used by MRSL. The building letter identification is that of the MRSL era.

 

A brief outline of the buildings, their uses and significant events follows. It must be noted that some operations moved and some several times during the MRSL era so the outline is just an indication of usage.

 

The linked plan relates to the situation during the occupation by Crompton’s. Several of the buildings did not exist during our time e.g., Buildings F and N, although there was another three story building on that site, close to D block. T, C. Q. R, M, EP, SB’s, and the T’s.did not exist. Road access from Crompton St. existed (possibly coincident with the EEV move to A Block).

 

A Block

Used for Packing and Stores (WIP, WHS). G and V Buildings were connected had outside signs of WW2 camouflage painting still visible until it was demolished. Very narrow pedestrian side door and steps led down past maintenance department to entrance/exit mid-way between D and E Blocks. A part facing K Block was turned into a precision milling shop, using a maxi trace machine. 

 

B Block

A house adjacent to the Chelmsford - London railway line, at one time a Library it became the location of personnel and training during MRSL era.

 

C Block

Adjacent to Writtle Road and it now is the only part of the site still standing though with different owners and usage. During the MRSL era, this block housed TID and Purchasing, some Support departments and in later years the ATC systems group on the 1st floor. The end office next to Crompton Street was that occupied by Colonel Crompton. The Blue Plaque is outside his window

 

D Block

The HQ building for MRSL housing the directors, sales, proposals/pricing and some project staff. Some site establishment organisation located here until they moved to E Block in 1980s. There was also a small conference room.

 

E Block

This building was a typical factory building of the era with a sawtooth roof. Windows to the North allowed maximum daylight and minimum direct glare. MRSL effectively divided the building into two halves. Nearest to D block were offices of systems engineers, programmers, development models and computer bureau together with related staff. There was also the site Print Room, run by Ron Carter, housing thousands of microfilms of all company drawings and in 1988 it used 11 million sheets of paper (including site copiers).It was also the home of the Library, Field Services and PDS, together with a small visitor's dining room.

 

Furthest from D Block, towards the town, was the manufacturing half. The essential differences were that the design office half had a suspended ceiling of about 10ft and was divided into a regular pattern of office units of about 12ft deep by 8, 12 ft wide (wider in some cases). The manufacturing areas generally did not have the false ceiling and usually had less internal walls.

 

F Block

A large two storey building adjacent to N Block it was largely unused at the end of the MRSL era. MRSL used this building for ???

 

 

G Block

MRSL initially used this building for Radar Test 110 and for workshops. Test included a room housing the Myriad test facility that included a vibration tester as many customers were still using Myriads and had a factory support contract arrangement.

 

Test later moved to the North End of E Block and a Clean room was used for wiring and assembly.

 

In 19??, the radar presence at Gt Baddow - the development laboratories, the Display and Data Handling and Transmitter Groups  - was moved to G Block. It also housed the Post Room and the Telephone Exchange.

 

H Block

???

 

J Block

Adjacent to the railway platform (C-P era) and was the old stables. Used by MRSL for the QA staff also for storage especially publicity.

 

K Block

MRSL used this building for Spares and Repairs (both workshops and test) and also used for the Post Room which in 1988 handled 1000 letters per day and was run by 4 people.

 

M Block

It was located North of G Block used for naval departments. Rebuilt in ??????

 

N Block (new building)

Used by MRSL for Finance, Accounts and by Mike Steed's Myriad test and repair facility after it was removed from Test 110, also Mechanical Engineering.

 

P Block

A small annex room to V Block facing the reservoir. MRSL used this building for ???

 

Q Block

A small building on the left of the path from V Block towards G Block. This was the Fibre Glass manufacturing unit.

 

R Block

A small building on the left of the path from V Block towards G Block. MRSL used this building for ???

 

S Block

A narrow, small building between G Block and the North car park adjacent to the security office. MRSL used this building for ???

 

T Block

A small building on the left of the path from V Block towards G Block. MRSL used this building for ???

 

V Block

The Northern end of A Block (facing towards G Block) was designated as V Block. Used for Manufacturing (apart from that at Gt Baddow and G Block during the earlier period) including the Machine, Sheetmetal, Welding, Paint and Assembly Shops. The Surgery was also here.

 

W Block

A very large specially built (c1974) environmental test chamber (25'H x 47'L x 25'W) capable of minus 40C to plus 105C temperatures and both shock (40g) and vibration(1.5") testing of units weighing 8 Tons or so. It was used primarily for radar equipment tests and managed by Brian Greatrex.

 

The facility also was also available for hire by other companies. A Chieftain Tank (8 Tons) was tested for Leicester in 1994. Also used for commercial equipment testing too. In 1980, Fords had their Transit vans tested for starting after lengthy exposure to minus 30C. London double decker bus designs were tested at other times.

 

X Block

MRSL had another building constructed in place of some Portakabins (some located there, others elsewhere on the site). It was used for Naval development and located North of G Block (using some of the previous car park area) adjacent to M Block.

 

Y Block

Physically separate from the main site on the opposite side of both Writtle Road and the railway line, the original Cromptons canteen / ball room became the MRSL School of Engineering Deliniation

 

Input from Alan Turk

In about 1968 I decided on a change of direction, having worked in Radar Test since 1960. I then worked with Charlie Rex, the Company’s Chief Training Methods Officer, for a few years in the Training Methods department, originally in a couple of stacked portakabins next to the New Street canteen block. The work expanded significantly and we moved out in about 1970 to what we then knew as the old Crompton’s Social Club building, designated as “Y Block” towards the bottom of the Radar Locations page. This was a much more pleasant working environment, with more space and more light from the large windows. The building also housed a drawing office and the company’s Secretarial School, comprising a classroom where typing skills were taught to aspiring secretaries, and another used for teaching them about the Marconi paperwork system and allied topics, a course which yours truly was called on to administer on one notable (?) occasion. I was there until 1973 before moving to Ports mouth to become Training Officer for the Brown’s Lane laboratories. Charlie Rex continued in Chelmsford and paid me occasional visits, as he had assumed a wider responsibility in a similar rôle for the entire Marconi-GEC empire, but I have no knowledge as to what happened subsequently to Y Block.

 

Z Block

Physically separate from the main site on the opposite side of both Writtle Road and the railway line, Z Block was used for the test equipment calibration centre and after MRSL moved to Eastwood House, this operation was bought-out by its employees and continued to provide a test equipment calibration service for local businesses and MRSL.

 

Surgery

Opposite D Block and backing underneath K Block was the Surgery (in MRSL days). It connected via a WW2 shelter to a back stairway into A Block itself.

 

Air Raid Shelter & WW2

Some shelters existed under the main buildings but the main shelters were away from the buildings within the area used as a staff car park by MRSL (North car park).  The main block of shelters in the car park were long rows of submerged units with entrances at each end. These would have been used by the majority of the workforce. The entrances were progressively filled with rubble until they could be fully tarmaced over. When the site was sold, testing of these areas took place to ensure no hazardous waste was concealed; nothing untoward was found.

 

Under D  Block a small shelter used by MRSL for secure storage. Under A Block and behind and connected to the Surgery was another shelter (with WW2 shower facilities ???); much used by John Pearce (??) in the 80s during lunchtimes to tune his trumpet causing heavily attenuated sounds to drift through the ether. John gained a MBE in 1989 for services to electronics.

 

Crompton Lamp

In 1898, Cromptons installed a street light in Plymouth. When that street was being redeveloped in 1956, the lamp was returned to the C-P works and sited outside of what became D Block in the MRSL era. When MRSL moved to WRW in 1994, the historic light was given to the emerging industrial museum (Sandford Mill).

 

Apprentices

In MRSL Echo magazine (Nov 1979) it was stated that MRSL's apprentices under training (Arthur Smith, Chief Training Officer) in Feb 1979 was 741 with 400 at Chelmsford. Another 400 was the target intake for later that year with 200 for Chelmsford alone. Clearly when Marconi operated an ATC service for all divisions, these numbers would have been exceeded by a factor of 3 or more (See New Street Apprentices). Secretarial numbers were much greater 10 years before. The intake and overall total numbers for 1979 were:

 

 

Feb 1979 Targets

Type

C'ford

Leic

G'Hd

Total

Craft

35

28

10

73

Tech

60

26

5

91

Commercial

1

10

 

11

Student

40

30

 

70

Graduate

24

45

 

69

Secretarial

12

6

 

18

College Based

5

5

 

10

WEB

10

10

 

20

TOPS

 

12

 

12

DO Trainee

6

6

 

12

Operator Trainee

10

10

 

20

 

203

188

15

406

 

 

 

 

 

Plus another 100 direct entry graduates in 1979

 

 

Actual Numbers

Type

C'ford

Leic

G'Hd

Total

Craft

102

63

34

199

Tech

112

70

9

191

Commercial

1

21

 

22

Student

85

73

 

158

Graduate

41

37

 

78

Secretarial

16

3

 

19

College Based

3

2

 

5

WEB

11

5

 

16

TOPS

 

12

 

12

DO Trainee

15

6

 

21

Operator Trainee

10

10

 

20

 

396

302

43

741

 

Portakabins

Extensively used during the 80s when MRSL's Gt Baddow development Engineers moved to WRW. Often in groups of two and stacked two high. They were used opposite N Block, and where X Block was eventually built.

 

Word processing

As small computing facilities became cost effective, the typing that until then used typewriters, were progressively done using one of two word processing facilities. Both used 5.25" floppy discs for storage.

 

Wordplex was the larger having ~6 Positions. It was run by Shirley Harden and did almost all proposals and technical specifications during the late 70s onwards. This continued until everyone had their own PCs from the ~1990s onwards initially standalone, data shared by floppy disc. From the late 1990s PC networks using LANs allowed sharing of data more easily.

 

Diamond was the other, located within Management Services and was run by Barbara Purton. It had just two positions and was used for miscellaneous business typing during the late 70s / 80s.

 

In addition, there was a word processing facility available on the GEC 4000 bureau but this was primarily used for software documentation and usage largely restricted to the programming areas.

 

ATC Demonstration Room

After the 1976 Farnborough display exhibit returned, the equipment was installed in a purpose-built demonstration room (E515) where it was shown to visitors, staff and potential employees. The equipment was also easily removable and went to many outside demonstrations in support of the many publicity / sales activities undertaken for the next 10 years.

 

It consisted of a two position ATC console with one Locus 16 computer and either tape recording of radar data or a dedicated (no-dial-up) connection to the radar at Rivenhall (latterly transferred to Bushy) that allowed live radar data to be shown remotely at Writtle Road. Usually the display only showed plot data though the CRTs could be changed to ones with longer persistence and recordings of video and plot data displayed.

 

Display 1: A 16 inch S3017-10 display fitted with a full size infra-red touch screen (Digilux) allowing operators to point with their fingers rather than using Rolling Ball devices.

 

Display 2: A trolley mounted 20 inch display (Initially a S3020, latterly a S3023). This position could be slaved to show the same picture as display 1 or a fully independent picture based on choices by its own operator.

 

Display 3: Desk based further displays were demonstrated at various times. The type depended on the need and ranged from a RearPort projection display that allowed a slide image to be merged with the computer generated data; an Electrostatic Display using electrostatic methods of deflection instead of electromagnetic; a four colour (Red, Green, Orange, Yellow) display.

 

Locus 16: This was a generic range of computing facility and the boards fitted depended on the specific application. This one has two eight inch square boards for a main processor having 2 microsecond instruction times and 56KByte of storage plus various input/output boards.

 

Visitors: It was the main attraction on site as it showed what the company did (in a generic sense). Radar data could be produced, the operation of the radar types explained, the communication between centre and radar explained and the  results shown on the displays and how they were used. This was in the days before such knowledge was widespread and people were less computer literate. Important visitors included Prince Charles, overseas notaries, potential customer delegations, school children, staff training as just few examples.

 

A range of different application programs were used, loaded from magnetic disc or cartridge. They included one fun-based publicity attraction based on the mastermind game where the user had to use logical deduction to derive the symbol pattern from displayed clues on the radar display and using the large touch screen to make the next choices. Microsoft and Apple beaten by decades though their products were smaller, more portable and their marketing teams did sell just a few more!

 

Flood 1987

A pleasant balmy day, 22nd Aug 1987 until a short, sharp localised deluge hit Chelmsford.

 

A sudden high volume of water cascaded down WRW which was built on a significant incline. An open door in E block was an invitation it didn't turn down and soon the floor of the offices was covered by a small lake.

 

Leaky storm drains in the Cromptons building's roof then showed their age and, unable to cope, water flowed around and into the building falling onto the polystyrene tiles used as the false ceiling. Waterlogged, these tiles progressively collapsed into the offices onto the desks in a sodden mess.

 

Meanwhile the drains underneath the building were also full to capacity and the increased water pressure began forcing up the drain covers. The result was an absolute mess that caused work to stop in the affected building for many days. Electrical equipment had to be inspected and safety tested. Many employees helped with the recovery operation but it was still a few weeks before things resembled normality. No one needed counselling, just old clothes, wellies, brooms and lots of plastic rubbish bags. Many pages in MRSL News and Views magazine (Oct 1987) described the events and recovery in E Block and in the other affected buildings too.

 

See E-Block Flood 1987 for a selection of pictures by Tony Plumpton of the aftermath of the flood.

 

Open Day June 1983

On 25th June 1983, a large part of WRW was opened to the public. Parking was between B, C and F Blocks.

 

The visitors passed by the Martello S713 aerial beside K Block into A Block seeing Packaging. Then out into the NC Inspection and NC machining facilities. They then went past the Metallurgy office, where gauges were calibrated. This was followed by Mechanical Inspection, Machine Shop and the Material Stores. Coming back down the far side of the Machine Shop via the Tool Room, where jigs were made, they went by the Sheet metal area and then between Welding and Paint areas leaving A/V Block to the Glass Fibre Dept. and then past the reservoir.

 

Next was W Block, the largest environmental facility of its kind in England. G Block was out of bounds, they then came back towards E Block where a refreshment facility was available.

 

Entering the North end of E Block for the souvenir shop beside Radar Test, they were then taken on a tour of the test department including High Power test, Final Assembly, Light Wiring and Assembly at which point they were entering the office area of E Block. Most corridors were out of bounds but the route led past the Computer Bureau, toilets and into the ATC Demonstration room where live radar data was being displayed.

 

Then, in the days before mass home computing, they went to the Word Processing Dept where they received a personalised printed page in front of their eyes. Finally coming out of E Block they returned between D Block and Surgery to their cars and home. WRW was a very large site. The tour would have taken them  round a major Chelmsford factory and lasted easily 2 hours.

 

Gt Baddow Move/Building

In late 1991/2, MRSL was planning a new building. Two options were considered. The first was demolishing and building a new F Block at WRW. The second was a new building at Gt Baddow that would be built in the employee car park. The latter option was chosen, architects drew up detailed plans and quotes obtained. The target moving in date was mid-1994.

 

In March 93, GEC had reorganised MCSL and also informed them that they no longer needed their new building (not a view shared by MCSL staff). GEC then informed MRSL that it wouldn't be funding their new building at Gt Baddow and that MRSL would move to New St.

 

At that time, manufacturing was remaining at WRW. GEC then reorganised MRSL merging it with a Frimley opertion under Martin Read (MRCL) who announced that manufacturing at Chelmsford was to be closed completely and moved to Leicester.

 

GEC Computer Bureau

In the late 60s and 70s, Gt Baddow provided a computing service with batch jobs run overnight.

 

In the mid-70s, a basic Locus facility was extended at WRW with a Myriad 3 taken from storage (as no further customers would result after the GEC Computer consolidation). The Myriad was supplemented by a number of multi-spindle disc packs. Projects would specify the packs to be loaded when their jobs were run.

 

Later additional GEC 4000 computers were added with much more storage. These were connected around E Block and G Block by dedicated point to point cabling and operated at speeds of about 2400 bps. Programmers almost had a terminal, a simple video data terminal, on their desks but most still shared these with others.

 

Mryiad, GEC and Locus facilities provided cross compilation for the Locus computer then used within MRSLs ATC, Air Defence and Naval product ranges.

 

The bureau was run by Peter Jefferies.

 

PCTA

Initially one and later two Pre Commissioning Test Areas were established in E Block. These large areas with false flooring allowed large customer display and data handling systems to be set up prior to delivery and then, using simulators and tape recordings, it could be given a significant level of software and hardware testing local to the main body of software and systems staff. This was more advantageous to everyone. It was faster and less expensive than trying to do the same thing on a customers site and often the customer didn't want the system until it worked.

 

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