Orford Ness: the Black Beacon and associated power house

The Black Beacon and its associated power house, built in 1928 as part of the Bombing Experimental Establishment, were refurbished by the AWRE in the 1950s and converted into an exhibition space in 1995.

The Black Beacon features a wooden superstructure on a concrete plinth, which has been re-clad in weatherboarding and has an octagonal plan. The concrete base rises to 2.9 meters and includes buttresses at each corner. The upper levels of the tower are timber framed and covered with tarred weather boards. It has a felt roof and is equipped with a lightning conductor on the east side. On the north and south elevations, there are 4-light wooden casement windows with tile sills protected by iron grilles. A brick entry porch is attached to the west side, while double wooden doors that open outward provide access to the west side of the octagonal base. Entry to the beacon is at first floor level via a modern flight of wooden and steel stairs, and the first floor is illuminated by wooden 4-light windows. The second storey features hinged observation ports on all sides.

Inside the porch, remnants of electrical switch gear can be found. The interior of the Black Beacon and the generator building now house an exhibition and no longer contain equipment from their previous functions, although the timber central drive shaft remains original to the beacon's use.

Adjacent to the Black Beacon is the rectangular power house, which has since been used as a workshop. This brick building measures approximately 8 meters by 6 meters and has gable ends lit by wooden ocular windows. The north side likely retains its original wooden windows. Later modifications include the addition of a porch and an outshot to the east, which has since been removed.