Bawdsey Radar

Bawdsey Radar is a small museum on the Suffolk coast, set in the place where Britain turned an experimental idea into a working radar network. It occupies the former transmitter block of Bawdsey Manor, at the mouth of the River Deben in East Suffolk.

What is Bawdsey Radar?

The museum tells the story of radar development in Britain. It is housed in the transmitter block, a building from 1937 that is Grade II* listed and has been restored with modern visitor facilities. It sits within the grounds of Bawdsey Manor, close to the village of Bawdsey, roughly 75 miles (120 km) north-east of London.

Why did radar begin here?

Bawdsey Manor was built in 1886 and enlarged in 1895 as the main residence of Sir William Cuthbert Quilter. During World War I it was requisitioned by the Devonshire Regiment, and afterwards it returned to the Quilter family. In 1936 the Air Ministry bought it for £24,000 and set up a research station to develop the Chain Home system, then known as RDF. Robert Watson-Watt served as the station's first Superintendent, and he was later followed by A. P. Rowe.

Bawdsey became the first Chain Home station and is often described as the first fully operational radar station in the world, reaching that status in September 1937. Secrecy here was strict. The work was later moved away from the coast, first to Dundee and then to Dorset, where the team became the Telecommunications Research Establishment. The site is also noted as the first place in the British Armed Forces where women lived and worked alongside men.

What can you see and do?

The restoration of the transmitter block was supported by a National Lottery grant. Inside, you can follow the story of how radar was developed and try your hand at being a radar operator through interactive displays. Families can follow a children's trail, and the site has picnic tables and free parking.

After the war, RAF Bawdsey remained a base throughout the Cold War, until the 1990s. Today the manor itself is used by PGL for courses and children's holidays, so it is not a typical open stately home. The museum is the part intended for public visits.

Practical tips

• Allow around one to two hours for the museum, longer if you enjoy technical history.
• Opening days and ticket prices change, so check the official Bawdsey Radar website before you travel.
• The location is rural, and a car is the easiest way to arrive.
• Combine the visit with a walk along the Suffolk coast near the Deben estuary.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bawdsey Radar? At Bawdsey Manor, near the village of Bawdsey in East Suffolk, England.

What is the museum about? The origins of British radar and the Chain Home system, which was developed here from 1936.

Can I enter Bawdsey Manor itself? The manor is used by PGL for courses and children's holidays. The public museum is in the transmitter block.

Is it suitable for children? Yes. There are interactive displays and a trail designed for younger visitors.

Is there parking? Yes, free parking is available on site.