Medmenham Water Research
Had a day off work and the forecast was for lighter rain than usual, so decided to head for Buckinghamshire and take a look at this place. Recent reports suggested that it was pretty trashed and probably not the most exciting of explores, so my expectations weren’t especially high. Sadly it still managed to disappoint and left me feeling generally meh. If it’s local to you I’d say it’s worth a mooch, but IMHO it doesn’t warrant the 100 mile round trip I made.
A solo visit but bumped into a couple of local photographers shortly after arriving; non-members but friendly enough guys. If I'd had any sense I would have asked them how to get in the main building. As it was I missed the easy access and ended up going over the fence, doh.
Apologies for the decidedly ordinary snaps, but a) I wasn’t feeling it today and b) my 10-20 is away for repair so I had to dig the kit lens out.
History copied from PCWOX, copied from JAT33 etc …
1898 A United Kingdom Royal Commission was appointed to investigate methods for sewage treatment and disposal.
1915 The Royal Commission recommended setting up a body to promote and supervise water pollution research.
1940 The Water Pollution Research Laboratory (WPRL) was set up in the UK. During the Second World War, varied research projects included effluent problems of munitions plants and development of a field kit for RAF life rafts that rendered seawater drinkable.
1961 WRA moves to its headquarters in Medmenham.
1963 The UK Government to set up the Water Resources Board (WRB).
1970s The WRA, WPRL and WRB were combined into one central research establishment - the Water Research Centre (WRC) with an additional facility in Swindon.
2004 Testing of materials for water contact moved from Medmenham to the Evaluation and Testing Centre in Oakdale, creating a single laboratory for all testing of water fittings.
2006 The Chemical analysis and Consultancy Groups move from Medmenham to new laboratories in Reading. The site was then closed due to asbestos and unsatisfactory conditions of the buildings.
If you got this far, thanks for looking.
Had a day off work and the forecast was for lighter rain than usual, so decided to head for Buckinghamshire and take a look at this place. Recent reports suggested that it was pretty trashed and probably not the most exciting of explores, so my expectations weren’t especially high. Sadly it still managed to disappoint and left me feeling generally meh. If it’s local to you I’d say it’s worth a mooch, but IMHO it doesn’t warrant the 100 mile round trip I made.
A solo visit but bumped into a couple of local photographers shortly after arriving; non-members but friendly enough guys. If I'd had any sense I would have asked them how to get in the main building. As it was I missed the easy access and ended up going over the fence, doh.
Apologies for the decidedly ordinary snaps, but a) I wasn’t feeling it today and b) my 10-20 is away for repair so I had to dig the kit lens out.
History copied from PCWOX, copied from JAT33 etc …
1898 A United Kingdom Royal Commission was appointed to investigate methods for sewage treatment and disposal.
1915 The Royal Commission recommended setting up a body to promote and supervise water pollution research.
1940 The Water Pollution Research Laboratory (WPRL) was set up in the UK. During the Second World War, varied research projects included effluent problems of munitions plants and development of a field kit for RAF life rafts that rendered seawater drinkable.
1961 WRA moves to its headquarters in Medmenham.
1963 The UK Government to set up the Water Resources Board (WRB).
1970s The WRA, WPRL and WRB were combined into one central research establishment - the Water Research Centre (WRC) with an additional facility in Swindon.
2004 Testing of materials for water contact moved from Medmenham to the Evaluation and Testing Centre in Oakdale, creating a single laboratory for all testing of water fittings.
2006 The Chemical analysis and Consultancy Groups move from Medmenham to new laboratories in Reading. The site was then closed due to asbestos and unsatisfactory conditions of the buildings.
If you got this far, thanks for looking.
really like that last shot 
