Allen Clark Research Centre Explained

Allen Clark Research Centre
Map Type:United Kingdom Northamptonshire
Altitude:300NaN0
Building Type:Physics research centre
Address:Northamptonshire NN12 8EQ
Owner:Lumentum
Coordinates:52.154°N -1.049°W
Completion Date:1964
Inauguration Date:20 March 1964
Other Dimensions:25acres

The Allen Clark Research Centre was a solid-state physics optoelectronics research centre of the Plessey company at Caswell, near Towcester, Northamptonshire, England.[1] [2]

History

It was opened on Friday 20 March 1964 by the Duke of Edinburgh. He toured the laboratories and took lunch there, in the company of James Orr and the Earl of Kilmuir. The Duke unveiled a memorial to Sir Allen Clark.[3] [4]

The site was named after Sir Allen George Clark (1898–1962), who was succeeded by his son Sir John Allen Clark (1926–2001).

The site won the 1974 Queen's Award for Technology, for silicon integrated circuits.[5]

The Duke of Kent visited on the morning of Thursday 9 May 1974.[6]

Scientists

Research

It worked with the Physics department of the University of Sussex.[7] It worked with Square D of the US in the late 1970s.

It conducted early work on fibre optic networks in the mid-1980s, with the fibre made by BICC, with a 107km test fibre-optic cable, with dispersion-shifted monomode fibre. It developed spectrum-splicing for fibres in the mid-1980s.[8]

Successor

The site is now Caswell Science Park,[9] run by Lumentum Technology UK.

See also

Notes and References

  1. 8 May 1965 . Allen Clark Research Centre of the Plessey Co., Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants.. Nature. en. 206. 4984. 555–557. 10.1038/206555a0. 1965Natur.206..555. . 4225356 . 1476-4687.
  2. Web site: Caswell history. 2021-08-01. strowger-net.telefoniemuseum.nl.
  3. Times Friday 20 March 1964, page 8
  4. Times Saturday 21 March 1964, page 10
  5. Times Monday 22 April 1974, page 18
  6. Times Friday 10 May 1974, page 24
  7. Times Thursday 8 July 1965, page 8
  8. Times Monday 29 April 1985, page 18
  9. Web site: Caswell Park. live. 2021-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20090923103921/http://www.caswellpark.co.uk:80/ . 23 September 2009 .