Allen Clark Research Centre

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]

Allen Clark Research Centre
Allen Clark Research Centre is located in Northamptonshire
Allen Clark Research Centre
Location within Northamptonshire
General information
TypePhysics research centre
AddressNorthamptonshire NN12 8EQ
Coordinates52°09′14″N 1°02′56″W / 52.154°N 1.049°W / 52.154; -1.049
Elevation30 m (98 ft)
Completed1964
Inaugurated20 March 1964
OwnerLumentum
Dimensions
Other dimensions25 acres (10 ha)

History

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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

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Research

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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

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Allen Clark Research Centre of the Plessey Co., Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants". Nature. 206 (4984): 555–557. 8 May 1965. Bibcode:1965Natur.206..555.. doi:10.1038/206555a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4225356.
  2. ^ "Caswell history". strowger-net.telefoniemuseum.nl. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  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. ^ "Caswell Park". Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2021.