Wordie House

Wordie House

Wordie House was a British meteorological research station from 1947 to 1954. It was built on the site of an earlier station that was destroyed (possibly by a tsunami) in 1946. After 1954 the research was taken over by the nearby Vernadsky station. Today the buildings are preserved with funds derived from the Port Lockroy gift shop.

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Wordie House History

Wordie House is not occupied today, but Phil had a key, so we got to explore everything at our leisure.

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Workshop

Here is the workshop of Wordie House. If you broke something, you either fixed it or waited for next year's supply ship to bring a replacement.

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Radio

This is the radio or "wireless telephone" as it was then called. I wonder if they were bothered by robocalls in those days.

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Typewriter

Here's what the Wordie House scientists used to write their research papers. There was no "publish to pdf" button.

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Rec Room

All work and no play makes for a long winter in the Antarctic. Here is the common area with a stove and library. There was a dart board on the wall behind me.

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Pantry

Here are canned goods from 1954. I'll bet a fresh peach would take pretty good after nine months of wintering over.

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Potatos

Nothing like instant mashed potatoes to add color and flavor to a meal.

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Peas

The English do love their peas.

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Chewing Tobacco

I suppose an American station of this era would have stocked Red Man. I can just see the fellows sitting on the porch whittling and chewing and telling tall tales, all at 40 below zero in the dead of winter.

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Tea Pot

All scientists have to have a cup of tea now and then.

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Marmite

Of course, no true Brit could survive a year in Antarctica without Marmite on the breakfast toast.

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Looking South

After exploring Wordie House, several of us climbed a low snow dome for a last view to the south. This was the end of our kayaking route, but there is plenty more to do....

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Ann's Surprise Birthday Party

Ann celebrated her 69th birthday at 65 South. The cake was decorated with M&M's left over from our kayaking lunches.

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