Former Cold War nuclear test site, 'Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) Foulness', at Foulness (EHER 46720)

Formerly known as the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) Foulness was one of a handful of sites associated with the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons programmes. Amongst the structures at Foulness, are some of the earliest purpose-built structures erected to assemble nuclear weapons. The post-war history of the establishment was intimately associated with two of the most momentous military-scientific achievements of the era - Britain's development of the atomic bomb and a few years later the hydrogen bomb. Nationally and internationally the facilities at AWRE Foulness Island are rare, at the time they were built, similar facilities were restricted to the two Superpowers and the United Kingdom. The main function of the Foulness range was to provide a remote location to perform hazardous experiments. The research activities at Foulness span the full period of the Cold War and beyond, from the beginning of construction in 1947 to the withdrawal of AWE in 1997. During this time work was undertaken on all Britain's nuclear weapons and research into their effects, reflecting the political aspirations of successive governments to maintain and develop Britain's nuclear capabilities.

The following is a brief description of the work which has been undertaken at the site. 2001. Field survey. The development of the facilities at Foulness began in the late 1940s; they were principally concerned with developing high explosives for use in nuclear weapons and simulating the effects of nuclear explosions. The facilities have associations with all Britain’s nuclear weapons from her first test device ‘Hurricane’ to Chevaline in the 1980s. The site has historical association with Sir William Penney, a key member of the wartime Los Alamos team (designers of the first atomic weapons) and who was later head of Britain’s atomic bomb programme. Under his leadership Britain’s first atomic bomb was assembled here. Many of the structures are unique and demonstrate innovative technologies; nationally and internationally they are rare. The site reflects Britain’s political aspirations and technical ability to become, and maintain nuclear superpower status. The site covers an extensive area of marshland, important to a wide range of flora and fauna; part may also overlie Romano-British remains (see EHER 11222). Nuclear weapon testing facilities include an Air Blast Tunnel, an explosives casting and machining area, administration and workshop area, a model building area and numerous small test cells. <1> Site Assessment: Consider for Scheduling and Listing. <1> 2002-2006. Cold War, People and Place project. See <2>. 2004. Desk-based assessment. This desk-top report on the former Atomic Weapons Research Establishment was prepared in 2004 as part of an assessment of the range's historic assets carried out as part of a pilot study for the DCMS review of heritage legislation. It should be regarded as an interim statement of the area's historic significance in advance of a full archaeological survey planned as part of the internal English Heritage 'Cold War, People and Place' project. <3> 2006-2007. Field survey. AWRE (and later AWE) Foulness. Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) was called this until 1987 when it changed to Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Located on Foulness Island, for its remote location. There was initially 19th century development of Shoeburyness Range for weapons testing by War office. The first permanent Board of Ordnance experimental station was established in 1849 in the area known as Old Range. This gradually spread north-eastwards to include Foulness Island and New England Island. These were officially acquired during World War One. The land where the AWRE was built was used by the Armament Research Department during World War Two. Prior to this they had used the northern end of Havengore Island for exploding bombs. During World War Two hutted encampments sprung up and as Foulness Island was the first land the German aircraft flew past on route to London three heavy anti- aircraft batteries were placed there. Later, probably 1944 an unrotated projectile or rocket battery at New Burwood was established (concrete of gun emplacements all that remain). The ARD was to vacate the site by 1947, however they proposed moving all detonation work to Foulness Island. In 1947 a small secret committee known as Gen 163, took the decision that Britain should proceed with the development of the atomic bomb. The newly created division was called Basic High Explosive Research (BHER) to disguise its real function. There were several delays in the building project but completed by 1952. Buildings comprised a head quarters area, explosives storage area and the ranges. Later, 1954, prefabricated laboratories and canteen and common room were built. As well as weapon development, weapon effect testing took place. Of note is the 1952 ‘Hurricane’ test, the devices for which were prepared in the Explosives Preparations Laboratory and shipped straight to the test site in the Monte Bello Islands. Little information is available about the later work that was carried out at Foulness, a review in 1968 revealed the main function was to provide open ranges to support research on implosion systems. The late 1980s marked the beginning of uncertainty for the establishment with the proposal that AWE should be managed by private contractors. With the end of the Cold War, the centrality of nuclear weapons to the country’s defence policy waned and the stockpile was reduced. Computer modelling replaced physical testing and this combination of factors led to the withdrawal of AWE from Foulness in 1997. <4> May 2013. Scheduled Ancient Monument. Part of the site is a Scheduled Monument, see EHER 82411. <5> <6> The remaining is a general description of the site. Research Station. The Research Station formerly known as the 'Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) Foulness' was one of a handful of sites associated with the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons programmes. Amongst the structures at Foulness, are some of the earliest purpose-built structures erected to assemble nuclear weapons. Historically, Foulness Island has always been an area of both geographic and perceptual remoteness and until the early 20th century accessible only by boat or from a causeway at low tide. This separateness was reinforced from the 19th century by the development by the War Office of Shoeburyness Range for weapons testing, which gradually spread north-eastwards to include Maplin Sands and ultimately Foulness Island. This secrecy was further reinforced prior to the Second World War, 1939-1945, with the commencement of research involving the static detonation of bombs. Security was again increased after the war when work associated with the atomic bomb began, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment becoming a separate enclave within the range. The post-war history of the establishment was intimately associated with two of the most momentous military-scientific achievements of the era - Britain's development of the atomic bomb and a few years later the hydrogen bomb. Nationally and internationally the facilities at AWRE Foulness Island are rare, at the time they were built, similar facilities were restricted to the two Superpowers and the United Kingdom. Historically the site is also important through its association with Sir, later Lord, William Penney, a member of the wartime Los Alamos atomic bomb project and leader of the team that developed Britain's atomic bomb. In the surviving buildings William Penney and his team had their offices. Within the Explosives Storage Area, the events leading up to Britain's emergence as a nuclear power were enacted, when the first British nuclear devices were assembled before they were taken to Maralinga, Australia, for detonation in Operation Hurricane in October 1952. The main function of the Foulness range was to provide a remote location to perform hazardous experiments. Some of the tests involved the detonation of large quantities of high explosives, or trials of the conventional high explosives used within a nuclear warhead. To ensure both the safety of the personnel and the other range structures the test ranges are widely dispersed. In common with other research establishments, the compartmentalisation of activities also served as a means of ensuring secrecy. The research activities at Foulness span the full period of the Cold War and beyond, from the beginning of construction in 1947 to the withdrawal of AWE in 1997. During this time work was undertaken on all Britain's nuclear weapons and research into their effects, reflecting the political aspirations of successive governments to maintain and develop Britain's nuclear capabilities. The facilities at Foulness Island also have a wider importance in the history of technology, as exemplars of the methodology of scientific investigation during the 1950s. At that time the investigation of many phenomena, including the properties of nuclear weapons, required the physical replication, or modelling, of the effect to be studied. In recent decades, the balance has shifted to the development of computer models to model the material world. The AWE facilities also represent examples of the many specialised post-war research and development establishments constructed to support the United Kingdom's defence programmes. <7> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.