Site of mid 20th century military camp or weapons testing site, Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Foulness, Foulness Island (EHER 82609)

One of three areas of disturbed ground and groups of mid-twentieth century military building, including curved asbestos huts as well as other structures, which are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. They are located on the western side of Foulness Island in an area owned by the government and used during World War II by the Armament Research Department and subsequently by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (EHER 46720). It is likely that the site relates to World War II activity on Foulness Island, possibly associated with defence during the war and/or immediate post war explosives testing. The site may therefore have provided accommodation as well as storage and/or an ad-hoc testing area. The three areas are linked to together by tracks that run between the sites linking them to Churchend Road as well as the 1940s temporary access road (TQ 99 SE 35, 1454481) which links Churchend Rd with Smallgains (TQ 99 SE 28, 1454467). All structures appear to have been cleared and the area reverted to pasture during the construction of the buildings and infrastructure associated with the former AWRE. However, a small building can be seen on 1950¿s and subsequent photos at the location of the middle of the three sites described above but it seems more likely that it relates to later AWRE activity.

NRHE data transfer: One of three areas of disturbed ground (see also EHER 82606 and EHER 82608) and groups of mid-twentieth century military building, including curved asbestos huts as well as other structures, are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. They are located on the western side of Foulness Island in an area owned by the government and used during World War II by the Armament Research Department and subsequently by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (EHER 46720). It is likely that the site relates to World War II activity on Foulness Island, possibly associated with defence during the war and/or immediate post-war explosives testing. The site may therefore have provided accommodation as well as storage and/or an ad-hoc testing area. The three areas are linked to together by tracks that run between the sites linking them to Churchend Road as well as the 1940s temporary access road (EHER 82607) which links Churchend Rd with Smallgains (EHER 82600). Approximately 135m to the south east of MEX1053330, adjacent to Churchend Road, is a further large area of disturbed ground with seven buildings of varying sizes and design. It is centred at TQ 9913 9088 and extends over an area measuring 134m by 38m. All structures appear to have been cleared and the area reverted to pasture during the construction of the buildings and infrastructure associated with the former AWRE. However, a small building can be seen on 1950s and subsequent photos at the location of the middle of the three sites described above but it seems more likely that it relates to later AWRE activity. <1> <2> <3> See also <4>. Note: The original NRHE for this site included details of all three areas of disturbed ground, see MEX1053330.