Skip to main content

Site of mid 20th century temporary storage area or weapons testing site, Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Foulness, Foulness Island (EHER 82601)

Please read our .

Summary

Now destroyed. Three mid-twentieth century military buildings, almost certainly curved asbestos huts, and an area of disturbed ground are visible, on aerial photographs taken in 1946, to the south east of the former site of Smallgains Farm (EHER 82600), adjacent to The Fleet on Foulness Island. They are located in an area owned by the government and used during World War II by the Armament Research Department and subsequently by the Atomics Weapons Research Establishment (EHER 46720).It is possible 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 buildings may therefore have functioned as accommodation and/or storage associated with this. The area is linked by a temporary access road to Smallgains Farm and other possible testing areas (EHER 82600 - EHER 82606). The 1940s military structures were removed before or during the construction of buildings and infrastructure associated with the former AWRE.

Map

Location

Grid reference TQ 9784 9132 (point) Location provided by NRHE data transfer.
Civil Parish FOULNESS, ROCHFORD, ESSEX

Type and Period

Description

NRHE data transfer: Three mid-twentieth century military buildings, almost certainly curved asbestos huts, and an area of disturbed ground are visible, on aerial photographs taken in 1946, to the south east of the former site of Smallgains Farm (EHER 82600), adjacent to The Fleet on Foulness Island. They are located in an area owned by the government and used during World War II by the Armament Research Department and subsequently by the Atomics Weapons Research Establishment (EHER 46720). It is possible 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 buildings may therefore have functioned as accommodation and/or storage associated with this. The area is linked by a temporary access road to Smallgains Farm and other possible testing areas (EHER 82600 - EHER 82606). The 1940s military structures were removed before or during the construction of buildings and infrastructure associated with the former AWRE. The site is centred at TQ 9784 9132 and extends over an area measuring 80m by 35m. <1> <2> See also <3>.

Sources

  • <1> Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1496 3279-80 10-MAY-1946.
  • <2> Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1445 4155-6 01-MAY-1946.
  • <3> Report: Cocroft, W.D. and Newsome, S.. 2009. The Atomic Weapons Establishment, Foulness, Essex: Cold War Research and Development Site. Survey report.

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events (1)

Other References

  • NRHE identifier: 1454472
  • National Monuments Record: TQ 99 SE 29

Comments

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.

Comments