The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.

Summary

Former building containing workshops and offices built in 1952-53 and demolished in 2015-18

Monument Type(s):

• ASSEMBLY PLANT? (Cold War to Early 21st century - 1946 AD to 2050 AD)
• ENGINEERING WORKSHOP (Cold War to Early 21st century - 1946 AD to 2050 AD)
• OFFICE (Cold War to Early 21st century - 1946 AD to 2050 AD)
• STORAGE BUILDING (Cold War to Early 21st century - 1946 AD to 2050 AD)

Full Description

Although it was not marked on the Fifth Edition OS map of 1971 <1>, building C1 at AWE Aldermaston was probably built between 1952 and 1953 <2>. It is visible on aerial photos taken in 1999 <3> to 2010 <4> and was recorded by Atkins in September 2015 <2> ahead of its demolition sometime before July 2018 <5>. It was one of the first post-war main manufacturing facilities built at Aldermaston <2>.

Building C1 was recorded <2> as a very large, rectangular complex of five areas (C1.1-5) with different roof heights within one building. It was a main factory aisled hall surrounded on all four sides with annexes of offices, plant rooms and small workshops. It had a steel frame with brick infills and steel decking; the offices had concrete slab over them. The main hall, C1.1, had 19 bays, wall brackets for rails carrying travelling cranes and large, original, electrical switchgear stations. C1.2 was the east annexe, which contained offices, an electron beam welder shop, an overhead crane, plant rooms, a laser room, storage facilities, a sheet metal shop and a Geo King Crane with spearhead collapsible gates. C1.3, the west annexe, contained a metrology lab, a probe, plant rooms, stores, an inspection area, and a vacuum and pressure room. C1.4, the south annexe, contained inspection rooms, toilets, a drying room, mess room and a kitchen. C1.5, the north annexe, contained toilets, offices, document stores, a plant room, a kitchen, spiral staircases and two water tank rooms on the roof.

Sources and further reading

Related Monuments

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.