Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage

Figure 42: AWRE in July 1958, by this date the first development phase was complete. To the
right is Laboratory 1 and to the left Laboratory 2, between the mound covering Laboratory 3 has
blended with the disturbed shingle. RAF 58/2519 0001 18 July 1958 English Heritage (NMR)
RAF Photography
the late 1950s is a period of intense activity, where many competing designs were being
brought forward for testing, some of which required returning for modifications, while
other proceeded to overseas trials.
The successful detonation of a thermonuclear warhead off Christmas Island during
the 1957 Grapple tests marked an important technological milestone. It proved the
proficiency of the country in this technology and was one of the factors that led to the
signing of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement, which gave Britain access to United
States nuclear expertise. One of the results of this was acquisition of knowledge about
the United States W28 warhead, which in its Anglicised form became known as Red
Snow, which was used in the Yellow Sun MKII gravity bomb and Blue Steel stand-off missile.
The second main construction phase is linked to a requirement to expand the test
programme to simulate the conditions weapons might be subject to during service use,
including temperature variation and vibration. It was during this phase that the Vibration
Test Buildings, or pagodas, were constructed. These structures probably came into
operation in late 1960 at a time when renewed access to American nuclear know-how
was beginning to reduce the need for some research work, although important work
continued to Anglicise United States’ designs. Fiscal pressures, as well as questions
about the utility of certain types of nuclear weapons also started to reduce the number
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