Monument record ORF 164 - Impact Facility circa 1963-1964

2007: Field survey of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment by Historic England (S1).
Structure F5: The remains of the Impact Facility comprise a reinforced concrete wall oriented southeast to northwest with a battered rear (southwest)this side also has an extended tank at its base now infilled with shingle. On the top of this wall are the remains of the steel and timber superstructure which housed cameras to record the impact of the rocket sledge at the base of the wall, these remains project about 1.7m above the concrete base. On the rear wall there are also the remains of steel mountings that are also probably associated with the superstructure. At the southeast end of the wall are the remains of electrical fittings and a small well formed square section bronze fitting of unknown function below. Adjacent to it are the remains of a telegraph pole with electrical fittings. On the northeast face of the wall are a number of spalled areas that represent where the bombs impacted on the wall. To the northeast a large expanse of largely featureless cast concrete slab extends away from the wall. On this slab are two electrical switch boxes and a number of metal grid covers that gave access to the cable ducts. Around the boundary of the slab are a number of fixing point for guy wires, probably to secure the track for the rocket sleds.

This facility was specifically constructed to assist in the development of the nuclear WE177 ‘lay down’ series of bombs.

SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT (S2)