Catalogue description Records of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, predecessors and successors

Records of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and predecessors concerning research and development and testing of Britain's atomic weapons.

For series created for regularly archived websites, please see the separate Websites Division .

Files relating to the development of the Aldermaston site and to early work on Britain's first generation weapons are in ES 1 (Rowley Collection).

AWE generated a number of different report series covering a wide range of activities. Reports on bombs are in ES 2; reports on the structural effects of atomic weapons are in ES 3; reports on bomb trials are in ES 5; Ordinary Reports are in ES 4; Nuclear Research Reports are in ES 6 ; Feasibility Reports for new systems are in ES 7; Intelligence Reports on foreign tests are in ES 8; Reactor Reports are in ES 9; Theoretical Physics Notes are in ES 10; Explosive Research Notes are in ES 11.

Aldermaston also produced a number of miscellaneous reports covering a wide range of subjects, these are to be found in ES 12.

Records relating to policy and relations with Whitehall are to be found in the Director's Private Office Papers ES 13.

Unregistered papers covering a wide range of topics are found in ES 14.

The implementation of policy and development at Aldermaston was conducted via a number of committees. Records detailing the work of these committees are to be found in ES 15.

A significant aspect of the work undertaken at AWE was conducted in collaboration with the United States. Records detailing the scope of Anglo-American collaboration are found in ES 16.

AWE also managed an outstation at Foulness at which test trials were conducted. Records relating to the Foulness test site are in ES 17.

Papers and reports relating to atmospheric trials are in ES 18.

Records relating to the main Aldermaston site are in ES 19.

Other record series are as follows:

Non-weapon Projects, ES 20;

Public Relations, ES 22;

Computers - Acquisition and Development, ES 23;

Underground Weapon Tests files and reports, ES 25;

Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Explosions files and reports, ES 26;

Use of Specialist Materials records, ES 27;

Accident and Emergency Exercises files and reports, ES 28;

Outstations - Acquisition, Management and Disposal ES 29;

Lasers - development and use, ES 30;

Infrastructure, ES 32.

The following series have been raised in preparation for transfer of records: Environment, Health and Safety files and reports ES 21; Monitoring of International Tests files and reports ES 24; Anglo-French relations files ES 31; Threat Reduction files and reports ES 33; Important Visitors files and photographs ES 34; and Nuclear Weapons Development files and reports ES 35.

For the Australian Royal Commission into United Kingdom Nuclear Weapons Testing in Australia, see:

Records of the UK Atomic Energy Authority: AB

AVIA 65

Photocopies of evidence given to the Australian Royal Commission into United Kingdom Nuclear Weapons Testing in Australia: DEFE 16

FCO 1

Atomic Weapons Establishment, 1987-

Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, 1954-1973

Ministry of Defence, Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, 1973-1987

Ministry of Supply, Armament Research Department, 1942-1954

Atomic Weapons Establishment

For further information on the first five series of tests, see Lorna Arnold, 'A Very Special Relationship: British Atomic Weapons Trials in Australia' (London, 1987). For details of the post-war project see, Margaret Gowing, 'Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy 1945-1952' (London: Macmillan, 1974) 2 volumes.