Constructing AWE Aldermaston: How the UK built its nuclear future

Post War 1950’s Britain saw short supplies of labour and materials of every kind. This formed part of the huge challenge faced by William Penney, who was tasked with creating the UK’s nuclear capability: AWE Aldermaston. 

Once a base had been found – one that could accommodate factory-sized facilities to handle and fabricate radioactive and other hazardous materials – the need for urgency in establishing AWE meant that engineers, architects and builders needed to move fast, designing and building simultaneously, with workers often working double shifts. 

The scale of the project was massive. It quickly exhausted the local labour force and William Penney had to find recruits and contractors from further afield. At the peak of construction in 1953, over 4000 workers were on site, many of whom arrived in a fleet of 90 coaches every day.  

As the buildings went up, fleets of lorries arrived so quickly that people were hired with the sole job of unloading them. 

By 1952 the lorries queued all day and all night. 350 men were put onto night shift and the Ministry of Work (MoW) – the government department overseeing the works – clerks were posted onto stands like traffic police conducting proceedings within their immediate line of sight. 

The team worked together across the MoW, from the suppliers to builders to the country’s leading scientists and engineers, to deliver the UK’s ambition: to deliver Britain’s nuclear capability by the autumn of 1952.  

Back in 1950, we had one mission: to play our part in keeping our nation safe and 75 years later in 2025, we still have one mission: to play our part in keeping our nation safe.  

Follow our anniversary series as we explore the people, the science, and the stories behind AWE’s mission. Because what we do matters – today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.