
Building for the Atomic Age
An industrial archaeology of the United Kingdom's nuclear industry
Wayne D. Cocroft(Author)
Historic England (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 28. February 2026
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-83624-577-3 (ISBN)
Description
This book is an exploration of the industrial archaeology of Britain's 'atomic age': the physical traces of what remains and what has been lost of this endeavour. To many in the generation of post-war readers of broadsheet newspapers, the technical press, 'boys' own' comics, and viewers of upbeat cinema newsreels, the industry's early leaders - the 'nuclear knights', William Penney, John Cockcroft and Christopher Hinton - were household names. The places associated with this venture, secured by high fences, became symbols of a new industrial age. Aldermaston, Dounreay, Harwell, Windscale, and Winfrith were locations where science fiction became reality for some, while others viewed them as home to some 'unmentionable devilment'. Their silhouettes were celebrated on postage stamps, proclaiming to the country and the world Britain's mastery of the atom. Today, these relics of late 20th century science and industry are being decommissioned and largely erased from the landscape.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Liverpool University Press
Illustrations
Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 276 mm
Width: 219 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-83624-577-3 (9781836245773)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Wayne Cocroft has recently retired as a Senior Archaeological Investigator with Historic England, where he specialised in the investigation and assessment of industrial and defence sites.