Building for the Atomic Age

Wayne D. Cocroft

ISBN 10: 1836245777 / ISBN 13: 9781836245773

Published by Liverpool University Press, GB, 2026

About this Item

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.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781836245773

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Building for the Atomic Age
• Publisher: Liverpool University Press, GB
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1836245777
• ISBN 13: 9781836245773
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

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.