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Further reading □ Articles □ New authority for atomic energyKhrushchev and Bulganin charm offensiveBEPO: Wigner Energy Release (1958)The miracle of atomic energyBiographiesBEPO and the Turin ShroudAtom HarvestSir John Cockcroft and Atomic EnergyNuclear physics in the United Kingdom 1911-1986Russian spy in the CotswoldsLos Alamos from belowFateful discovery almost forgottenUK panel on gamma and electron irradiation: A brief history 1963-1984Worlds oldest digital computer gets reboot: the DekatronHaunt of the Hammer Gang □ RAF Harwell □ Before the warCelestial towersA personal history of RAF Station Harwell □ Publications □ NewslettersTechnical publicationsOther papers □ Other materials □ PhotographsFilmsPersonal reminiscences
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    A.E.R.E HARWELL
HarwellLiterature
A.E.R.E HARWELL
HarwellLiterature
Further reading


Articles
New authority for atomic energyKhrushchev and Bulganin charm offensiveBEPO: Wigner Energy Release (1958)The miracle of atomic energyBiographiesBEPO and the Turin ShroudAtom HarvestSir John Cockcroft and Atomic EnergyNuclear physics in the United Kingdom 1911-1986Russian spy in the CotswoldsLos Alamos from belowFateful discovery almost forgottenUK panel on gamma and electron irradiation: A brief history 1963-1984Worlds oldest digital computer gets reboot: the DekatronHaunt of the Hammer Gang
RAF Harwell
Before the warCelestial towersA personal history of RAF Station Harwell
Publications
NewslettersTechnical publicationsOther papers
Other materials
PhotographsFilmsPersonal reminiscences

Photographs

Harwell Division Heads (1959)

Harwell Division Heads (1959)
View in detail ⇗
© UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council

Back row (L to R): PC Thonemann, WP Grove, WG Marley, EH Cooke-Yarborough, AS White, JF Jackson, NF Goodway, WS Eastwood, RM Fishenden, E Bretscher, TB Le Gren, BH Flowers, TG Pickavance, HK Grout
Front row (L to R): HM Finniston, GW Dolphin, DW Fry, BFJ Schonland (Director), R Spence, DR Williams, JV Dunworth

AERE Harwell: A view of the site from the Downs (HL26344) High activity handling building: View of cell operating face (AJ1257) Radiochemistry Laboratory (Building 220): View showing movable glove boxes in the plutonium handling laboratory (November 1962, AJ3984) BEPO: General view of the reactor showing the control/discharge faces (November 1962, AJ3980) DIDO Reactor: A general view of the reactor showing the lead flask used for removing irradiated materials in place on top of the reactor (November 1962, AJ3952)

DIDO, a high-flux heavy-water moderated, enriched uranium fuelled reactor for research and isotope production started work at AERE Harwell in November 1956. Five similar reactors have been built; they are DMTR (Dounreay), PLUTO (Harwell), HIFAR (Lucas Heights), DR3 (Riso, Denmark) and Julich FR2 (West Germany).

BEPO is a natural uranium fuelled graphite moderated reactor with a horizontal lattice which can attain a power of 6000 KW and is cooled by air. It has a medium neutron flux and is used for the irradiation of materials and production of isotopes. When built in 1948 BEPO was Europe's most powerful reactor.

At Harwell studies are made on the chemistry of the heavy elements (uranium, neptunium, plutonium etc). The work is done in glove boxes -- completely closed boxes with transparent Perspex windows. Instruments and chemical apparatus are manipulated manually through neoprene gloves sealed into "ports" in the Perspex windows.

Photos of the Library in 1960 (from a relative of David H) plus some modern-day photos (from Nick P) of a model of the Library which, until mid-2024, had been on display there until it was moved into DIDO.

Entrance interior Bookshelves near Reception General view Entrance exterior East elevation West elevation South elevation Commemorative plaque on the model; Chief Architect: GW Dixon

These photos are from an old photo album -- the sort where you peel back a clear film and place photos on the sticky board beneath. The photos have probably been in there since shortly after they were taken so it is too dangerous to attempt to free them in case they rip.

Plaque Dr Marshall (back to camera) and Mrs Marshall (in hat and coral dress) Guided tour of the new facility Guided tour Guided tour Guided tour Guided tour; Lewis Roberts (with moustache) and Mrs Marshall listening to JE (Eric) Lynn, Head of the Harwell Nuclear Physics Division Guided tour Concrete blocks In the Control Room, Dr Marshall addresses guests then pushes the start button Admiring souvenirs of the day

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