Harwell
Coordinates: 51 ° 36 ′ N , 1 ° 18 ′ W
Harwell is a village and separate parish in the Vale of White Horse 3 km (2 miles) west of Didcot . It was part of Berkshire until 1974 and is now part of Oxfordshire as a result of border shifts .
Parish church
The Parish Church of St. Matthew of the Church of England is a first-rate listed building and was formerly dedicated to Saint Mary. The nave roof dates from 1220 and the rood screen that separates the choir from the nave also dates from the 13th century. The church is known for the quality and age of its bells with 8 bells in the bell tower and a Sanctus bell from the years 1611 to 1932. The tenor bell weighs 16 quintals. There is a clock with only one hand on the west wall of the tower. In 1975 a two-story extension was built on the north wall, which now contains the rectory. A new parish hall was built in 1994.
Airfield
Before 1946, Harwell was best known for its cherry trees. In 1937, a military airfield called RAF Harwell was built between Harwell and Chilton . The airfield was used during World War II to launch parachute troops for the invasion of Normandy.
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
In 1946 this airfield was closed to build the new Atomic Energy Research Establishment , the main center for atomic energy research in Great Britain, which became known as the Harwell Laboratory . It was the site of Europe's first nuclear reactor in 1946 and once housed up to five nuclear reactors, all of which have now been decommissioned. Two were completely dismantled, the other three are planned to be dismantled by 2022.
Other parts of the airfield were later owned by other scientific organizations, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory of the Science and Technology Facilities Council , which operates the ISIS neutron source and hosts the Diamond Light Source Synchrotron Joint Venture . Part of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment is now used by Research Sites Restoration Ltd , which specializes in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Your bargain price for summer's sweet taste . In: Oxford Mail , Newsquest Oxfordshire, June 22nd, 2006. Archived from the original on July 27th, 2009 Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved July 27, 2009.
