Monument record 0660603006 - Westcott rocket test sites A, B, C & D
Summary
Cold War rocket motor test sites A, B, C and D at Westcott.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (II*) 1403959: A - B test-stands and support structures, former Royal Ordnance Establishment, Westcott (DBC8140)
- Listed Building (II*) 1403962: C - D test-stands and support structures, former Royal Ordnance Establishment, Westcott (DBC8141)
Map
Type and Period (1)
- ROCKET TEST FACILITY (Modern to Unknown - 1947 AD)
Description
Early post-war rocket testing areas built in pairs, at the southern end of the N-S runway. A and B are on the east side whilst C and D are on the west side of the runway. Recent research by English Heritage has identified building 208 in Site C as a 'test cell' having links with captured German scientists (B7).
Test stands A, B, C and D listed grade II+ in May 2013. See detailed description, history and reasons for designation (B18-19).
A Cold War rocket testing site is visible on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the Aylesbury Vale Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18604) (19-25)
Sources (10)
- <3>SBC19273 Bibliographic reference: Wayne D Cocroft. 2000. Dangerous Energy. pp247-249.
- <7>SBC23214 Unpublished document: David Radford (BCC). 2007. Map extracts annotated with brief notes and photographs taken during site visit in August 2007..
- <18>SBC24344 Digital archive: English Heritage. 2013. National Heritage List for England: Listing Entry.
- <19>SBC24345 Digital archive: English Heritage. 2013. National Heritage List for England: Listing Entry.
- <20>SBC27680 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2025. RAF-58-876 RP 3016 21-MAY-1952.
- <21>SBC27681 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2025. RAF-58-4267 F42 0403 16-AUG-1961.
- <22>SBC25596 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2022. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery. 04-JUN-2023 SP7116.
- <23>SBC25596 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2022. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery. 01-SEP-2003 SP7116.
- <24>SBC25596 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2022. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery. 01-SEP-2003 SP7117.
- <25>SBC25596 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2022. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery. 07-SEP-2015 SP7117.
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SP 71233 16552 (277m by 126m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | WESTCOTT, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
- Event - Survey: Aerial investigation and mapping project (Ref: 9179) (EBC18604)
Record last edited
Oct 31 2025 10:00AM
