Monument record 1297/2 - Harrington Thor Missile Site

The remains of a Thor Missile site located within the perimeter of the Second World War airfield at Harrington. The site was in operation between December 1959 and August 1963. All three missile emplacements and some associated buildings survive including a theodolite shed and pillar, the Pyrotechnics Store, Classified Storage Builidng and concrete pads for the launch control cabins. The Thor missile site at RAF Harrington is listed Grade II.

{1} Extensive information (text,photographic,digital etc) provided by Roy Tebbutt of Carpetbagger Aviation Museum 2nd January 1998. Passed to RCHME, DoB Project and SMR. Extensive information on the operation of the airfield and of the Thor site held by the Museum. Amongst documents supplied is 'Layout of Thor Missile Site at Harrington' which on an accompanying Air Photo identifies the following Thor site components: Thor Launch Pads, possible Administration Building, RP1 fuel tank and bund with Theodilite column, an E-shaped earth revetment containing a small building (possibly a Small Arms Ammunition Store) and a garage-type building with roller shutter door. Also had a greenhouse type structure on top of the bank housing a guard when the base operational. Other small buildings are linked to the Thor hangar base by a pathway, possible missile launch control buildings. 'Thor Missile Deployment in the UK' and other papers provide useful detailed history and technical details etc.

{2} The map clearly shows the location of the three launch sites, perimeter fencing and of associated structure(s) located a short distance east of the launch sites. The three Thor missile launch sites are located at (NGR approx centres) SP77417811, SP77407788, SP77397768. Associated structure(s) at SP77667781. Substantial survival. Access for survey sought by RCHME Jan 1998.

{3} Refers to a peace demonstration at Harrington on 3rd Jan 1960 when 80 people were arrested. On 3 January 1960, North Luffenham’s diary recorded a joint demonstration at Harrington organised by the Direct Action Committee against Nuclear Weapons and CND, who were met by a third organisation, un-named in the source, demonstrating ‘in support of government policy’. The ORB’s (operations record books) account of this event that the demonstration 'passed off peaceably’ after 80 participants were arrested, and leaves a somewhat contradictory impression. Much more could be learned of these incidents from unit ORBs and many other sources. It is unclear, in particular, whether any fabric was put in place by anti-Thor protestors (comparable for example to the ‘peace camp’ at Greenham Common during the 1960s); any archaeology of dissent which might remain obviously merits equal status to that now enjoyed by the military hardware.

{4} Thor missiles represent the first operational Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) system deployed by the West, and mark the move away from reliance on manned bombers to ballistic missiles as the principal method of delivery for the nuclear deterrent. Their installation signalled the beginning of the missile race between East and West, when western perceptions of Soviet missile technology, confirmed by Sputnik launch Oct 1957 , were interpreted as forcing the rapid installation of Thor. Nevertheless they were a stopgap measure, with the urgency of their installation in the late 1950s being reflected in their relatively insubstantial nature of the emplacements. This also an expression of their limited projected service life of no more than 4 years predicted to end when more ICBMs were operational in North America, the first of which was activated in Oct 1959. Thor sites also illustrate global distribution of military technology during The Cold War, with similar emplacements at two sites in the USA.
Historically Thor bases played part in one of tensest periods of The Cold War, the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis when 59 of the 60 missiles were raised to alert. The sites embody the special relationship between the USA and the UK at this time.
The relatively short life span of the emplacements, from 1959 to their withdrawal in 1963 illustrates close inter-relationship between an IRBM, its semi-portable support services and fixed infrastructure. The design of the emplacements was determined by missile size, fuel type, handling and strategic considerations. The Thor missile sites are single-phase structures and were abandoned on the withdrawal of Thor. Limited range (1500 miles or 2410km) necessitated launch sites in western Europe if Eastern European targets were to be reached. Deployed on 20 airfields in eastern England. Airfields chosen as land owned by the Government or could be easily requisitioned; also a need to be as close as possible to targets and to limit geographical distribution of nuclear targets in the UK. Four sites acted as main bases, each servicing four satellite stations. Many of the latter have a detached Commanding Officer’s house associated with them, as at Harrington.
Harrington and Polebrook are the two Thor sites in Northamptonshire. The former is better preserved, being described in MPP report as in good condition compared with 'fair' for Polebrook. Harrington Thor Missile Site SP774778: The complete plan form may be traced. All three missile emplacements survive, and rarely a ruined theodolite house; other features associated with the emplacements include a theodolite pillar, Classified Storage Building and Pyrotechnics Store, and a clearly identifiable pad where Launch Control cabins were placed. Other ancillary buildings are in a ruinous condition.

{5} Disused Harrington airfield became a (joint RAF/USAAF) base for three Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles of 218 Squadron formed in December 1959 to look after them. Their stay was brief the squadron being disbanded on August 23rd 1963 "after which Harrington was sold for agricultural purposes".

{6} Harrington housed 218 Squadron from Dec 1959 with the arrival fo the Thor Intermedieate Range Ballistic Missile unit. The unit held 3 missiles. Both Harrington and Polebrook, the other Northants missile base, were part of the North Luffenham Wing, which controlled 5 sites. The missiles were stored horizontally in a movable shed being raised to the vertical firing position.The American missile had a range of 1750 miles and carried a two megaton thermo-nuclear warhead. The entire operation was a joint Anglo-American affair. Because of their surface storage and launching pads the missiles were increasingly vulnerable to "first strike" attack. The new generation of missiles were underground US based missiles. Consequently disbandment was inevitable particularly after the political dealing that followed the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Polebrook and Harrington were amongst the last batch of 5 units to be disbanded.

{7} Remains of Thor launch pads on land owned by Merton Estates. Harrington Thor missile later transported to California, USA and launched on 13th December 1960.

{11} SP 774 778. Thor Missile Site at RAF Harrington is situated within the perimeter of a wartime Airfield (SP 77 NE 42). Construction of the site probably began in 1958 with the agreement with the US to deploy Thor missiles in Britain. It was one of twenty such sites built in eastern England. Responsibility for handling the missiles was given to 218 Squadron RAF, which became operational in December 1959 and was one of the last Thor squadrons to be stood down in August 1963.
The missile site was approached from the east along a short track leading off the B576. Ruinous, single-storey brick buildings at SP77665 77810 mark the site of the Guardroom. Close to these buildings is a survey column, formed from concrete pipe sections, surmounted by a small concrete platform. This is thought to have supported a theodolite to ensure the accurate alignment of the missiles. The blast walls of the three launch pads are visible and on at one pad the Theodolite House survives. At the western end of the site a T-shaped earthwork mound surrounds the former special weapons store. This comprises a single large single-storey shed and on the opposite side of the arm of the T a smaller building. In the surface of the perimeter track at SP 7711 7770, which cuts across the western part of the site and is now a public bridle way, are the remains of the concrete perimeter fenceposts. The commanding officer's house lies off site in Harrington village.
This account was prepared from observations made from public roads and footpaths.

{13} No change in condition of site.

<1> TEBBUTT R., 1998, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN39527.

<2> 1969, Ordnance Survey 6" to 1 mile, (unchecked) (Map). SNN39528.

<3> Dobinson C.S., 2000, Twentieth Century Fortifications In England Volume XI.1 The Cold War Text, Chapter 5, p.127 (unchecked) (Report). SNN100273.

<4> Cocroft W.D., 2001, Cold War Monuments: An Assessment by The MPP, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN101963.

<5> 1998, Correspondence From Harrington Aviation Museum, (part checked) (Correspondence). SNN44150.

<6> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, p.233-34 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<7> Bowyer M.J.F., 1990, Action Stations 6: Military Airfields of The Cotswolds and The Central Midlands, (unchecked) (Book). SNN39505.

<8> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, Issue108 p.5 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<9> I.H.B.C., 1999-2014, Context, Issue 127 p.3 (checked) (Journal). SNN62305.

<10> Bourn, R., 2008, Archaeological desk based assessment: Land at the former RAF Harrington, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN108076.

<11> Cocroft, W D, Field Investigator's Comments, Wayne D Cocroft/12-AUG-1998/RCHME: Cold War Project (Notes). SNN113478.

<12> Wynn, H, 1994, The RAF Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Forces: their Origins, Roles and Deployment 1946-1969, p. 569 (Book). SNN113472.

<13> Bowden, M, 2003, Field Investigators Comments, M.Bowden 19-FEB-2003 (Note). SNN114812.

<14> Historic England, RAF Harrington, Draughton, BF097215 (Archive). SNN114813.

<15> Bourn, R, 2009, Supplementary Assessment: Archaeological Assessment in respect of Harrington Wind Farm (Report). SNN116650.

Record last edited

Nov 11 2024 2:20PM