Harwell's catapult put is no more.

A few days later and this pops up on my MSN Newsfeed.

Be aware the link will almost certainly drag a load of irrelevant adverts along with it.  Interesting detail, some misleading modern comparisons(?)

Catapult designed to launch World War II bomber planes unearthed in England (msn.com)

The list of people I can think of who would be interested enough in the piece of ground where this catapult stood to go and take a look is a short one. 

Me, I did, last year, but the grass was too long to see a parchmark.

Honestly, it was a piece of grass, the thing had been filled in for 80 years (bar a brief exhumation to remove radioactive debris a few years back), there was absolutely nothing to see. A great tourist attraction. 

There used to be lots of dead nuclear reactors there, Geoff, perhaps you’d like one of those in your shed to honour the nation’s achievements with? As it happens, there’s a lot of WW2-era buildings preserved on the site with info boards and the like, so Harwell are paying attention to their history.

Why keep it? It didn’t work and all the interesting metal bits were carried away by the scrappers 80 years ago. There is little to be learned beyond that already known about the installation so its mapping and survey seem to be the best outcome. We can’t keep everything for ever.

Hi All,

 You know it never ceases to amaze me the short sightedness of those in power and their seemingly unlimited appetite for the destruction of the UK’s heritage,  no matter what form that may take or the protestations of people asking them to think twice.

In this case you can imagine those who know better than us plebs around a table:- ( It’ll be alright we can take some snaps, create 3d imagery to keep them peep’s happy it’ll be on record for posterity, job done! ) 

In fact even though the this is a wartime relic that was never put to use it is beyond belief as the whole site is or was meant to be a science based establishment.  So how can they let this particular scientific experiment Which had a direct link to the CAM ships just be dug up for new construction ?

Why not restore the catapult to it’s former glory create a tourist attraction ?  You know it could even pay for itself and the ongoing restoration with a minor entry charge or simply make money if you left it as is state.

You could always reconstruct it elsewhere if deemed not practicable, If not conserved at former RAF Harwell then truck the lot to Duxford and set it up there I am sure it would be a welcome addition and I am sure they have the room.  

You have to wonder what the Harwell Science and innovation thinks of this move ? as this seems a very odd decision in deed considering it being a scientific site.

Or am still wearing my rose tinted spectacles ?

Geoff