Building No 317 (Control Room)

Cadw's description

Location

Near the north boundary of the site, to W of Sloughpool Wood; set partly within earthen bund.

History

Built circa 1959. The building is part of a facility for testing the Gosling rocket booster engines which were used to power the Royal Navy's Sea Slug surface-to-air missiles. This building was the Control Room for the Static Firing Bay (SAM MM341) about 40 metres to the NW, where engines were test fired for development and manufacturing quality control purposes. Test firing of the missiles as a whole took place at Aberporth where the Simulated Ship Firing Platform is a Scheduled Monument (CD213) . The development of the Sea Slug missile was a significant technical achievement, and the beginning of the change from ship-borne artillery to modern missile-bearing warships. This building contained a CCTV system for viewing the Static Firing Bay, the firing mechanism, electronic equipment, and photographic equipment to record the firing trace. Development work also took place here on other motors for guided missiles before the factory closed in the mid 1960s, and functions were transferred to Royal Ordnance factory, Bishopton.

Exterior

Single storey red brick building with flat roof. Centre of S elevation is recessed under porch. To each inner side of porch, a doorway with double doors; S elevation under porch has main doorway offset to R with one window to its R, and two to its L. East elevation has 2 small lights on the wing, and 3 facing N on wing return. No openings to W elevation.

Reason for designation

Listed as part of a group of buildings at former RNPF Caewent which are of special historical interest as scarce examples of buildings in Wales associated with weapons development in the Cold war period. The associated Static Firing bay is scheduled as a monument of national importance. The buildings have mutual group value.