Housing nuclear workers in Caithness

When you think of the history of the Highlands and Islands you rarely think of Britain’s nuclear energy industry. But, away from the oft-told tale of unemployment and depopulation, the 20th century history of the region is one of a vibrant, growing, and quickly modernising society. 

This research project by our PhD student Linda Ross – supported by an AHRC collaborative doctoral partnership between HES and the University of the Highlands and Islands – looked at the impact that the Dounreay Experimental Research Establishment had on Caithness in the mid-20th century.  Although not without its problems in the long run, the construction of Britain’s first fast breeder nuclear reactor by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) was largely welcomed by the local population, which embraced the early benefits of more jobs and greater economic prosperity. 

At the heart of Linda’s research was whether and how a new type of society was created to support Caithness’ new nuclear industry. HES’s Sinclair Macdonald and Son archival collection formed the basis of her exploration of the town planning of Thurso during the period. This local architectural firm oversaw the construction of 1,007 houses and other facilities designed to accommodate the large number of nuclear workers who moved to the county, tripling the town’s population in the process.  

To record this heritage, Linda also participated in the photography of Thurso’s built environment; a body of work which is now available on trove.scot. Her project shows how in-depth research adds value to distinct architectural collections, and to the records that we hold.  And by moving the study of architectural drawings away from the visual towards the social and cultural, Linda offered us a model on which other studies can be based in future.  

By the end of the building programme in May 1963, four recognised estates of UKAEA houses had been built in Thurso: Castlegreen, Ormlie, Pennyland and Mount Vernon. UKAEA housing consisted of A, B and C types, with A being the largest for higher grade staff. If a staff member was promoted or their family increased, they became eligible for a larger house. Accommodating this population stands as an example of quick, complex change, triggered by a technical experiment with enduring social consequences. The housing developments were managed by the Thurso architectural firm of Sinclair Macdonald & Son, whose archives are held by Historic Environment Scotland. The UKAEA built houses are now owned privately or by Pentland Housing Association. 

Shortly after Dounreay was announced as the site of the fast breeder reactor establishment, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority bought two neighbouring farms due to their proximity to the site. One of these was at Isauld, 10 miles to the west of Thurso.  

As part of the deal, the UKAEA built a new house for the farm’s owner, and six cottages for displaced farm workers. The cottages were built in 1956 to the same design as the timber houses erected as part of the first phase of the UKAEA’s construction scheme for Dounreay workers in Thurso.  

These were considered ‘non-traditional’ buildings. ‘Non-traditional’ means that they were constructed using materials such as concrete or timber and employed elements of prefabrication¹ so they could be erected quickly and cheaply; something which appealed to the budget-conscious UKAEA with its requirement to accommodate employees as soon as possible. These houses were designed by the Nottingham building firm Simms Sons & Cooke, with Thurso architect Hugh Sinclair Macdonald celebrating their ‘considerable charm and character’.

The Mount Vernon estate was built as part of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s fourth phase of housing construction in the early 1960s. It is situated on the east side of Thurso River and consisted entirely of modern ‘all-electric’ units which did not have coal fires so had no need for chimneys. Of the 99 properties, 16 were 4 bedroomed, and 83 were 3 bedroomed.  

Mount Vernon was planned with social integration in mind – part of the estate was occupied by UKAEA employees, with the reminder occupied by tenants in houses built by the local authority. The UKAEA houses at Mount Vernon are surrounded by ample green space, following dominant Modernist principles of the period². A ring-road around the estate provides vehicular access to the rear of properties, with the fronts reserved for pedestrian access.  

With the exception of the timber housing built quickly at the beginning of the housing programme, this house shows the type of construction which the UKAEA settled on for the majority of its scheme. These semi-traditional houses, which incorporated a prefabricated timber frame (frame built elsewhere in sections, conveyed to the site and assembled), brickwork and exterior harling, were built by Alexander Hall & Son of Aberdeen. These examples feature partial timber cladding to add visual contrast to the scheme. For the UKAEA, housing was allocated according to grade. This ‘A-type' house with garage (facing to the rear) would have originally been occupied by a Dounreay employee at senior level, with it believed that such staff required accommodation of high standard to both attract and retain them.

This three-bedroomed ‘B-type’ house was built in 1960 as part of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s third phase of housing construction in Thurso. It is an example of a newly introduced ‘all-electric’ house which was heated using electric heaters rather than traditional coal fireplaces. Because of this, it does not have chimneys. 

For the UKAEA, housing was allocated according to grade. This house would have originally been occupied by a Dounreay employee at or above executive officer or engineer level. It was believed that such staff required accommodation of high standard: this helped the UKAEA encourage employees to move to the far north of Scotland. With the exception of the timber housing built quickly at the beginning of the housing programme, this house shows the type of construction which the UKAEA settled on for the majority of its scheme. These semi-traditional houses, which incorporated a prefabricated timber frame³, brickwork and exterior harling, were built by Alexander Hall & Son of Aberdeen.  

These three-bedroomed ‘C-type’ houses were built in the late 1950s as part of the UKAEA's third phase of housing in Thurso. For the UKAEA, housing was allocated according to grade. This house would have originally been allocated to either industrial or non-industrial Dounreay staff graded lower than executive officer. With the exception of the timber housing built quickly at the beginning of the housing programme, this shows the type of construction which the UKAEA settled on for the majority of its scheme. These semi-traditional houses, which incorporated a prefabricated timber frame, brickwork and exterior harling, were built by Alexander Hall & Son of Aberdeen. If a staff member was promoted or their family increased, they became eligible for a larger house. These examples feature half-timber cladding, which adds visual contrast to the estate.