Boston Camp

In the early 1940s RAF Coastal Command built an airfield at Dounreay, called HMS Tern II, as a satellite of HMS Tern (Twatt, Orkney). A camp was built to house the workers who built the RAF aerodrome, and later the air crew and ground staff.

The buildings were nissen-huts, built in groups. Each group was christened with the name of an aircraft – Hurricane, Swordfish, Martinet, Corsair.

When the decision was made to build a nuclear reactor research station on the site of the airfield, the Boston block was improved and enlarged, and became residential accommodation for the workforce who built Dounreay.

It also housed many of the first UKAEA employees, including the constabulary, until new houses for the “Atomics” were constructed on the outskirts of Thurso. At the height of the construction, over 2,000 men lived in the various accommodation blocks that made up the camp.

Boston Camp

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Life at Dounreay a hard slog in war time - June 2010

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The workers canteen

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Workers relaxing in the sunshine outside one of the nissen-huts at Boston Camp

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A typical bedroom for a senior member of staff

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A round of drinks in the evening

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A kitchen at Boston Camp