K1 test stand, control room and ancillary building, former Royal Ordnance Establishment, Westcott

MATERIALS: reinforced concrete, brick.

TEST STAND: K1 is located in the northern test area at Westcott, at the western end of the former south-west to north-east runway (at SP 70471 16885) and approximately 45m south of the K2 test-stand.

K1 is a vertical test stand. It takes the form of a massive reinforced concrete tower which is chamfered towards the apex and which is of broadly rectangular plan. 'K1' is painted in white on a black ground on its north-west elevation. It has a metal platform projecting to the north-east of its flat roof, reached by an external metal stair on its south-east elevation. There are a number of entrances including a pedestrian entrance with protecting concrete porch to the north. Also, to the south-west, is a low motor entrance with a solid metal door. This is again protected by a concrete porch-like projection, with two pairs of rails set in the ground which would have allowed the movement of the rocket motor into the testing chamber. Internally the structure takes the form of a large chimney, sealed at the roof by metal plates. The internal firing bay is reinforced with armour plating and has platforms to allow access to the motor. There are also chains and pulleys suspended from a gantry on the ceiling to assist in the manoeuvring of the rocket motor.

CONTROL ROOM: both K stands were operated from a control building (Building 397) to the west of the test stands. This is a single-storey, L-shaped, flat-roofed brick building, now in use as an office, to which the stands were joined by raised cable conduits (now demolished).

ANCILLARY BUILDING: between the control room and the K2 stand is a further brick, single-storey building (Building 428). It is in two parts, with one half of lesser height than the other; both with large double doors in the south elevation. There is a rocket weather vane on the roof. Its original function as part of the K complex is not known but it is presumed to have been an equipment store or workshop for the calibration of instruments, or indeed both.

The control room and Building 428 are included for group value and have not been inspected internally.