Two departments , the " Research Department " and the " Design Department " , were established in 1922 at Woolwich Arsenal . During the Second World War , the Design Department moved to Fort Halstead , followed by the Research Department . It is believed that Britain 's development of the atomic bomb , hidden under the name High Explosive Research ( " HER " ) was initially based at Fort Halstead , where the first atomic bomb was developed under the directorship of William George Penney , who had been appointed Chief Superintendent Armament Research ( " CSAR " , called '' " Caesar " '' ) by C. P. Snow . '' Operation Hurricane '' saw the bomb conveyed by frigate to Australia and successfully exploded in the Montebello Islands . In 1950 , it is thought that the " HER " research was moved to a new site at Atomic Weapons Establishment , Aldermaston in Berkshire
Operation Hurricane
Operation Hurricane
Fort Halstead