Aldermaston Marches

The Aldermaston Marches are one of the most iconic peace protests in British history, associated mainly with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and the broader anti-nuclear movement

Origins

The first Aldermaston March took place over Easter weekend in 1958 and was organised by the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War, with support from the newly formed CND, which had been founded only a few months earlier.

The march travelled from Trafalgar Square in London to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) at Aldermaston in Berkshire, around 52 miles west of London. Aldermaston was a key British site for designing and producing nuclear warheads.

Purpose

Protesters demanded that the UK stop developing and producing nuclear weapons. The march symbolised public opposition to the government’s nuclear weapons programme during the early years of the Cold War.

The now-famous CND peace symbol was first used on this march and later became an international symbol of peace.

Evolution

The march became an annual event during the late 1950s and early 1960s. In later years, the direction was often reversed, starting at Aldermaston and ending in London.

It attracted thousands of participants, including students, trade unionists, intellectuals, artists, clergy, and ordinary citizens. The marches were peaceful but passionate, blending serious political protest with a strong sense of solidarity and community.

Significance

The Aldermaston Marches helped make nuclear disarmament a major political issue in Britain by:

• helping establish CND as a lasting and influential movement
• inspiring other peace movements across Europe and the world
• influencing later anti-nuclear protests, especially during the 1980s against cruise missiles and nuclear proliferation

Legacy

Although the original annual marches faded by the mid-1960s, similar marches and demonstrations continued through the influence of the Aldermaston Marches. The Aldermaston Marches are remembered as a landmark moment in British protest history, and CND and other groups have occasionally revived the march for anniversaries or in response to nuclear policy developments.

Timeline

• 1958 – The first march: Organised by the Direct Action Committee and supported by CND. Around 4,000 people marched from Trafalgar Square to Aldermaston. The peace symbol was used publicly for the first time. The march ended with speeches calling for unilateral nuclear disarmament.
• 1959 – Growing momentum: The march became an annual Easter tradition. Around 10,000 or more people participated, with a stronger presence from students, unions, and religious groups.
• 1960 – The reversed march: The march began at Aldermaston and ended in Trafalgar Square, symbolising the message being carried back to the public. Estimates ranged from 60,000 to 100,000 participants, and it became front-page news across Britain.
• 1961 – Peak participation: One of the largest marches, culminating in a major rally in London with prominent supporters such as Bertrand Russell. Support from artists, musicians, and left-wing political groups continued to grow.
• 1962 – First decline: Participation dipped amid internal disputes within CND and shifting political focus, though the march still drew tens of thousands.
• 1963 – Final official Aldermaston March: The last of the original Easter marches, smaller than previous years. Protesters increasingly shifted tactics towards direct action and local campaigning.
• 1970s–1980s – Revival and reinvention: Aldermaston marches reappeared sporadically. The 1981 revival was linked to the cruise missile issue and the rise of Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp. Late 1980s marches continued to keep the anti-nuclear movement visible.
• 2004 and beyond – Anniversary marches: CND and other groups organised commemorative marches, especially around key anniversaries. Aldermaston remains symbolically important whenever the UK debates Trident, nuclear upgrades, or wider defence policy.

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