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Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Cold War bunker brought back to life
A grassy field in West Sussex does not give much away about its 100-year military history – above ground at least. But the site in Cuckfield, butting up against the Holy Trinity Church, is home to an underground bunker from 1925, which was once used by the Royal Observer Corps. The initial role of the Corps, who were often local volunteers, was to spot enemy aircraft over Britain. Their work evolved through World War Two and into the Cold War era when they monitored potential nuclear attacks at more than 1,500 listening posts across the country. "Not a lot of people seemed to know about it. Yet nearly every village had one of these [posts]," said Ed Rippingale-Combes, who began restoring the underground room in 2008 with his friend Mark Russell. There were an "enormous amount of these little posts dotted around the place, forgotten in the landscape," he added. Passionate about history, Ed told Secret Sussex he and Mark wanted to restore the bunker to "preserve the memory" of the Cold War, the period between 1945 to 1990 when the US and the Soviet Union vied for ideological, political and military dominance. "It's a really fascinating look back into the geopolitical and the social psyche of the time," he said. He noted "how worried we were" about the threat of nuclear war at that time. Ed pointed to pamphlets on display in the room containing practical advice for surviving a nuclear war, including filling a bath with drinking water and shelter building. Ed said the concrete bunker was a "real, real mess" when the pair first started work. Paint was flaking off the walls, the doors were covered in mould and it was filled with three inches of water, as it had been left exposed to the elements for many years. Open days have been held over several years, but many local people are still surprised to find out about its existence, he added. "Unless you're looking in the right direction even nowadays you just can't see it." Work is under way to open up the room again in July and August 2025, when the souvenirs and equipment from almost a century ago is reinstated in the bunker for the few days that it is opened to the public. Ed said he believes, though it is a "relic of a bygone age now", the room is a tangible way to connect back to a significant period of our recent history. He said he wanted to capture the feeling that "observers have possibly just popped outside for whatever reason and never came back." "I think actually we've managed to achieve that." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. 'Grand Designs-style' nuclear bunker up for sale Cold War nuclear bunker could become tourist site Cuckfield Museum Cuckfield Parish Council
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sussex's underground Cold War bunker brought back to life
A grassy field in West Sussex does not give much away about its 100-year military history – above ground at the site in Cuckfield, butting up against the Holy Trinity Church, is home to an underground bunker from 1925, which was once used by the Royal Observer Corps. The initial role of the Corps, who were often local volunteers, was to spot enemy aircraft over work evolved through World War Two and into the Cold War era when they monitored potential nuclear attacks at more than 1,500 listening posts across the country. 'Forgotten in the landscape' "Not a lot of people seemed to know about it. Yet nearly every village had one of these [posts]," said Ed Rippingale-Combes, who began restoring the underground room in 2008 with his friend Mark Russell. There were an "enormous amount of these little posts dotted around the place, forgotten in the landscape," he added. Passionate about history, Ed told Secret Sussex he and Mark wanted to restore the bunker to "preserve the memory" of the Cold War, the period between 1945 to 1990 when the US and the Soviet Union vied for ideological, political and military dominance. "It's a really fascinating look back into the geopolitical and the social psyche of the time," he said. He noted "how worried we were" about the threat of nuclear war at that time. Ed pointed to pamphlets on display in the room containing practical advice for surviving a nuclear war, including filling a bath with drinking water and shelter building. Ed said the concrete bunker was a "real, real mess" when the pair first started work. Paint was flaking off the walls, the doors were covered in mould and it was filled with three inches of water, as it had been left exposed to the elements for many years. Open days have been held over several years, but many local people are still surprised to find out about its existence, he added. "Unless you're looking in the right direction even nowadays you just can't see it." Work is under way to open up the room again in July and August 2025, when the souvenirs and equipment from almost a century ago is reinstated in the bunker for the few days that it is opened to the public. Ed said he believes, though it is a "relic of a bygone age now", the room is a tangible way to connect back to a significant period of our recent said he wanted to capture the feeling that "observers have possibly just popped outside for whatever reason and never came back." "I think actually we've managed to achieve that."
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside Scotland's ‘secret' Cold War doomsday bunker built to detect impending nuclear attack
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NUCLEAR bunker has sparked a tourist trade explosion — with global visitors raving about it. The Cold War relic has been hailed as an 'excellent hidden gem' and 'fascinating' online. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Skelmorlie Secret Bunker was intended to record a potential Soviet nuclear strike Credit: John Kirkby 7 The bunker can only be accessed by climbing down a 15ft ladder Credit: John Kirkby 7 The site was decommissioned in 1991 but restores 13 years later by devoted volunteers Credit: John Kirkby 7 Museum curator Frank Alexander previously volunteered with the Royal Observer Corps Credit: John Kirkby Skelmorlie Secret Bunker in Ayrshire was designed to record the location and radioactive fallout of a looming Soviet nuke strike. Royal Observer Corps volunteers ran the facility during the height of the Cold War between America and the USSR. Visitors access the former monitoring post by climbing down a 15ft ladder and it contains communication equipment and instruments previously intended for studying a potential warhead blast. The chamber could accommodate three people with three weeks' worth of rations. People from the USA, Australia, China, Europe, South Africa and even Russia have visited the site - the only one of its kind in the central belt. Museum curator Frank Alexander joined the ROC in 1983, aged 31, and now runs free tours after helping reopen the bunker. He said: 'We've had thousands of visitors from all around the world. We've also done special events. 'I think it's the novelty of it. A lot of people simply don't realise that there was this network of monitoring posts all over the UK, specifically to be used in the event of a nuclear attack.' It was decommissioned in 1991 along with scores of similar posts across Scotland. But in 2004, ex-volunteers and enthusiasts restored the hilltop site overlooking the Firth of Clyde to its former glory. Look inside 1,500ft-deep tunnels that will be shut off for 100,000 years Frank said: 'What made me join (the ROC) was that it was the height of the Cold War in the 1980s. It was a real risk that we would be caught up in an east-west conflict. 'I was looking to do my bit for Queen and country. 'From April to September, there were 10 people based at Skelmorlie. Our duties were to train for the thing that we never hoped would happen, a nuclear attack on the UK. 'We were one of many monitoring posts throughout the UK. It was a network chain to link up and report on the effects of a nuclear strike. 'Regardless of where the nuclear strike took place, at least one or two monitoring posts would be able to pick up an explosion and be able to calculate where the actual weapon had detonated. 'The bunker was designed for a team of three people. Our responsibilities were to meet at Skelmorlie on a Wednesday evening and train with equipment and procedures to observe and report various readings in the event of a nuclear strike within our technical range.' The retired Hunterston power station worker added: 'In 2003, I approached the landowner and asked if it would be possible to buy the land on which the site was based. He refused, but as a result of our discussions, we entered into a lease arrangement. 'We restored the monitoring post to its original state and opened it up for public tours.' 7 The chamber could accommodate three people with three weeks' worth of rations. 7 Royal Observer Corps volunteers ran the facility during the height of the Cold War between America and the USSR 7 The bunker was designed to record the location and radioactive fallout of a looming Soviet nuke strike For those unable to access the underground bunker, a replica has been constructed in a cabin above ground. It has attracted a five-star rating on Google and Tripadvisor from scores of glowing reviews. Delighted visitors have hailed it as an 'excellent hidden gem' and were impressed by the knowledge of the volunteers and the 'fascinating' exhibition hut. Tours of the bunker last an hour-and-a-half and can be pre-booked by email or phone.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Inside rare 1950s Cold War bunker built to detect impending nuclear attack – and it could be yours for £20,000
THE inside of a rare 1950s Cold War bunker - built to detect impending nuclear attacks - has been revealed. Buried 15ft underground in the Norfolk countryside, the former Royal Observer Corps (ROC) dugout was once part of a huge network of posts up and down the country. 8 8 8 And now, the bizarre slice of history, consisting of two rooms, has hit the market - and could be yours for just £20,000. The bunker was built in 1957 in Dersingham, a quaint village in the west of the county - part of an early warning system to detect possible attacks and calculate their fallout. It was manned by trained uniformed volunteers from the 1950s through to 1991, when the last posts were closed and either demolished or sold off. Most remaining posts are in a derelict condition - marking this one as a particularly rare find. A metal ladder leads you down 15 feet into the bunker - which has two compartments. The smaller one contained the toilet, while the larger one was used for observation and sleeping. While in use, it would have been kitted out with standardised furniture in the form of canvas chairs, a folding table, shelf, cupboard and a pair of metal-framed bunk beds. Three vital pieces of equipment would also have been housed here: the Fixed Survey Meter, the Bomb Power Indicator and the Ground Zero Indicator. As well as the bunker, the site also features a concrete hut above ground. The Class A Orlitt hut first emerged in key locations around the country to allow the ROC to monitor and assess possible attacks by aircraft. Living in One of the World's Smallest Apartments Each hut was designed to house three observers, with each volunteer tasked with specific duties. The hut, together with the bunker, were built in response to the heightened threat of nuclear war back in 1957. Mark Upston, of East Anglian Auction House, said: "This is truly a special opportunity for those who are drawn to properties with historical significance. "This post was once a vital part of our defences and will be a treasured asset to a buyer keen on preserving our past." The bunker will be auctioned on May 8 with a £20,000 guide price. It comes after another unusual property also hit the market - this time for the rather greater price of £3.5 million. The impressive estate near Cardiff came complete with three kitchens, an orchard, stables - and even its own football pitch. But it came with a warning: not only was it right next to the A4232 - it was also just 0.8 miles from the M4. 8 8 8 8 8
Metro
04-05-2025
- General
- Metro
Inside rare Cold War bunker which is selling for only £20,000
With the world in its current state, there are times when it might be tempting to retire 15 feet below the surface of the Earth. Hidden beneath a nondescript concrete hatch in a remote English countryside town lies a bunker that could provide its new owner with exactly that opportunity. But not only does the property offer solitude from the outside world, it has an extraordinary story to tell – and the added benefit of potentially saving you from nuclear armageddon. Fitted with radioactive monitors, a metal bunk bed and a curious plastic female doll, the bunker in Dersingham, Norfolk, is a rare find. It is one of the last remaining posts which belonged to the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), the volunteer 'eyes and ears of the RAF'. The hideaway was built as the Cold War was heating up in 1957, making up part of an early warning system which would have told Brits a nuclear attack was on the way. And now, it could be yours for just £20,000 as the site goes up for auction on May 8 – the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The bunker was once part of a huge network of observation posts across the country, which have now almost all been destroyed or fallen into ruin 35 years after the end of the Cold War. Dersingam's bunker has been kept exactly as it was when Royal Observer Corps personnel were manning it decades ago. Positioned beside to an above-ground concrete hut, the hidden underground bunker could be reached by trained personnel reached who descended 15 feet into the earth on a metal ladder. Inside were three vital pieces of equipment which were needed in case a nuclear bomb detonated in the UK. As soon as the volunteers were aware of a nuclear blast, they would have first used a Ground Zero Indicator to locate the centre of the explosion. With that information, the Bomb Power Indicator would have signalled the strength of the fireball, while the Fixed Survey Meter would have detected the radiation produced. The current state of the bunker provides a glimpse into how the volunteers lived as they nervously awaited the chilling sound of the nuclear alarm. There is a large room, used for observation and sleeping, and containing metal bunk beds and basic furniture like chairs and a table. Each hut was designed to house three observers, with each volunteer tasked with specific duties. These huts first emerged in strategic locations around the country to allow the ROC to assess possible aircraft attacks in the skies above. The ROC was founded 100 years ago, but first came into its own in the Second World War, looking out for Nazi aircraft during the Battle of Britain. Once the war ended, however, a new Cold War between the Western world and the Communist Bloc broke out. These hostilities were marked by the threat of nuclear weapons, and so the ROC built the monitoring posts to boost the country's air defences. Their nationwide teams stood ready to provide key monitoring, recording and appraisal of nuclear fallout if the UK came under attack. But when the Soviet Union and Communist Bloc collapsed in the early nineties, the ROC was slowly disbanded and the monitoring posts abandoned. More Trending While rare, a number of other monitoring posts still remain alongside Dersingham's. These can be found in Hack Green, Cheshire and Stanmore, Middlesex, to name a few. Mark Upston, of East Anglian Auction House, said of the sale: 'This is truly a special opportunity for those who are drawn to properties with historical significance. 'This post was once a vital part of our defences and will be a treasured asset to a buyer keen on preserving our past.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Spitfire plane crashes on field ahead of VE Day celebrations MORE: Best VE Day celebrations across the UK – from Red Arrows flypast to royals and street parties MORE: Granddad died after drinking shots of 97% proof moonshine with a friend
