ROC Aircraft Lookout & Cold War Nuclear Bunker in Lincs
The Royal Observer Corps in Lincolnshire During the Cold War !
Sunday saw me visiting a site that went from an elevated viewing position to subterranean - yes folks I’ve been underground in what I take to be a nuclear bunker !
This one’s a cracker - I hope non-historical regulars will read on
On the road from Swallow, in Lincolnshire, to Cuxwold there sits, hidden by trees and bushes, a relic of the Cold War - a Royal Observer Corps (ROC) aircraft spotting post in use during the cold war.
Below is a picture and apologies for it but a proper picture is impossible due to trees and vegetation - I had to crawl in to get this
Orlit Type B Aircraft Spotting Post
The ROC were deemed to have been very successful during the Second World War and as defence plans for the future were considered it was felt this was something to continue with. The existing system was in something of a shambles, sometimes randomly scattered location wise and usually now fairly, if not completely, dilapidated.
The Top Half
Above you’ll see the solution. A pre fabricated concrete structure produced to a uniform standard by the Orlit company. Essentially, there were two types of observation post - the Type A and Type B. The difference being B, which we have here, was elevated on four legs and accessed by an externally mounted ladder whereas A was simply on the ground.
The measure 10 feet by 7 feet and are split into 2 ‘rooms’ as can be seen by the picture.
The front has a concrete roof and the back half is open to the elements.
That then was what I wanted to see and having done so I made my way down the loose and rusty ladder to crawl back through the undergrowth when something caught my eye further inside the bushes - more concrete . . .
The Entrance to an Underground Bunker
With what appeared to simply be a concrete box on a brick base it was worthy of investigation but I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.
A rusted cover lifts to reveal the entrance to an underground bunker !
A Tentative Look Inside
Above you’re looking at what I saw exactly when I looked at it for the first time - the only difference is that the picture on the right is lit up by the camera and flash - all I could see was darkness within - I want to go down there was my first thought !
Then in what was a rare moment of common sense I thought the following. You’re on your own and nobody in the world even knows where you’ve gone today.
The ladders on the Observation Post were rusted and coming away - if these are the same you could be going down the quick way !
Also I knew not what it was - all my research was subsequent as I knew nothing of this structure.
I returned to the car, immediately regretting it and pondered further a return - staggeringly commonsense once again won the day - perhaps I’m finally growing up.
Back at the ranch and eating lunch however made me think differently - we didn’t win 2 World Wars by carrying like that - I was resolved to return - and return I did . . .
The Vertical Entrance Shaft and First Small Room
Back to the car equipped with a Maglite (complete with barely functioning batteries) and a bag I could put my camera in while climbing down to the ladder. It was whilst reversing the Goldeneye Chariot down the tree-lined gravel driveway that I had an uncommon bit of good luck, well two pieces really - firstly I didn’t hit the gate post and secondly I saw a youth of my acquaintance - ‘ah ha’ I thought.
Being 17 years of age and even worse a student he’ll be as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike but no dear reader - prepare for a shock - he’s a singular and top man - with an interest in military history as well - could I be any luckier ?
At that point it became a two man expedition and nothing but complete success would do !
The Main Room with Beds for three
We were there an in ! The entry shaft is quite deep and narrow at the bottom was a shallow pit and a door leading to a small room, next to that a door leading to the main room which still contained the original beds ! One single and one bunk bed. You’ll see and air vent on the back wall and the picture below shows the room from the reverse angle.
Inside Sleeping Quarters of a Nuclear Bunker
The pictures are the best I could do as it was pitch black, the batteries on the torch were shot so I took pictures in complete darkness - note the mechanical piece of equipment still present by the door.
What struck me initially was how secure and elaborate the construction was - surely over the top simply for sleeping quarters for those manning the observation tower.
Could it be a bunker for use in the event of a Soviet Russian Nuclear Attack ?
I tentatively suggest that it was. Research has shown that as the Cold War progressed the tradition of spotting enemy planes was becoming outmoded not to mention impractical - the posts had reached the end of their useful lives really - I think were looking at the 1960s here.
I know that Orlit were responsible for building another reinforced pre fabricated structure some years later - underground nuclear monitoring stations for measuring the spread of radiation etc in the event of nuclear bombs being dropped on Lincolnshire !
The description matches what I saw so I feel pretty confident in my assumptions.
Two rooms, one small for a weeks provisions and sleeping quarters. The monitoring equipment would be mounted by the entrance hatch with the measuring equipment, charts and phone lines in the main room along with water and a chemical toilet.
So, how’s that for a trip and a Boy’s Own Adventure all thrown into one ?
I’m grateful to my redoubtable companion who shows all the signs of being ‘A Good Man in a Crisis’
I should love to get some first hand information as to what actually went on day-to-day on sites like this so if you ever manned an Orlit ROC post or underground nuclear monitoring shelter please do leave a comment - we’d absolutely love to hear from you or indeed if you know somebody who did.
If you know anything at all about this specific type of site please do leave a comment.
I shall be doing more on the Cold War at some point so I hope to cover other topics and sites then
What a fantastic trip !
Subterraneously yours
Rod
[Later edit]
Date opened May 1959
Date closed October 1968
chris keyworth said,
July 5, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
very impressed rod, this is typical of the sites ive been finding all over our area there should be one at stallingborough but yet to find it, i was was aware of this one and it would have been liked to the comand bunker at stallingborough HAA site
regards
chris…
ps next time dont worry about the steps gas is the bigger problem in these bunkers take a gas detector with you…
Rod said,
July 5, 2010 @ 6:36 pm
Chris,
thanks for that - I was aware of the look out post but not the underground part. I’ve heard stories about the bunker system at Stallingborough HAA when it was operational.
If there are any others I’ll visit and write them up on their own so as to keep things ordered.
As to gas - good point - I’ll take that young adventurer along again and send him in first
Like all long-living and successful military leaders I’ll lead from the back
Best
Rod
Little Brother said,
July 5, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
Rod,
Brilliant.
LB
Rod said,
July 5, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
LB,
many thanks - a great day !
Cheers
Rod
History Hunter said,
July 5, 2010 @ 9:06 pm
As i mentioned to you in an earlier post, the one at Stallingborough is in the trees just to the left of where the stables entrance is at the Stallingborough HAA
History Hunter said,
July 5, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
The Orlit that you saw at Swallow is the ONLY elevated one of its kind left in Lincolnshire.
TA17720252 is the Grid Reference should anybody want top find it on a map
ROGER said,
July 5, 2010 @ 9:39 pm
Hi Rod There`s about 600 ROC bunks through out the UK, Some were sold off about 8 years ago on a well known web auction site,I told the wife I knew of a plot of land for sale just outskirts of Louth ,went on a Saturday morning for a veiwing and met a gent in a field, her face was a picture when he lifted the metal lid and went down the ladder! The auction ended on the Sunday and it went for well above my budget,but it did have views across Louth and to the sea,and off street parking! The one at Stallingborough is off little london/Keelby rd near the gun enplacement,they were made for three persons to log and report atomic blasts, A web site called Subteranian Britian give`s the location of all of them,state they were in when recorded and pictures .Happy hunting Roger
ROGER said,
July 5, 2010 @ 9:54 pm
HI Rod Just checked web site is Subterranea Britannica and there`s over 1500 ROC bunks Regards Roger
chris keyworth said,
July 5, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
that makes complete sense tony i may go a wandering over there tommorow and take a look ROC stallingborough was in use up until the mid 80s and by rights should be much larger than the swallows nest as it was the regional command centre there is a ROC habrough in foxholes covert also but ive never visited it maybe on route home tomorrow i may stop off at bob dixons farm to get permision to serch it out, it should be fairly well preserved as it is not widley known about..
regards
chris
History Hunter said,
July 5, 2010 @ 10:35 pm
There are numerous sites like this in and around Lincolnshire. The best, and possibly the most accessible, are as follows.
Alford - TF41017412
Baumber - TF22887337
Burgh-On-Bain - TF21468407
Eastoft - SE80521553
Louth - TF33738474
Navenby - SK98345473
Roxton (actually Stallingborough) - TA18341178
I think out of all of them the Stallingborough one is possibly the only one that is inaccessible, after having a read up on the sites.
chris keyworth said,
July 5, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
yer seen it tony
but its not a complete list by any standards, ive found loads not lised on here and all local to us
regards
chris
History Hunter said,
July 5, 2010 @ 11:07 pm
Are they all ROC ones or could they be there for another reason?
Rod said,
July 6, 2010 @ 7:30 am
Hi Roger,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - I’ll be sure to check them out
Best
Rod
Jordan said,
July 6, 2010 @ 10:38 am
Rod
Excellent!
So clean! Who owns and maintains these?
Jordan
chris keyworth said,
July 6, 2010 @ 11:40 am
jordan
thats the question everyone is asking, i think its the MOD still
regards
chris
Rod said,
July 6, 2010 @ 3:05 pm
Jordan,
I wonder in this case whether it’s not down to the sheer integrity of the build. Given what they’re designed to withstand I suspect it keeps the elements etc out - that said you expect it to be a bit ‘grotty’ to say the least.
I would have thought if the MOD still had anything to do with it they’d cap the entrance - I’m surprised you can still get down there really.
Best
Rod
Rod said,
July 6, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
Chris,
it wouldn’t take much to make that bunker servicable again - I wonder whether the MOD are happy to leave them thus just in case they do ever need/want them again ?
Best
Rod
Jordan said,
July 6, 2010 @ 3:39 pm
Rod
If you are taking bookings on the bunker should it ever be needed, count me in! You will be suprised what i can do with rations.
Jordan
Rod said,
July 6, 2010 @ 5:37 pm
Jordan,
count yourself in but I’m having the top bunk
You will be suprised what i can do with rations.
Sounds like life in general on my shopping bill
All the best
Rod
chris keyworth said,
July 7, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Rod
i went up to ROC stallingborough yesterday unfortunatly the Bunker is Buried under tons of undergrowth and i couldnt get near to it despite trying ( there int much that stops me usualy) but that was hard core MOD undergrowth, anyway had a walk round the rest of the site its looking a bit worst for ware since i last visited it.
i headed of to ROC habrough and the farmer tells me its been buried, all you can see is a gate and a few teligraph poles so thats a non starter..
regards
chris
Rod said,
July 7, 2010 @ 6:54 pm
Chris
I’m not surprised they are buried - I wonder technically who owns them sometimes - liek the one at Swallow - is it still the government or the landowner.
I’m surprised, as mentioned earlier, that underground access is still possible - especially in today’s compensation culture
Best
Rod
Mark Jackson said,
August 24, 2010 @ 4:03 pm
I think the “mechanical piece of equipment” seen in your photo must have been part of the hatch lock, as you can see by these photo’s of a much better preserved but simular bunker.
Rod said,
August 24, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
Mark,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - I think you’ve nailed it - very much appreciated.
Great stuff
All thebest
Rod
Barry J D Wilson said,
September 30, 2010 @ 4:07 pm
I was a member of the Royal Observer Corps for more than 37 years, and servered in posts and opps room, and at the standdown i was a field officer. My service period was 1954-1991, with a period of 3.5 years in Australia.
Regards Barry Wilson
chris keyworth said,
September 30, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
Barry
i know you must be bound by the OSA but can you tell us somthing about what went on in and around these bunkers as it is a very interesting
regards
chris
Rod said,
September 30, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Barry,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - I find myself echoing Chris’ comment.
I’ll be to you’ve a tale or two to tell - we’d love to hear any you feel you could relate - it’ll also preserve that knowledge and experience for the future
Thanks and regards
Rod
Amiguru said,
October 6, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
Rod,
I had yet another session ‘up in the loft’ trying to find something else of a bygone age when I came across a stack of early editions, (from No. 1), of The Immingham News. I’m slowly reading my way through them and gleaning lots of snippets worthy of this site. I shall be sharing quite a few of them in due course and thought I would kick off with this one as I know it interests you guys.
This is from the era, 1966 when threat of a nuclear attack was very real, at least in the minds of the politicians, forces and consequently, Joe Public. It reads now almost like an episode from Dad’s Army but of course at the time it was scary stuff. I’ll edit it down and paraphrase it a bit but hope to capture the essence of the report:
” ROXTON R.O.C. POST HAS ONLY TWO MEN
Would not be able to cope in an emergency
If an atomic bomb falls on Grimsby tomorrow and the immediate Immingham area was threatened with fallout, would the Royal Observer Corps be able to track the deadly pollution? The ‘News’ put the question to Mr. Percy Wilson, Chief Observer of the Roxton post and he gave a firm answer. ‘No, including myself, there are only two observers at the Roxton post and to deal with any real emergency we must have at least six.’
Each post has a specially constructed underground room, furnished and stocked with rations to give a complete cover from radiation for the men and women on duty. Here, by means of ‘bomb power’ and ‘ground zero’ indicators, the Observers would be the first to report the explosion of a nuclear bomb which would be of the utmost importance to the scientists of the United Kingdom Warning Organisation. Next from their survey meters the post crew would be able to register the amount of radiation in the area, reporting every five minutes to the Ops Room.
The lower age limit for recruits is 15 for men and 16 for women; at the Ops Room the upper limit is 55 and the posts 60.
A preliminary test is not needed but after six months a primary efficiency test has to be undertaken. The following intermediate and Master test are voluntary, and those who are successful in the latter may wear the coveted ‘Spitfire Badge’ - the hallmark of an expert.”
Hope this enriches the post.
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
October 6, 2010 @ 7:11 pm
Neville,
it does indeed enrich the post and I appreciate you posting it - especially as i know it’s not quite your mostest favouritist period
Great to get firm evidence of manning levels
Best
Rod
Amiguru said,
October 6, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Rod,
It just amused me to think that, according to the above specifications of manpower, we could have had a totally unqualified boy, (?man), of 15 ringing up the United Kingdom Warning Organisation and reporting a nuclear strike on Grimsby!!!
And yes, I don’t ‘go for’ all these bellicose bits but we have to be unbiased on here don’t we?
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
October 6, 2010 @ 7:38 pm
Neville,
the whole things sounds ever more ridiculous - remember protect of survive.
Put sellotape around the windows and make a shelter with internal doors
While we’re doing that everybody with any authority is 50 feet underground in a multi-million £ bunker !
We do have to be unbiased Neville - also show interest in things that don’t interest us
Cheers
rod
chris keyworth said,
October 6, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
there is a bunker i believe under the town halll in Grimsby..
chris
History Hunter said,
October 29, 2010 @ 2:22 pm
Has anybody had a perusal on the “OldMaps” website lately? Search for Grimsby or surrounding district, in fact search for anywhere, and there in the list of maps available, listed as from 1986 are RUSSIAN maps! Russian maps of Grimsby! WTF?!?!?!?!?!
Why would the Russians have maps of British Towns and cities? Something from the Cold War but only released in 1986? Who knows? But very interesting all the same!
rikgrimsby said,
January 2, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
ive also heard of the bunker under the town hall…. if there is there must be a exit somewhere and vents for it.. maybe worth a scott about the are or even have aloook on google earth ..
Rod said,
January 2, 2011 @ 4:59 pm
Rik,
I’ve heard of it too - it’ll be worth further investigation I think
Best
Rod
rik said,
January 5, 2011 @ 3:23 pm
rod if you want to meet up soon we could have a look around the town hall.as i say there will be vents if there is a bunker(probs on top on lamp post) but there should be a secondry exit away from the town hall its self..
option911 said,
January 5, 2011 @ 5:12 pm
Believe me, I wouldn’t give anything for the chances of survival for those spotters once they had observed an explosion unless it was considerably in the distance. I worked in a nuclear bunker and regularly played wargames within nuclear conditions. The walls were 4 foot thick steel reinforced concrete. We didn’t have ay windows just remote operated cameras. The environment was forced air positive pressure chambers with airlock doors and 18inch thick double steel doors. We were totally cut off from the outside world with tanked water for sanitation and bottled water to drink. Toilets were all chemical type. Sleeping arrangements were submarine type 3 tier bunks 6′ x 2′ with 150+ to a room. The noise of the forced air ventilation and constant movement of people changing shifts also the smell of 400+ people in one building where we all ate, slept, toileted, showered and worked/rested was not the most fragrant. A week after an exercise, you could rely on some cold, flu or gastric virus taking its effect on a large portion of those inhabitants.
I was delighted when the Cold War finally came to an end, not for any other reason than I didn’t want to spend any more time in hardened shelters. Secondly hardened shelters are great protection against conventional weapons but are a bloody mess when hit by bunker busting bombs, everything inside being liquidised. Mmm nice.
Rod said,
January 5, 2011 @ 6:53 pm
Rik,
I got an email a while ago from somebody telling me about arranged tours there - that could be a good place to start - I’ll try and find out more
Best
Rod
Rod said,
January 5, 2011 @ 6:55 pm
Option,
that’s superb information, really appreciated as I’m sur eit will be by many others.
It’s recording the experiences of those who were actually in such places that I find so fascinating and also imprtant.
Experiences like yours tend not to be recorded anywhere.
I must say when I went down in it my first thought was I wouldn’t fancy living down here
Regards
Rod
rik said,
January 5, 2011 @ 7:49 pm
rod thats for the cells under the town hall not the bunker….
i think they say “we have no bunker”
if we do meet i have another site to talk to you about.
option911 said,
January 5, 2011 @ 9:25 pm
My Father was in a management position on Cleethorpes council for 38 yrs. He was always told that in the event of a nuclear war, key posts, including his, would be required to go into shelters at Beverly. No mention of any NBC shelters in this area.
Rod said,
January 6, 2011 @ 9:33 am
I’d have thought we should be able to nail this one fairly easily one way or another.
Any help and information much appreciated
Regards
Rod
EW said,
January 14, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
Ref bunker underneath Grimsby Town Hall - negative.I think you will find it’s beneath the Municipal Offices opposite.I understand it is approx 30′ deep but was built just before WW11.
Rod said,
January 15, 2011 @ 8:43 am
EW,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
That’s very intersting indeed, I need to look into this if possible as it’ll make an article
Kind regards
Rod
John said,
March 6, 2011 @ 8:57 pm
Very interesting website - particularly the research into the ROC Posts.
I know that everyone harps on about World War II and the role of the Royal Observer
Corps during the Battle of Britain. But the post war Cold War years of the Royal Observer
Corps are equally important if not more fascinating within the UKWMO monitoring
organisation
Particularly when you look at the Bigger picture of british Civil Defence measures during
the Cold War. Eg the Government Underground bunker HQ at Corsham ( codenamed
Turnstyle, Burlington, etc ) in Wiltshire, the Regionl Government HQ bunkers dotted about
the country, right down to the County Council, City & District Council Bunkers that had
to be maintained in the event of a cold war. Not to mention the BBC Broadcasting
Bunker at Wood Norton in Worcs.
I reckon theirs enough here for a complete History Channel series on the Underground Cold
War in Britain.
Rod said,
March 7, 2011 @ 8:23 am
John,
thanks for taking the time to comment and welcome to the site.
I too am keen on the Cold War and hope to bring some more related posts to the site within the next few months
All the best
Rod
Al said,
March 9, 2011 @ 8:16 pm
Cracking site Rod, I keep looking in occasionally (not often enough).
There’s an excellent book on the ROC locally - well worth trying to get hold of for anybody with an interest in Lincolnshires cold war
“The Royal Observer Corps In Lincolnshire 1936-1991″ CS Parker ISBN 0 9518365 0-1
Rod said,
March 10, 2011 @ 8:18 am
Al,
many thanks and welcome to the site - pleased you find it of interest.
The book rings a bell - I’ll have to see if I’ve got it somewhere and if not I’ll get a copy
Regards
Rod
rikgrimsby said,
June 10, 2011 @ 4:27 pm
@ew thanks for the info… its worth a look around.30ft is a long way down. there could be a 2nd entrance away from the municipal offices, there also should be ventalation about too. ventalation is sometimes used as street lights ect…. wonder how far the bunker goes arcoss…. ?
ew said,
August 15, 2011 @ 3:12 pm
Rikgrimsby.
Thanks for your response.
Look forward to any update you are able to make.
The information I am giving came via a article in the GT some years ago.
Lil 'Un said,
November 2, 2011 @ 7:56 am
HI Rod,
A few friends and i have been down this recently, there are satenism symbols all over as there is on your picture, do you know if this has been used by them or just kids messing around, we also visited the stallingborough bunkers and was welcomed back to where we had parked our motorcycles by the farmer who to say the least wasnt happy and we made it very clear there is no indication of it being private property and gave us a mouthful, we did give him alot more back as how are we meant to know when there are no signs. Did you have any trouble yourself when visiting the site?
Great website! thanks
Rod said,
November 2, 2011 @ 8:03 am
Lil ‘Un,
I don’t know who’s repsonsible for the symbols I’m afraid.
Access to these sites can be an issue, most are on private property so you need permission to enter.
Some site owners care more about this than others for example at Stallingborough generations of kids have played on that site since the MOD abandoned it so of course many think it’s OK to visit.
I always seek permission when I can and to date have not really experienced any issues at bunkers etc.
It’s a problem I see from both sides really, a pain fo rthe landowner yet there’s a desire for people with an interest in history to see those sites . . .
All the best
Rod
Andy Wilson said,
March 17, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
I was a member of the ROC from 1978 to stand down in September 1991. I was initially a ‘Post Observer’ based at the Navenby Post, although later became an Observer Officer in charge of 5 Posts within the Lincoln Group. HQ was at Fiskerton, near Lincoln, next to the disused airfield where there was also a large underground complex. Barry Wilson (no relation) above was the person who recruited me, and we have stayed friends ever since.
Life on these underground Posts was uncomfortable to say the least. Located 10-15 miles apart, they were built of concrete, not known for its heat retention qualities, and despite some polystyrene wall coverings the Post was constantly cold. Many posts suffered with an ingress of water, and indeed some were constantly flooding when the water table was high. From memory, Coningsby Post suffered in this way.
The equipment in the 20ft x 7ft x 7ft room was basic. One large cupboard, a couple of chairs, a work bench/table, three beds, a 12v battery to run the lighting (there was no mains water or electricity), a petrol generator to charge said battery, a chemical toilet, ration packs and that was about it. Operational equipment comprised a metal pipe running up through the ceiling to above ground, on top of which were two baffle plates. The idea was that a detonated nuclear weapon would create a blast pressure which would pass through the plates, down the pipe and give a reading of strength on a fixed dial apparatus below.
As second item of kit was a cylindrical white drum, in which were placed photographic paper sheets. Four small holes on the cardinal points of the assembled drum, mounted on top of the access shaft, would allow the intense light from a nuclear detonation to burn an image on the papers, in a ‘pin hole camera’ effect. By taking the directions and elevations of the bursts, burned through graticuled acrylic sheets, HQ could ‘triangulate’ exactly where bombs had gone off by using information compiled from two or more Posts.
So you then had the location and strength of a bomb. What you needed to know next was when the fallout arrived and how intense it was. so a ‘fixed survey meter’, basically a radiation detector, was mounted in a strong plastic casing above ground, with a cable running down into the post again and attached to a meter. Readings would have been passed from every post every 5 or 10 minutes after fallout first arrived.
Communications were afforded by a ‘teletalk’ device (a two way telephone which you pressed a ‘transmit’ switch to talk down) sat on the bench and for most Posts was the only means of outside communication. Some Posts, around 1 in 3, also had a radio set and massive aerial outside.
Finally, all posts had a siren to sound attack warnings - the traditional rise and fall indicating Attack Warning Red - imminent danger of air attack; and then a long steady note - meaning All Clear. When first mobilised in a wartime situation, Posts would also have taken delivery of some high explosive warning maroons, similar to those used by the Coast Gurad, and which would have been fired to announce the arrival of radiation after an attack.
There were at least three weekend exercises a year, two for one day and one for the whole weekend incorporating a mock emergency callout procedure to test the arrangements made. The Posts were designed to host three Observers, shut down for up to a fortnight. One can only imagine the state of mind of the Observers, stuck underground whilst nuclear devastation had taken place above affecting their families and loved ones. Fortunately this was never tested. even mock exercises could be tiring, stuck for many hours in a cold Post, struggling to sleep, with a loud beep from the telephony equipment every 10 minutes.
The MOD seconded land to build the posts, but after stand down many reverted to the original landowner; some were lifted out of the ground by Farmers to increase the space for crops, other were left to fall into disrepair. Of my five, four survive including Navenby, Baumber, Billinghay and Coningsby. My fifth Post, Bardney, was one that the Farmer removed. There are many more still dotted around, as originally there were around 1,800 but around half were closed in the defence cuts of 1968, reducing numbers to 872. Some are in surprising locations, including one behind the road facing large retaining wall as you drive down the last hill of the A57 to the Markham Moor roundabout on the A1, and another on the top of the hill on the left as you approach the Dunham Bridge over the Trent from the direction of Lincoln.
Rod said,
March 17, 2012 @ 6:30 pm
Andy,
this is absolutely wonderful, a great insight - many thanks indeed, really is a tremendous addition
Regards,
Rod
The Saxman said,
March 17, 2012 @ 7:57 pm
Andy’s report is remarkable indeed.
But i have to question just how much units of the R.O.C. were really told about dirty thermo neuclear explosions even up to the 1995’s?
Our regional airbases inc. the mentioned monitoring stations (Navenby,Baumber, Billinghay,Conningsby, and the others would have stool no chance against stuff half the size of the “Csar” wepon of that period.
It truely is frightning what might have/could happen any momont yet all goverments dont tell the populace the true scenario! Remember the old civil defence films of that period, what an insult to the public intelligence.
Yet the earth must have faith and go forward and so must all of us on the planet so belive in the future its gonna be really magic.!
The Saxman.
Nelc worker said,
April 12, 2012 @ 7:29 pm
The municipal offices have four blast doors underground and at the rear of the municipal offices there is a gate which then leads to a slope which leads to a set of doors then right in front of you is a blast door. The council keep all our records down there like birth, death ect ect. But in cleethorpes under the main council building being the konisegg building there is a nuclear fallout shelter which hardly anyone knows about. It has a decontamination shower and air filtration units.. Hope this was helpful..
Rod said,
April 12, 2012 @ 8:03 pm
NELC Worker,
thank you very much for the comment and welcome to the site - what a night it is for comments!
Thank you very much for this, absolutely fascinating.
Best wishes
Rod
EW said,
April 22, 2012 @ 5:29 pm
Rod and NELC worker.
Ref the bunker at Cleethorpes Municipal Offices.
Do you mean the old WW1 period bunker to the right side of Knoll House when looking from Alexandra Road.They tried about 20yrs ago to demolish this but couldn’t because it was too solidly built especially the roof which was reinforced with what looked like railway lines and thick wire cable.
They have since put a modern brick skin around it.
Quite a few years ago I was lucky enough to be shown the interior which was very small,I would guess about 12′ in length by about 6′ in width with bench seating down either side.If this is not the bunker you are referring to I take it there must be a second one.?
I do know the location of another purpose built nuclear bunker in Cleethorpes,all I will say is that it is in the vicinity of a Club.
Rod said,
April 22, 2012 @ 6:15 pm
EW,
do you mean this . . .
http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/zeppelin-air-raids-on-lincolnshire-during-wwi
Best
Rod
EW said,
April 23, 2012 @ 8:37 am
Morning Rod.
No is the answer,the Air Raid shelter you show in your pic’ is a privately built one as mentioned many years ago by the late Charles Ekberg.
The one I am referring to is as follows.Standing on Alexandra Road Cleethorpes facing Knoll House,look down the right hand side of the building and you will see modern brickwork that joins the main building,that is it.If you ask they might allow you a peek inside.
The other bunker I refer to near a Club I’d better not divulge,it’s not a military bunker per se but is certainly I believe a bunker that would be used in the next major conflict. but not for use by us mere civilians,it’s not that large in any case.
Regards EW.
Rod said,
April 23, 2012 @ 12:51 pm
EW,
very interesting indeed, it’s one I’m not aware of in that case.
Many thanks
Best
Rod