Cold War bunker on the edge of Sandringham could be yours... for just £20,000
A Cold War-era former observation bunker on the edge of the royal estate at Sandringham in Norfolk is going up for auction on 8 May with a guide price of £20,000.
The Dersingham Royal Observer Corps post was once part of a large network of observation posts up and down the country which were constructed as part of an early warning system to detect impending nuclear attacks and calculate their impact.
The Dersingham post is buried in the land on the north-east side of Chalk Pit Road and has been well-preserved.
The site was built in 1957 and has two components: a concrete orlit hut above ground and a hidden bunker underground.
Both structures were completed due to the heightened threat of nuclear war at the time.
The orlit hut first emerged in key locations around the country to allow the ROC to monitor and assess possible attacks by aircraft.
As the danger from aircraft diminished and the possibility of missile attack increased, underground monitoring posts were subsequently constructed to provide additional protection.
The Dersingham post was built in 1957 and was Post 12 of Group Six in Norwich.
A metal ladder leads down 15 feet into the bunker area, which was constructed in a uniform style.
The site only has two rooms. The smaller of the two contained the toilet, while the large room 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 crucial pieces of equipment would also have been housed here, namely the fixed survey meter, the bomb power indicator and the ground zero indicator, according to Auction House.
Each hut was designed to house three observers, each tasked tasked with specific duties.
The Dersingham post and hundreds of other posts were manned by trained uniformed volunteers from the 1950s through to 1991, when the last posts were closed and either demolished or sold off.
Setting: The Dersingham post sits in a parcel of land with stunning countryside views
While many are now derelict or no longer exist, the Dersingham post remains intact and has been in private ownership since 1992.
The site could be re-equipped to echo the post's heyday and become a miniature museum, or turned into a unique getaway for the new owner. It could potentially even be used as a pop-up campsite.
Auction House said: 'The 28-day rule means that the land can be used for temporary stays for up to 28 days in a calendar year without planning permission being needed.'
Auction house area manager, Mark Upston, 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.'
Buying at auction
Where possible, always visit the property in person before the auction.
Read legal documents for the property carefully and, when possible, get advice from a solicitor before heading to the auction.
Sometimes, the legal pack includes 'special conditions' that mean you might also be liable to pay an additional three per cent fee to a sales agent.
Before submitting any bids, always check what sort of price similar properties in the area have sold for. This will, of course, be harder if it is a more unusual property that you are after.
If you do bid, do not get carried away and bid more than you can afford.
Most properties bought via auction have a 28-day competition date and home loans for auction properties can be harder to get.
How to find a new mortgage
Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible.
Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C
> Mortgage rates calculator
> Find the right mortgage for you
What if I need to remortgage?
Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act.
Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it.
Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees.
Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone.
What if I am buying a home?
Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be.
Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power.
How to compare mortgage costs
The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker.
This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice.
Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs.
If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.
> Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C
Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
21 hours ago
- BBC News
RAF Lightning fighter jet fired up after 18 years in Lincolnshire
A Cold War fighter jet, which spent the majority of its service at RAF Binbrook, has been fired up for the first time in 18 XR724, was designed to intercept Soviet bombers and first flew on 10 February 1965. The aircraft, which was retired in 1991, has been undergoing a five-year restoration project at the site near Market engineer Chris Johnson, who was in the cockpit when the 60-year-old plane was started, said: "Getting this old lady running again after so long being idle is going to feel great." Mr Johnson said his team is hoping to fix the aircraft's top engine by the end of next public run of the engine is due to be carried out an open day on 6 September. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Eerie portal to a lost world' that lies beneath council estate – network of abandoned tunnels left to rot for 60 years
A body was discovered in the tunnels FROZEN IN TIME 'Eerie portal to a lost world' that lies beneath council estate – network of abandoned tunnels left to rot for 60 years A EERIE maze of tunnels left to rot under a council estate has been likened to a "portal to a lost world". They are buried deep beneath a quiet Greater Manchester housing estate, the 1,332-yard tunnel was closed over 60 years ago. 5 The tunnels run under a council estate in Manchester Credit: Facebook 5 One of the refuge points where workers would stand as the train passed Credit: Facebook Known as Lydgate Tunnel, this Victorian-era passage runs between Grotton and Grasscroft in Saddleworth, and was once part of the infamous Delph Donkey line on the London and North Western Railway. Opening in 1856, the tunnel was hailed as a triumph of engineering. The West Yorkshire Advertiser called it 'firmly built' with 'scarcely any vibration' as trains thundered through. But its construction came at a cost. Just a year before opening, labourer Luke Crossby, 31, tragically plunged to his death down an 85-yard shaft. In 1855, the Manchester Courier described how he 'missed the tub' and fell headfirst. His body was found 'much shattered' and the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. For nearly a century, the tunnel echoed with the sound of steam engines, until the Delph Donkey line was axed in 1955, part of the controversial Beeching cuts that destroyed Britain's rail network. Freight trains rolled through for a few more years, but by 1964, Lydgate Tunnel was sealed off and left to the elements. Now, this creepy time capsule lies hidden beneath homes, fenced off from the public – but that hasn't stopped urban explorers from sneaking in and sharing spine-tingling photos online. Images posted to the Disused Railway Tunnels UK Facebook page show a haunting scene. Car graveyard with 300 classic vehicles abandoned in field goes up for sale – some can be driven straight from lot The tunnel's eastern entrance is bricked up, only accessible through a locked steel door or shuttered window. Despite six decades of abandonment, the brickwork inside is well-preserved. One explorer described it as 'a portal to another long-lost world', while another claimed mist 'hovered in layers… very eerie.' Comments flood in calling it 'spooky,' 'atmospheric,' and a 'forgotten gem.' Local residents shared memories of walking through the tunnel as children. One said: 'I was born just 30 yards from the Grotton end. "Walked it from the age of eight. The alcoves were there to shelter from oncoming trains.' Others slammed authorities for allowing such a 'stunning piece of Victorian craftsmanship' to fall into obscurity. 'All we had to do was maintain it, but instead we abandoned it,' wrote one user. Martin Zero, a content creator with a fascination with derelict buildings shared a video from the depths of the tunnels which has already been watched over 26,000 times. There are growing calls to bring Lydgate Tunnel back to life – not for trains, but for people. Martin pointed out the ventilation shafts and the refuges, which were where railway workers could hide for safety when a train passed through. Describing these refuges, Martin said: 'I think it's impressive. It's quite scary because when you look at that, you get the impression of what you're going through, what surrounds us, and what they've had to tunnel through to get here. 'You get the impression of what they were faced with when they were coming through the tunnel, just rock. I find it quite daunting, to be honest.' One YouTube user commented: 'I travelled on the Delph Donkey every day with my mum to Glodwick Road station in Oldham, where she worked. My dad also caught the train to Platts. "I was born in 1951, and on one occasion mice, bred in Delph for research, and dispatched by the Delph Donkey, escaped from their cages, and caused chaos amongst the passengers.' 5 It has become a hot spot for urban explorers Credit: Facebook 5 A body was discovered soon after the tunnels opened Credit: Facebook
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Secretive spy plane tracked over Scotland at 60,000 ft
On Friday morning at around 10am, a U-2 was tracked by aviation enthusiasts on global flight tracking service Flightradar24 as it flew over the Rosneath Peninsula in Argyll and Bute. U-2s are based at the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base in California, but are rotated to operational detachments worldwide. (Image: Flightradar24) The fleet regularly operates from both RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and RAF Fairford in the UK. One of the most distinctive aircraft in the United States Air Force, the U-2 was designed early in the Cold War to overfly and photograph military activities in the Soviet Union and other communist countries. The first U-2 flight over the Soviet Union took place on July 4, 1956, and it brought back photos of Leningrad's shipyards. During the Cold War, the U-2 flew from bases around the world, including the UK, France, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Pakistan, South Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand and South Korea. READ MORE: Royal Navy destroyer shadows Russian warship off Outer Hebrides Please tell us, Mr Swinney: how exactly would you defend Scotland? 'Major milestone' achieved in submarine dismantling project Nicknamed "Dragon Lady" after a comic strip character of the 1930s, the unique high-flying reconnaissance jet has been used by the U.S. Air Force, CIA and NASA. Routinely flown at altitudes over 70,000 feet, the U-2 pilot must wear a full pressure suit similar to those worn by astronauts. In January, a U-2 Dragon Lady was tracked flying over the Ayrshire coast at an altitude of 60,000 ft on its way to RAF Fairford.
