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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
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Inside the rare Cold War bunker on the market for £20,000 - and it has a VERY creepy surprise inside
A very rare Cold War bunker hidden in the Norfolk countryside has gone on the market for just £20,000 - with a very creepy surprise inside. Dersingham's Cold War-era Royal Observer Corps (ROC) post was once part of a huge network of observation posts up and down the country. It was built in 1957 as part of an early warning system to detect impending nuclear attack and calculate its fallout. The remarkable remnant of history is set to be auctioned for a guide price of £20,000 on May 8 and is located on the edge of the royal Sandringham Estate. Pictures of the spooky bunker show a metal ladder going down 15 feet into the ground. Inside, there are merely two rooms in total - with the smaller containing the toilet, while the larger room was used for observation and sleeping. But next to the rickety beads and threadbare walls, a bizarre naked mannequin can be seen in the photographs of the listing - making for a very strange sight. With nothing on, and only having a blonde wig and fake eyelashes, the chipped and dented figure adds an eerie feel to the photos of the historic shelter, having clearly been neglected for many years. While in use, the shelter 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. It's clearly of its time - as on the wall there also hangs an asbestos fire blanket. On the shelves, there are old tin cans, while there's an old fire extinguisher in the corner. The Dersingham post 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, which marks this particular one as a rare find. Hidden in the middle of the countryside, its listing makes for an unexpected treat. Three vital pieces of equipment would also have been housed here: the Fixed Survey Meter, the Bomb Power Indicator and the Ground Zero Indicator. The post features two key constructions with a concrete Class A Orlitt hut above ground, and a hidden underground bunker. Both structures were completed due to the heightened threat of nuclear war. The Orlitt hut first emerged in key locations around the country to allow the ROC to monitor and assess possible attacks by aircraft. Each hut was designed to house three observers, with each volunteer tasked with specific duties. 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.' In recent months, following growing threats of World War Three, Brits have been scrambling to get their hands on such shelters. Hollow shells ready to be dug into a fearful resident's garden are being flogged on eBay for nearly £10,000. Royal Observer Posts, designed to protect observers 15ft below the surface, are being snapped up for well over their asking price. Specialist companies are even offering to build fully-fitted prefabricated structures - saying they have seen a huge increase in inquiries following the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cold War nuclear bunker in Rutland to go under the hammer
A former nuclear bunker in Rutland which has been given planning consent to be transformed into a modern home is to be sold at 1.4-acre bunker and former reservoir site, which sits half a mile from Uppingham, has been given a guide price of £650, listing describes it as a "Grand Designs-style" opportunity, with "cathedral-type ceilings", a large glass frontage and "stunning" views over the Property Auctions said the bunker, which opened in 1960, formed part of a UK-wide network of 1,500 Cold War underground monitoring posts operated by the Royal Observer Corps. The idea is they would be used to monitor nuclear blasts and the ensuing fall-out in the event of a major escalation was decommissioned in 1968. Auctioneer Andrew Parker said there had been "a lot of interest" in the bunker, which he said was "something of a rarity, with its unique Cold War history".He added planning consent for its transformation into a modern home had been granted by Rutland County auction is due to take place on 24 July 2024, another Royal Observer Corps underground bunker in the Yorkshire Dales, was sold for £48,000.
