bobblehead
October 31st, 2007, 22:33
Visited this site on Saturday. This is a WW2 Battle HQ which would have looked out over the old Elmdon Airport which later became Birmingham Airport. The idea was to co-ordinate the defence of the Airfield from here if attacked by those naughty Germans.
The observation cupola is above ground and has a viewing slit all the way round. The other (underground) rooms consist of a corridor, toilet, office, escape hatch and telecomms room. All are flooded to the local ground level and full of old stillages, bits of cars etc so we didn't venture too far inside.
If you want to see a good one go to Wellsbourne Mountford where there is a preserved one you can go and explore for a few quid as part of an aviation museum..
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2562/observationcupola1zd6.jpg
This is the observation cupola (not sure what the hole in the foreground was for - maybe cable access for the comms)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5691/mainentrancefh1.jpg
Main entrance
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4735/corridorco6.jpg
This is the view from the main entrance down the corridor. The toilet was at the end. Doorways to the left lead to the office and access to the cupola.
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3292/office1bz9.jpg
The office with spider web from the escape hatch side (not pleasant, didn't go in)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5578/dscf3575uc0.jpg
The rear of the cupola including the escape hatch. **** it's just occurred to me looking back at this picture that what I took to be random graffiti on the front of the cupola is actually a plan view of the HQ- the main entrance is on the top left and the cupola is on the right hand side !!!
The observation cupola is above ground and has a viewing slit all the way round. The other (underground) rooms consist of a corridor, toilet, office, escape hatch and telecomms room. All are flooded to the local ground level and full of old stillages, bits of cars etc so we didn't venture too far inside.
If you want to see a good one go to Wellsbourne Mountford where there is a preserved one you can go and explore for a few quid as part of an aviation museum..
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2562/observationcupola1zd6.jpg
This is the observation cupola (not sure what the hole in the foreground was for - maybe cable access for the comms)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5691/mainentrancefh1.jpg
Main entrance
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4735/corridorco6.jpg
This is the view from the main entrance down the corridor. The toilet was at the end. Doorways to the left lead to the office and access to the cupola.
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3292/office1bz9.jpg
The office with spider web from the escape hatch side (not pleasant, didn't go in)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5578/dscf3575uc0.jpg
The rear of the cupola including the escape hatch. **** it's just occurred to me looking back at this picture that what I took to be random graffiti on the front of the cupola is actually a plan view of the HQ- the main entrance is on the top left and the cupola is on the right hand side !!!