The Remote Radar Head Neatishead (formerly RAF Neatishead) is the current home to a radar musuem, a couple of RAF radar antennas (which are still active and we were disuaded to point out cameras at during the visit) and a type R3 ROTOR Nuclear Bunker, as well as an R12 Bunker. The site is up for auction in 2012-13 and is hoped to go for £2.5 million after a previous, unsuccessful, attempt to sell it for £4 million in 2010. A rare opportunity to go and see the bunker was arranged by Sophos9 (thanks once again!) and our guide was a former maintenance engineer who knew the whole bunker inside out. As the future of the site is unclear and possibly going to be sold to a private company which will make it harder to gain access to so this is my attempt to a comprehensive first report on the site.
These house the escape routes for the bunker.
The ventilation bunker
The bungalow on the left gives access to the bunker. Inside is a reception with 2 inch thick bullet-proof glass. The listed radar can be seen in the background
Inside the bungalow is a map of the bunker. The stairwell leads to the area in the bottom left.
The first corridor is angled to remove the energy from a direct nuclear strike on the bunker. On the right hand side is a rope to guide people out in case of fire/electricity failure. There are short and long lengths of string to make sure the follower doesn't go the wrong way!
The first blast door and entrance to the substation
Decontamination Control Room: Situated between two blast doors, high pressue from the bunker stopping any outside particles getting in.
The circuit diagram showing the EMP shielded zone
The entire floor was suspended above the concrete bunker with electric cabling between
A rose dedicated to 2 firemen who lost their lives tackling a fire emanating from the lower bunker in the 1960s
Door to the Frame Room
The lower bunker is totally encased in a metal Faraday cage to shield it from any electromagnetic pulses which can be seen through this grill
Lower Operations Room: The plywood planks are where the consoles were located.
Plant Room: Temperature gauges
Plant Room: Extractor Fan control panel
Another blast door that protected the Upper Control Room. Further down the corridor were regular holes drilled into the wall. As there were no dorms or bedrooms, fold-up beds would be suspended from the holes in columns of three.
Water tanks: Connected to the mains but also served by a local borehole in case of emergencies
Exhaust Air Outlet: Designed to cool air before it was extracted to the outside and therefore reducing the bunker's heat signature
Upper Operations Door
Upper Operations Door: These seals were on everything!
These strange triangles were all over the bunker. No idea what they were for.
The entire bunker was governed by old fasioned valves as modern computers were susceptible to EMP
Upper Operations Room: Once again the plywood covers are where consoles used to be with the projection screen at the back
Air Intake/Extraction Corridor: These flanked the main generator room. Very weird room. Looks space age.
Diesel Pumps: These were used to power the backup generator were the main (National Grid connected) generators were to fail
Generator Pump Control Unit
Fan Chamber that served the Generator Room
Generator Room: Although the diesel generators are long gone, the plinths where the stood can be seen.
Air Intake/Extraction Room: Possibly the strangest room in the whole bunker!
And finally, a little bit of an arty one.
These house the escape routes for the bunker.
The ventilation bunker
The bungalow on the left gives access to the bunker. Inside is a reception with 2 inch thick bullet-proof glass. The listed radar can be seen in the background
Inside the bungalow is a map of the bunker. The stairwell leads to the area in the bottom left.
The first corridor is angled to remove the energy from a direct nuclear strike on the bunker. On the right hand side is a rope to guide people out in case of fire/electricity failure. There are short and long lengths of string to make sure the follower doesn't go the wrong way!
The first blast door and entrance to the substation
Decontamination Control Room: Situated between two blast doors, high pressue from the bunker stopping any outside particles getting in.
The circuit diagram showing the EMP shielded zone
The entire floor was suspended above the concrete bunker with electric cabling between
A rose dedicated to 2 firemen who lost their lives tackling a fire emanating from the lower bunker in the 1960s
Door to the Frame Room
The lower bunker is totally encased in a metal Faraday cage to shield it from any electromagnetic pulses which can be seen through this grill
Lower Operations Room: The plywood planks are where the consoles were located.
Plant Room: Temperature gauges
Plant Room: Extractor Fan control panel
Another blast door that protected the Upper Control Room. Further down the corridor were regular holes drilled into the wall. As there were no dorms or bedrooms, fold-up beds would be suspended from the holes in columns of three.
Water tanks: Connected to the mains but also served by a local borehole in case of emergencies
Exhaust Air Outlet: Designed to cool air before it was extracted to the outside and therefore reducing the bunker's heat signature
Upper Operations Door
Upper Operations Door: These seals were on everything!
These strange triangles were all over the bunker. No idea what they were for.
The entire bunker was governed by old fasioned valves as modern computers were susceptible to EMP
Upper Operations Room: Once again the plywood covers are where consoles used to be with the projection screen at the back
Air Intake/Extraction Corridor: These flanked the main generator room. Very weird room. Looks space age.
Diesel Pumps: These were used to power the backup generator were the main (National Grid connected) generators were to fail
Generator Pump Control Unit
Fan Chamber that served the Generator Room
Generator Room: Although the diesel generators are long gone, the plinths where the stood can be seen.
Air Intake/Extraction Room: Possibly the strangest room in the whole bunker!
And finally, a little bit of an arty one.