It was recent BBC coverage of the site that put this cold war relic on the radar.Still time for a little history.
Local authorities were required by government to provide an emergency centre for each county, known as the county main.By the 1980s there were fifty such sites.Whilst most were laid out in a similar pattern, often a central operations room surrounded by offices,communications rooms and dormitories,where they were situated varied enormously.The conversion of town hall basments made up the majority of the sites.However other sites were used for the purpose such as Anti-aircraft operations rooms.By 1992, Like their larger RGHQ components, they were decommissioned, but some still function as emergency planning centres.The majority of County, district and local bunkers survive to this day primarily because of their locations under civic buildings.
Each county was required to maintain a standby site in case the main site was destroyed.In the case of Staffordshire this is under the library at Hanley.The staffordshire county main was typical of many sites in that it is the basement of a council building.
Sources: Britain's Cold War by Bob Clarke
BBC coverage of the Staffordshire sites.
BBC - Hidden Cold War bunkers in Staffordshire and Cheshire
Part of a BBC radio program
BBC - Stafford council's nuclear bunker
On with the pictures
Underneath this council building lurks the remains of the County main.
Site plan
Comms room
Operator booths still in situ.
decontamination shower and air vents set in the wall.
Generator room.
The working part of the bunker was made up of two large rooms, now used for storage.Others are used as offices.
1 Dist :Staffs moorlands
2 Dist: East Staffs
3 Dist: Lichfield
4 Dist:Tamworth
5 Dist: Cannock Chase
6 Dist: South Staffs
7 Dist: Stafford
8 Dist: Newcastle
9 Dist: Stoke on trent
STAFFS SBY: County standby Hanley
CMHQ: County Main HQ
A single period picture stuck on the wall.
Escape hatch
Local authorities were required by government to provide an emergency centre for each county, known as the county main.By the 1980s there were fifty such sites.Whilst most were laid out in a similar pattern, often a central operations room surrounded by offices,communications rooms and dormitories,where they were situated varied enormously.The conversion of town hall basments made up the majority of the sites.However other sites were used for the purpose such as Anti-aircraft operations rooms.By 1992, Like their larger RGHQ components, they were decommissioned, but some still function as emergency planning centres.The majority of County, district and local bunkers survive to this day primarily because of their locations under civic buildings.
Each county was required to maintain a standby site in case the main site was destroyed.In the case of Staffordshire this is under the library at Hanley.The staffordshire county main was typical of many sites in that it is the basement of a council building.
Sources: Britain's Cold War by Bob Clarke
BBC coverage of the Staffordshire sites.
BBC - Hidden Cold War bunkers in Staffordshire and Cheshire
Part of a BBC radio program
BBC - Stafford council's nuclear bunker
On with the pictures
Underneath this council building lurks the remains of the County main.
Site plan
Comms room
Operator booths still in situ.
decontamination shower and air vents set in the wall.
Generator room.
The working part of the bunker was made up of two large rooms, now used for storage.Others are used as offices.
1 Dist :Staffs moorlands
2 Dist: East Staffs
3 Dist: Lichfield
4 Dist:Tamworth
5 Dist: Cannock Chase
6 Dist: South Staffs
7 Dist: Stafford
8 Dist: Newcastle
9 Dist: Stoke on trent
STAFFS SBY: County standby Hanley
CMHQ: County Main HQ
A single period picture stuck on the wall.
Escape hatch
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