We lucked out, finding a fire escape had been left open over the weekend. The council are having the interior done up for use as an archive. It's in great - though far from from original - condition. Ventilation works a treat - dayumn that air was clean! It stands for Anti-Aircraft Operations Room by the way. (despite having many rooms)
History from a blog post by the company that recently developed the site:
AAORs were originally constructed in the early 1950s, and served as the control centres for automated gun sites. These sites were intended to defend against aircraft, such as Soviet bombers, in the event of escalation during the Cold War. However, the development of long-range missile technologies soon rendered these facilities obsolete, and they were discontinued after 1956. Frodsham AAOR was acquired by Chester County Council in the early 1960s and has served a number of purposes in the years since. Throughout the sixties, the site was used as a Civil Defence Training Centre until the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps. In the 1980s, the bunker underwent a refurbishment and the site became the Cheshire County Standby Emergency Centre and the Cheshire Fire Brigade County Standby Control Centre. Up until recently, the site was still in use as a training centre for the Cheshire Fire Service. Due to this continuous maintenance, Frodsham AAOR is one of the best-preserved buildings of its type in the country.
Cheers for ya eyeballin'
History from a blog post by the company that recently developed the site:
AAORs were originally constructed in the early 1950s, and served as the control centres for automated gun sites. These sites were intended to defend against aircraft, such as Soviet bombers, in the event of escalation during the Cold War. However, the development of long-range missile technologies soon rendered these facilities obsolete, and they were discontinued after 1956. Frodsham AAOR was acquired by Chester County Council in the early 1960s and has served a number of purposes in the years since. Throughout the sixties, the site was used as a Civil Defence Training Centre until the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps. In the 1980s, the bunker underwent a refurbishment and the site became the Cheshire County Standby Emergency Centre and the Cheshire Fire Brigade County Standby Control Centre. Up until recently, the site was still in use as a training centre for the Cheshire Fire Service. Due to this continuous maintenance, Frodsham AAOR is one of the best-preserved buildings of its type in the country.
Cheers for ya eyeballin'
Last edited:
