Report - RAF Bawdsey R3 ROTOR Bunker, Suffolk - April 2025

[mockney reject]

If this is the one you mean it was there when I last went mate.

yup thats the one

 

[Rydersynpe]

Completely missed it 🤦 what room was it in?



It’s round the back end where the blast doors are.

It’s down the corridor coming off the stairs if that makes sense. On the top floor.
Gutted for you that you missed it as it has old instructions and prints still intact like these -

Hope this helps mate 👍

 

[dansgas1000]

Cheers mate, apparently I'm a complete moron and missed the blast doors too haha. I assume through the blast doors is the tunnel/corridor which goes to the bungalow? Oh well, a good excuse for a revisit!

 

[Rydersynpe]

Cheers mate, apparently I'm a complete moron and missed the blast doors too haha. I assume through the blast doors is the tunnel/corridor which goes to the bungalow? Oh well, a good excuse for a revisit!

Yes mate gutted for you! It’s got the tunnel but it quite flooded. Bring boots. 🤣

 

[Urbex.2p]

Hi mate
Sorry to ask but I was in the bunker last week and had some serious trouble with the land owner did you have any problems or know of anybody having their car damaged or any threatening behaviour
Thanks buddy

 

[ExplorinWithAustin&Thomas]

Hi mate
Sorry to ask but I was in the bunker last week and had some serious trouble with the land owner did you have any problems or know of anybody having their car damaged or any threatening behaviour
Thanks buddy

I saw this on an Instagram post, the poster said that the Landowner had let the tyres down on their car when they returned from the explore, but I can't confirm the validity of that.

 

[dansgas1000]

I saw this on an Instagram post, the poster said that the Landowner had let the tyres down on their car when they returned from the explore, but I can't confirm the validity of that.

We had no issues but yeah I heard the same thing.

 

[KurtMeyer]

Tremendous photos and visit there - the lighting you achieved was second to none!!! Well done!!!

I always thought this place was sealed up and you couldnt get in any more - clearly not!

 

[KurtMeyer]

I love the fact it was the first Chain Home Radar site in the UK, and it was a bloodhound missile site as well at the end. So much military history around Bawdsey. They even had some kennels near the entrance, obviously for security dogs, wonder if it is still there.

The kennels are indeed still intact

 

[dansgas1000]

Tremendous photos and visit there - the lighting you achieved was second to none!!! Well done!!!

I always thought this place was sealed up and you couldnt get in any more - clearly not!

Cheers! Yeah it has been open for a few months now, but the entry point is a little awkward but worth it.

 

[geography man]

lovely pictures . its been a while since i tried to get into bawdsey, i used to walk along the beach and up the cliff but thats eroded too much now. I was also nearly caught as someone showed up with dogs at the main gate so i quickly left
all the times i went there, there was no access to the bunker as it was covered, if you dont mind me asking, how did you get in to take these pictures?

 

[dansgas1000]

lovely pictures . its been a while since i tried to get into bawdsey, i used to walk along the beach and up the cliff but thats eroded too much now. I was also nearly caught as someone showed up with dogs at the main gate so i quickly left
all the times i went there, there was no access to the bunker as it was covered, if you dont mind me asking, how did you get in to take these pictures?

Yeah I've heard the owners like to set their dogs onto people, not sure if the entry point has changed since I visited.

 

[Rik UE]

Now that does look cool. Nice report and some nice shots there.

 

[captain-k]

Visited the (almost identical) R3 at Neatishead in 1980s. Photos of R3 in working order here, you can compare with ones on this post. Why anyone ever thought that the entrance 'bungalow' was going to confuse a Soviet spy I have no idea - with a huge radar turning and burning for all to see! Apparently it was powerful enough to fry birds that flew too close to it ...

When I vsited in 1980s, the (bored?) techies had built a false lift door in the underground control room, complete with buttons and 'working' lights for the different floors, to confuse senior officers - classic military humour!

The chane hoist was for moving heavy equipment between floors ...