ENTRANCE STAIRWAY LEADING TO THE TUNNEL
THE TUNNEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE STAIRS
ENTRANCE WARNING SIGNS ETC
STANDING NEXT TO A HUGE VENTILATION DUCT APROX 9ft X 9ft (left)
MAIN OPERATIONS ROOM
A VIEW FROM ABOVE LOOKING DOWN AT THE ADJACENT OPERATIONS ROOM
THERMO-TANK
SOME LITERATURE FOUND
POSSIBLE EARLY COMPUTER PROGRAM ON A ROLL ?
VERY HEAVY BLAST DOORS
ONE OF THE 3 PLANT ROOM DOORS
(above 2 pics) - EMERGENCY ESCAPE STAIRCASE
SHOREHAM R2 ROTOR RADAR BUNKER, UK cc2023
HISTORY
In the early cc1950’s television was still in its infancy. With the coming of the Coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second on June 2nd cc1953, however, interest mushroomed. There were severe restrictions on capital investment at this time so no new transmitters were available for the coronation. Instead, the BBC were given permission to install three temporary, low power stations to serve the Brighton, Newcastle and Belfast areas.
The Brighton transmitter was at 'Truleigh Hill' and used the wooden RAF mast at the south-east corner of the site.
The transmitters were converted RCA type ET 4336 units mounted on a converted outside broadcast trailer. This equipment was then modified from its original HF power of 250w to give a peak white power of 500w in band 1. The vision transmitters used a new grid-modulated rf stage with a BBC designed stabilising amplifier as the modulator. A new rf stage was added to the sound transmitters and the conversion, production and installation of the whole system was completed in only three months jointly by the Designs and the Planning & Installation Departments.
The transmitter went into service on May 9th cc1953 using channel 3 and simple dipole aerials to transmit. The receiver system consisted of four inverted ‘V’ aerials to receive the signals from Alexandra Palace.
Truleigh Hill was eventually meant to be replaced by a new transmitter built at Rowbridge Farm near Newport on the Isle of Wight but this proved to be unsatisfactory for reception in the Brighton area. Truleigh was, therefore, retained but since Rowbridge was working on channel 3 Truleigh had to be moved onto channel 2 to avoid interference.
The haste in which this link was erected, and the extended period for which it was kept in use led to a few minor problems on site including the aerials being damaged in high winds. The Gee engineers usually did the running repairs since they were already on site but, in spite of these problems, the relay was a continued success and was finally removed in cc1957 when other, more permanent, local repeaters were constructed.
The Truleigh Hill bungalow was completed in cc1952, shortly after the death of the King. Even while it was being built equipment was being lowered into the tunnel by crane then taken along the tunnel to the bunker for installation.
Above ground and near the the cable duct entry point is a very strong blockhouse with a couple of small radio masts fixed to it. The masts are a recent addition and carry traffic for local companies. The whole building is obviously designed to withstand a great deal of punishment and the roof is re-enforced concrete. latest investigations seem to indicate that the radar head would have been on top of this roof and would have been part of a Type 14 installation.
Even after more than 40 years, the tunnel is still dry and a pleasant, cool, temperature is maintained naturally throughout. The floor would once have been immaculately polished but the National Servicemen responsible for this finish have long since departed. The tunnel is about 100 yards long and slopes gently down into the hill. Cable ties are fixed all along the tunnel and mains electricity was laid in all the way from the Steyning area. Since buying it, the present owner has had the whole place re-wired so the present lighting is much more modern than the bunker.
In spite of the extremely high priority given to the ROTOR project, the whole scheme was superseded only a few months after it was begun. Two developments made the whole scheme redundant.
The Soviets developed the Hydrogen Bomb, making the hardened installations built up to that time useless, and the new ‘Type 80’ radar was developed. This new radar was such an advance that a few sites round the country replaced the dozens of ROTOR sites. It also meant enormous cost savings in terms of people, plant, sites etc so, only a few year after it was completed, Truleigh Hill’s Cold War usefulness came to an end.
No evidence of any sleeping accommodation exists but rest rooms, toilets and a kitchen are there. Conversations with operators on other such sites indicate, however, that it would be a rare installation that didn’t have a standard pattern RAF bed sneaked in somewhere. There are two sets of toilets and two rest rooms connected by a small kitchen. The people manning the station lived in a small domestic site at Stony Lane, Shoreham and were driven in each day to work.
By 1957 the whole site was all but cleared
THE EXPLORE
We set off early in hope to beat any traffic congestion, once we arrived at Truleigh Hill we noticed there were A LOT of people in the area from hikers to dog walkers to mountain bikers, off road dirt bikers and a flurry of other visitors.
We decided to visit a near by pub and kill a few hours until it was later in the day and dusk would then fall.
Once night time fell the hole area was in pitch darkness. We made our way up the hill heading towards the building of interest. Once there there was a gate and fence one had razor wire wrapped around it the other rusty barbed wire. It was trick getting in, but we managed it unscathed, cuts free.
We spent a while looking for the entrance point, we then discovered a way inside. As soon as we saw the stairs within we all became energised and moral lifted. We squeezed through a tight space and so the explore began.
CONCLUSION
We are unsure what the future holds for this site. Its rumoured the masts 'may' still be in use but we cant find any conclusive information to confirm nor dismiss this. The entrance has been sealed from time to time in the past and no doubt it wont be long before it is sealed again. There is a story floating around that it was originally sealed due to a 'boy' whom died when a heavy Blast Door fell on him in the late cc1960s - with this in mind and the possibility of a similar accident.happening again. I am sure it will not be long before it is sealed once more.
The Bungalow is said to still be used by Sussex police but is under separate ownership than that of the bunker..The main part of the actual Bungalow was 'out of bounds' and securely closed. There really was no point in exploring the above ground structure since the access to the bunker was wide open (all be it a tight squeeze).
Some of the rooms also saw use as a grow-room for 'exotic plants' - I believe the op got busted due to funky smells escaping from the poorly sealed ducting that ran within the original ventilation system.
EXTRA INFO
Previous reports showed the bunker lit up with a more recent (than Cold War Era) fluorescent tube lighting, However - upon our visit the fuses had been taken or moved / removed, this was actually of no importance to us as we do not know who foots the electricity bill and had no intention of stealing power - its worth mentioning though.
I filmed the explore and once I have completed editing the video footage - I will add more photographs HERE explaining what rooms were what and add further information about each of them respectively.
HISTORY
In the early cc1950’s television was still in its infancy. With the coming of the Coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second on June 2nd cc1953, however, interest mushroomed. There were severe restrictions on capital investment at this time so no new transmitters were available for the coronation. Instead, the BBC were given permission to install three temporary, low power stations to serve the Brighton, Newcastle and Belfast areas.
The Brighton transmitter was at 'Truleigh Hill' and used the wooden RAF mast at the south-east corner of the site.
The transmitters were converted RCA type ET 4336 units mounted on a converted outside broadcast trailer. This equipment was then modified from its original HF power of 250w to give a peak white power of 500w in band 1. The vision transmitters used a new grid-modulated rf stage with a BBC designed stabilising amplifier as the modulator. A new rf stage was added to the sound transmitters and the conversion, production and installation of the whole system was completed in only three months jointly by the Designs and the Planning & Installation Departments.
The transmitter went into service on May 9th cc1953 using channel 3 and simple dipole aerials to transmit. The receiver system consisted of four inverted ‘V’ aerials to receive the signals from Alexandra Palace.
Truleigh Hill was eventually meant to be replaced by a new transmitter built at Rowbridge Farm near Newport on the Isle of Wight but this proved to be unsatisfactory for reception in the Brighton area. Truleigh was, therefore, retained but since Rowbridge was working on channel 3 Truleigh had to be moved onto channel 2 to avoid interference.
The haste in which this link was erected, and the extended period for which it was kept in use led to a few minor problems on site including the aerials being damaged in high winds. The Gee engineers usually did the running repairs since they were already on site but, in spite of these problems, the relay was a continued success and was finally removed in cc1957 when other, more permanent, local repeaters were constructed.
The Truleigh Hill bungalow was completed in cc1952, shortly after the death of the King. Even while it was being built equipment was being lowered into the tunnel by crane then taken along the tunnel to the bunker for installation.
Above ground and near the the cable duct entry point is a very strong blockhouse with a couple of small radio masts fixed to it. The masts are a recent addition and carry traffic for local companies. The whole building is obviously designed to withstand a great deal of punishment and the roof is re-enforced concrete. latest investigations seem to indicate that the radar head would have been on top of this roof and would have been part of a Type 14 installation.
Even after more than 40 years, the tunnel is still dry and a pleasant, cool, temperature is maintained naturally throughout. The floor would once have been immaculately polished but the National Servicemen responsible for this finish have long since departed. The tunnel is about 100 yards long and slopes gently down into the hill. Cable ties are fixed all along the tunnel and mains electricity was laid in all the way from the Steyning area. Since buying it, the present owner has had the whole place re-wired so the present lighting is much more modern than the bunker.
In spite of the extremely high priority given to the ROTOR project, the whole scheme was superseded only a few months after it was begun. Two developments made the whole scheme redundant.
The Soviets developed the Hydrogen Bomb, making the hardened installations built up to that time useless, and the new ‘Type 80’ radar was developed. This new radar was such an advance that a few sites round the country replaced the dozens of ROTOR sites. It also meant enormous cost savings in terms of people, plant, sites etc so, only a few year after it was completed, Truleigh Hill’s Cold War usefulness came to an end.
No evidence of any sleeping accommodation exists but rest rooms, toilets and a kitchen are there. Conversations with operators on other such sites indicate, however, that it would be a rare installation that didn’t have a standard pattern RAF bed sneaked in somewhere. There are two sets of toilets and two rest rooms connected by a small kitchen. The people manning the station lived in a small domestic site at Stony Lane, Shoreham and were driven in each day to work.
By 1957 the whole site was all but cleared
THE EXPLORE
We set off early in hope to beat any traffic congestion, once we arrived at Truleigh Hill we noticed there were A LOT of people in the area from hikers to dog walkers to mountain bikers, off road dirt bikers and a flurry of other visitors.
We decided to visit a near by pub and kill a few hours until it was later in the day and dusk would then fall.
Once night time fell the hole area was in pitch darkness. We made our way up the hill heading towards the building of interest. Once there there was a gate and fence one had razor wire wrapped around it the other rusty barbed wire. It was trick getting in, but we managed it unscathed, cuts free.
We spent a while looking for the entrance point, we then discovered a way inside. As soon as we saw the stairs within we all became energised and moral lifted. We squeezed through a tight space and so the explore began.
CONCLUSION
We are unsure what the future holds for this site. Its rumoured the masts 'may' still be in use but we cant find any conclusive information to confirm nor dismiss this. The entrance has been sealed from time to time in the past and no doubt it wont be long before it is sealed again. There is a story floating around that it was originally sealed due to a 'boy' whom died when a heavy Blast Door fell on him in the late cc1960s - with this in mind and the possibility of a similar accident.happening again. I am sure it will not be long before it is sealed once more.
The Bungalow is said to still be used by Sussex police but is under separate ownership than that of the bunker..The main part of the actual Bungalow was 'out of bounds' and securely closed. There really was no point in exploring the above ground structure since the access to the bunker was wide open (all be it a tight squeeze).
Some of the rooms also saw use as a grow-room for 'exotic plants' - I believe the op got busted due to funky smells escaping from the poorly sealed ducting that ran within the original ventilation system.
EXTRA INFO
Previous reports showed the bunker lit up with a more recent (than Cold War Era) fluorescent tube lighting, However - upon our visit the fuses had been taken or moved / removed, this was actually of no importance to us as we do not know who foots the electricity bill and had no intention of stealing power - its worth mentioning though.
I filmed the explore and once I have completed editing the video footage - I will add more photographs HERE explaining what rooms were what and add further information about each of them respectively.
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