Bunkers about Rotherham
Cold War Information Comes To Light
Subterranea Britannica is a society devoted the the study and investigation of man-made and man-used underground places. Their Research Study Group (RSG) aims to study and record the UK's Cold War defence infrastructure: e.g. radar stations, secret bunkers, communications networks, civil defence plans and propaganda.
The group meets a few times each year, typically at a bunker or other interesting installation.
In between meetings, members get together to visit `secret' sites that are not open to the public. Opportunities to do this turn up occasionally, usually at short notice. If possible, members aim to record sites, or at least photograph them, before they undergo change of use or demolition.
As for local interest the Rotherham County Borough Control bunker consists of a rectangular concrete surface blockhouse; partially overgrown and hidden away at the rear of a council yard south east of the junction between the A630 and A6123. The entrance is in the middle of one side with steps leading down through a gas tight door into a short lobby.
A spokesman told us:
"The bunker was built about 1954 and although, in theory, it should have been available for use until the end of the cold war, in practice it has not been used since the disbanding of the Civil Defence Corps in 1968 and all the papers and files predate this. The bunker was supposed to have been kept on 'care and maintenance' but as the 'left wing' council saw no need for civil defence it was left to rot, hence its poor internal condition".
Full details, including detailed photographs and diagrams, can be found online
Other local bunkers
Conisbrough
Doncaster
