York Cold War Bunker
Encyclopedia
The York Cold War Bunker is a two-storey semi-subterranean Cold War
bunker
in the Holgate area of York
, England
, built in 1961 to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout
in Yorkshire in the event of nuclear war
.
One of about 30 around the UK and Northern Ireland, the building was used throughout its operational existence as the regional headquarters and control centre for the Royal Observer Corps
's No. 20 Group YORK between 1961 and 1991. It is an English Heritage Scheduled Monument and was opened in 2006 by English Heritage
as a tourist attraction.
During its Cold War operational period the building could have supported 60 local volunteer members of the Royal Observer Corps inclusive of a ten man United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation
scientific warning team. They would have collated details of nuclear bombs exploded within the UK and tracked radioactive fallout across the Yorkshire region, warning the public of its approach. This example of an ROC control building is the only one that is preserved in its operational condition. The others stand derelict or have either been demolished or sold. A few have been converted to other uses like No. 16 Group Shrewsbury that is now a vetinerary clinic, another is a recording studio, two are satellite and communications control centres and one is a solicitor's file storage facility.
The fully restored building contains air filtration and generating plant, kitchen and canteen, dormitories, radio and landline communication equipment and specialist 1980s computers and a fully equipped operations room with vertical illuminated perspex maps.
The attraction opens every Sunday and Bank Holidays from 10am - 3pm and is only accessible by one hour long tours, departing at regular intervals and includes a 10 minute (PG rated) informational video about nuclear war. Access on weekdays is by arrangement for school and other interested group visits.
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
in the Holgate area of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, built in 1961 to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout
Nuclear fallout
Fallout is the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast, so called because it "falls out" of the sky after the explosion and shock wave have passed. It commonly refers to the radioactive dust and ash created when a nuclear weapon explodes...
in Yorkshire in the event of nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
.
One of about 30 around the UK and Northern Ireland, the building was used throughout its operational existence as the regional headquarters and control centre for the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
's No. 20 Group YORK between 1961 and 1991. It is an English Heritage Scheduled Monument and was opened in 2006 by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a tourist attraction.
During its Cold War operational period the building could have supported 60 local volunteer members of the Royal Observer Corps inclusive of a ten man United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation
United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation
The United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation was a British civilian organisation operating between 1957 and 1992 to provide the authorities with data about nuclear explosions and forecasts of likely fallout profiles across the country in the event of war.The UKWMO was established and...
scientific warning team. They would have collated details of nuclear bombs exploded within the UK and tracked radioactive fallout across the Yorkshire region, warning the public of its approach. This example of an ROC control building is the only one that is preserved in its operational condition. The others stand derelict or have either been demolished or sold. A few have been converted to other uses like No. 16 Group Shrewsbury that is now a vetinerary clinic, another is a recording studio, two are satellite and communications control centres and one is a solicitor's file storage facility.
The fully restored building contains air filtration and generating plant, kitchen and canteen, dormitories, radio and landline communication equipment and specialist 1980s computers and a fully equipped operations room with vertical illuminated perspex maps.
The attraction opens every Sunday and Bank Holidays from 10am - 3pm and is only accessible by one hour long tours, departing at regular intervals and includes a 10 minute (PG rated) informational video about nuclear war. Access on weekdays is by arrangement for school and other interested group visits.