York Bunker Reveals Its Nuclear Secrets

York Cold War Bunker External View Rare surviving example of Britain’s nuclear history is restored to its former nerve centre glory

Memories of a time when the threat of nuclear attack was a very real one will be evoked as English Heritage opens the bomb proof doors of the York Bunker to the public to reveal its cold war secrets.  Following a complex restoration programme, the semi-sunken York Bunker will offer visitors the opportunity to learn the fascinating and intriguing history of how Britain responded to deepening international tensions.

York Cold War Bunker Entrance The bunker was built in 1961, a year before US-Russian tensions reached boiling point with the Cuban Missile Crisis which saw the bunker put on high alert.   The structure was one of 29 group headquarters across the United Kingdom, operated by the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO) and staffed by the Royal Observer Corp (ROC), a mainly volunteer force of civilians, designed to monitor nuclear activity and issue fallout warning should the worst case scenario occur.  The bunker was eventually decommissioned in 1991 with the signing of a non-aggression treaty between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries.

Tim Reeve, Property Development Director for English Heritage said: “We are delighted that we have been able to open up this fascinating and unique structure, an outstanding example of its type, to the public and display its exceptional artefacts and collections.  However, the very fact we are here today is thanks to not only the hard work and dedication of English Heritage staff, but also the hugely important contribution from the ROC Association in York, the Cold War Bunker Trust, volunteers and enthusiasts, who have worked with us to reproduce a site that offers visitors a highly authentic insight into the former operation of a nuclear bunker.”

York Cold War Bunker Kitchen Once inside the bunker, visitors will be able to explore the Operations Room, the heart of the Group Headquarters – it was from here that officers would have recorded, monitored, and disseminated information on nuclear attacks.  Also ready to be discovered are the:

• Officers’ Room, from where No. 20 Group’s Commandment organised training and rotas, and ensured the bunker was fully operational during an emergency;
• The Telephone Exchange, which had direct lines to police stations for issuing public fallout warning and;
• Dormitories – in a crisis, roughly 50 people staffed the headquarters in three watches - a ‘Hot Bed’ system meant staff used any available bed!

The bunker will be open to the public from Monday, 15 May, by pre-booked tour only. People interested in visiting the bunker can book by telephone on 01904 646940, by e-mailing yorkbunker@english-heritage.org.uk or in person by going to Clifford’s Tower in York. Prices are £5 for adults, £4 for English Heritage concessions and £3 for children. Exclusive specialist tours and education packages are also available.