York Cold War Bunker
 Cold War bunker |
|
| Type | Scheduled Monument |
|---|---|
| Proprietor | English Heritage |
| Main feature | Bunker |
| Public access | By guided tour |
| Country | England |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Grid square | SE5851 |
| Address | Monument Close, York, North Yorkshire |
| Postcode | YO24 4HT |
| Refreshments | No |
| Parking | Yes |
| Shop | Yes |
| 53°57′24″N 1°07′01″W / 53.95667°N 1.11694°WCoordinates: 53°57′24″N 1°07′01″W / 53.95667°N 1.11694°W | |
The York Cold War Bunker is a two-storey semi-subterranean Cold War bunker in the Holgate area of York, England, built in 1961[1] 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[2] 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.
[edit] References
- ^ Cold War bunker, Holgate, York, The Press (4 August 2007), retrieved on 22 September 2007
- ^ NO 20 GROUP ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS HEADQUARTERS, English Heritage Pastscapes (2007), retrieved on 22 September 2007
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: York Cold War Bunker |
 |
This article about a North Yorkshire building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- Subterranea (geography)
- Buildings and structures in York
- English Heritage sites in North Yorkshire
- Royal Observer Corps
- 1961 establishments in England
- 1991 disestablishments
- Military history of North Yorkshire
- Cold War military equipment of the United Kingdom
- Civil defense
- Disaster preparedness in the United Kingdom
- Museums in North Yorkshire
- Cold War museums
- Military museums in England
- Nuclear bunkers
- North Yorkshire building and structure stubs
