Ancient London Underground
Discussion
ZR1cliff said:
I remember as a kid driving through the 'New Forest' on the way to Bournemouth and seeing large stretches of concrete,even seeing them from the A27...i think they have all but grown over now.
Ime not sure wether they were landing strips for WW2 or used for the invasion force that hid out in the New Forest prior to D Day.
The old man grew up on the edge of the New Forest and has often recounted tales of old anti aircraft guns being left behind. One time him and his mates found an old ammo dump, liberated some bullets and used the anit aircraft gun to fire them down Southampton Water. Strangely the guns were removed the following day Ime not sure wether they were landing strips for WW2 or used for the invasion force that hid out in the New Forest prior to D Day.
s2art said:
Interesting topic. What staggers me is the extent of the defenses built against a Nazi invasion. There was an excellent program on the history channel (I think, may have been BBC History) which went into this. There were tank defenses built all over the place, South Wales springs to mind. If you ever go to Fairbourne, mid Wales coast, take a look at the miles of concrete blocks, designed to stop heavy equipment getting off the beaches. God only knows how they thought mid wales would be an invasion point. I would have liked to have seen how the hell the Nazis would have possibly got through that way.
My company used to own the hotel set into the hillside just above Fairbourne beach, great lookout point don't you knowA friend of my Dads lives in an unassuming bungalow in the East Midlands (near to Market Deeping). On his land is a copse of trees and semi disguised within this is a big green hanger which is actually the above ground entry point (and seemingly a vehicle store) for a cold war nuclear bomb shelter!
I've been inside and the engineering is amazing - the walls must be 5ft thick on the above ground level. Below ground the shelter has offices, a canteen, sleeping quarters and more spread over 4 levels - but has pretty much been gutted now and is used as a store. It's big enough to drive a fork lift truck around in the lower levels.
Apparently there are quite a few of these places out in the fens - the best ones are just a small bungalow which has access to underground levels inside it (rather than a reasonably obvious above ground hanger type entry). It's quite easy to recognise the bungalows which hide shelters if you know what to look for - something to do with an odd windown configuration.
I've been inside and the engineering is amazing - the walls must be 5ft thick on the above ground level. Below ground the shelter has offices, a canteen, sleeping quarters and more spread over 4 levels - but has pretty much been gutted now and is used as a store. It's big enough to drive a fork lift truck around in the lower levels.
Apparently there are quite a few of these places out in the fens - the best ones are just a small bungalow which has access to underground levels inside it (rather than a reasonably obvious above ground hanger type entry). It's quite easy to recognise the bungalows which hide shelters if you know what to look for - something to do with an odd windown configuration.
Bookmarked, can't wait to get home and look in to this type of thing more I love history.
Reminds me of the occasion Time Team were digging in the fields not far from my parents old house near Andoversford. It was all hush hush at the time, there's loads of ancient history round my way makes for a good walk if I can't be arsed to play golf.
Reminds me of the occasion Time Team were digging in the fields not far from my parents old house near Andoversford. It was all hush hush at the time, there's loads of ancient history round my way makes for a good walk if I can't be arsed to play golf.
Fascinating thread guys.
The point about Germany is well made: the Bergen-Hohne range complex north of Hannover has been in use for a very long time and is dotted with all sorts of stuff - including trees and rocks with graffiti from WW2, WW1 and earlier, some of it rather poignant.
Many, perhaps most, BAOR establishments used pre-existing Wehrmacht barracks and the HQ complex for the British Army in Berlin was the Olympic village. Living in Berlin in the late 70s and early 80s was straight out of John LeCarre, well, it was to my teenage mind, anyway...
The point about Germany is well made: the Bergen-Hohne range complex north of Hannover has been in use for a very long time and is dotted with all sorts of stuff - including trees and rocks with graffiti from WW2, WW1 and earlier, some of it rather poignant.
Many, perhaps most, BAOR establishments used pre-existing Wehrmacht barracks and the HQ complex for the British Army in Berlin was the Olympic village. Living in Berlin in the late 70s and early 80s was straight out of John LeCarre, well, it was to my teenage mind, anyway...
I've been in a few nuclear shelters as a kid... Dragged along by my dad who was in the Royal Observer Corp.
Anyway, the one that struck me the most was built underneath the sports hall of a school. I was told it was to be used as decamp for the local government bods from one of the larger Scottish regions (not really sure how much I should say...) The only visible sign from the outside was a communications mast and outer blast doors on the pretend retaining wall underneath the hall. This entrance was a pair of unassuming metal doors painted brown which didn't look anything out of the ordinary.
In fact, there was nothing untoward about this entrance unless you had been told to look for the wooden peg hammered into the ground next to the paving slabs in front of this door. Once you had located this peg, you then lifted the slab next to it whereupon you would collect the key and unlock the shelter!!! At the time I was stunned by this apparent lack of security, but it made a lot of sense if you couldn't guarantee that a keyholder will be able to make it there - that put things in perspective for me at that time.
Anyway, the one that struck me the most was built underneath the sports hall of a school. I was told it was to be used as decamp for the local government bods from one of the larger Scottish regions (not really sure how much I should say...) The only visible sign from the outside was a communications mast and outer blast doors on the pretend retaining wall underneath the hall. This entrance was a pair of unassuming metal doors painted brown which didn't look anything out of the ordinary.
In fact, there was nothing untoward about this entrance unless you had been told to look for the wooden peg hammered into the ground next to the paving slabs in front of this door. Once you had located this peg, you then lifted the slab next to it whereupon you would collect the key and unlock the shelter!!! At the time I was stunned by this apparent lack of security, but it made a lot of sense if you couldn't guarantee that a keyholder will be able to make it there - that put things in perspective for me at that time.
Fatboy said:
Jimbeaux said:
Very interesting hidden treasures. The various underground trapping's entrances are generally kept hidden from the public:
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Mi...
Looks like a very interesting program - hopefully it'll make it across the pond to the History channel UK shortly - Edinburgh should be interesting as well...http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Mi...
Great thread, although not good for productivity... Subterania Brittania you said?
davetaxi said:
Did not have time to look about the new forest will have to have a go nexr rime.
The scenes for Die Another Day ia m not sure about i have actually read about it but i have forgotten.The info is somewhere on the web.
You mentioned some book on 'secrets of the forest'[or similar] yesterday?The scenes for Die Another Day ia m not sure about i have actually read about it but i have forgotten.The info is somewhere on the web.
well now i know Threads was inaccurate on one thing - the Sheffield Borough control was not a bunker as dipicted in the Film... but a: Broom Shelter.
The local government central nuclear civil defence HQ in Sheffield in 1984 was a broom cupboard. (Sheffield was a Labour controlled Nuclear Free Zone) (http://www.hackgreen.co.uk/Declassified_Files/A_-_H/a_-_h.htm )
The local government central nuclear civil defence HQ in Sheffield in 1984 was a broom cupboard. (Sheffield was a Labour controlled Nuclear Free Zone) (http://www.hackgreen.co.uk/Declassified_Files/A_-_H/a_-_h.htm )
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/knowledge/posts.php?t...
I heard about this years ago.
Apparently Oxford Street used to be a hill sloping down to a small river.
Many years ago it was levelled and below some of the shops below the sub sub basements are the remains of the old cobbled road and Victorian shop fronts.
I heard about this years ago.
Apparently Oxford Street used to be a hill sloping down to a small river.
Many years ago it was levelled and below some of the shops below the sub sub basements are the remains of the old cobbled road and Victorian shop fronts.
This thread has become a good topic of conversation,myself and a few freinds had a bit of a chin wag about it earlier over a curry,and Old Compton Street/Little Compton Street was mentioned.....
Under the Grill,
Wikipedia said:
... An interesting local feature can be found in the middle of Charing Cross Road at its junction with Old Compton Street. Beneath the grill in the traffic island in the middle of the road can be seen the old road signs for the now vanished Little Compton Street which once joined Old Compton Street with New Compton Street.
The Grill,Under the Grill,
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