To break the four hour drive from Glasgow to York, we stopped at the outlet stores at Gretna Green. It was good to get out and wander for a bit, but there really were few bargains to be found. Continuing on we stopped further along for a picnic lunch before arriving in York at about 1:30pm.
Our first port of call was the
York Cold War Bunker. This was a nice follow up to our visit to the Minuteman Missile Bunker in South Dakota five years ago. This bunker was designed to monitor fall out from a nuclear bomb and was staffed by volunteers, the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). In the event of an "operation" the bunker could hold 60 ROC for a total of 30 days, after which the doors would be opened and the volunteers thanked for their help and sent out into the post nuclear explosion world. Sobering stuff.
Upon entering, Ken and I both remarked that the bunker "smelled of the '60s". I take my hat off to people who devoted their time to train for the ROC and make a commitment to staff the bunker in the event of an operation - I certainly wouldn't/couldn't.
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| The bunker is in the middle of a series of suburban cul de sacs in York - quite non-descript |
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| Our guide was certainly passionate about his subject - he holds a Masters in this period of time/subject |
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| Triangulation "old school". The bunker was a regional centre, one of 27. Each regional centre received 5 minutely reports (via protected phone lines) from a few dozen 3-man "mini bunkers". Those reports were used to triangulate explosions and rate of fall in radiation. |
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| Meet AUDREY - she was used to detect the two flashes of a nuclear bomb blast, but ended up detecting lightening flashes instead |
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| The operations room - Ken was desperate to get a close up of the map. It held sensitive information regarding everything underground, every airfield, every train station, every military base in Britain |
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| The women's dorm - the beds were "hot-sheeted" - 3 groups of 20 volunteers on rotation through 3 stations in the bunker (the operations room, the rec space, and sleeping). Given the lifespan of the bunker was only 30 days, it was felt that the sheets would not need to be changed during that time - so no laundry, and no water supply for showers either. |
From the bunker we met our agent for our accommodation, and are now settled in nicely. It is a treat to stay in an apartment that is not someone's home - its huge! No mould, many rooms, a verandah overlooking the river, walking distance to everything in the town of York, a large kitchen. Bliss. Ben is happy with the desk in his room!
We have just had dinner at
El Paradisio del Cibo - two minutes walk from our accommodation. The pizza was just absolutely delicious!
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| Ben reading his souvenir from today. Hopefully not nightmare fuel. |
