RAF CHILMARK ammunition store and underground, wiltshire sept 2010

[tommo]

well this was one that started as a chat in a pub last year, having read alot about the underground store and seeing the pics we started asking questions only to be told, there are workings but nothing much really, no one really knew its location and not having much time to go and have a look we just brused it under the carpet, that was until a couple of reports started to surface

top shout to kinger

so me, vwdirtboy and toad made our plans and headed over to the other side of wiltshire, we meet and made our way to the site, only to drive past a strang looking fella looking dodgy near the entrance, camera and tripod in hand,a bit early to be dogging i thought ah he must be exploring, then as he turned round with a big grin on his face, relief was in the air for both of us as it was darkprince having a mouch about lol, having seen his comments on this place already i had a feeling he might be out this way soon

so we parked the cars up and head back to meet up with him, had a chat and made our way in, we did the site backwards to my report but i want to try and discribe the route of how the site would of worked so here we go

history

RAF Chilmark
Chilmark Quarries and its underground limestone mines and the surrounding land were acquired by the Air Ministry in 1936 and served as a bomb store, RAF Chilmark, throughout WWII.

Close to the village of Chilmark the huge quarry workings had been supplied the stone for the building of Salisbury Cathedral.There was a standard-gauge transfer station at Ham Cross, with afour mile spur from Chilmark to the BR connection at Dinton which utilises part of the old double track main line from Exeter to Salisbury.

Much of the underground railway, within the individual bomb stores was operated by battery electric locos, one of which was Baguley Drewery 3703, now preserved on the Golden Valley Railway in Derbyshire - link.

The above ground system also served the Chilmark Stone Mine that was located within RAF Chilmark.

The first consignment of war stores arrived in May 1937, unlike most other WWII RAF depots, Chilmark continued in use after the war but by 1965 chilmark was the RAF's only ammunition supply depot and In 1994 supplies were transferred to the Nato depot at Glen Douglas in Scotland, prior to the complete closure of Chilmark in April 1995 with the loss of 200 jobs

RAF Chilmark was finally decommissioned in 1996 and most of the remaining 2ft gauge railway equipment disposed of in a MOD tender


quote from the RAF museam

for 58 years past generations of RAF,RN, army and american staff have been making, maintaing or disposing of explosives, including mustard gas at chilmark and what contamination might exist on its 343 acre site is any ones guess
there where many anecdotal stories of past dumping activites but apart from one known burial pit for mustard gas containers there was precious little on record, we and our HQ team knew that this time we had to do our best to clear up the results of any previous burial or dumping of explosives at chilmark. the unit had to be thoroughly searched and cleared and an EOD team, lead by RAF EOD specialist, but staffed by EOD trained chilmark civilian armaments staff was formed to carry out the task

. -

Ruston & Hornsby 40DL diesel-mechanical 3-speed 0-4-0, works number 194771 (built in Lincoln) was part of a batch of small diesel locomotives built under contract for theAir Ministry in 1939. this has been restored now but was once used at chilmark during the war

this is one of the old trucks used ot carry bombs in chilmark

as was this Jack is an ex-RAF Chilmark loco

 

[tommo]

first up is the Trans-shipment shed from narrow-gauge to main railway at Hams Cross. Converted caves and surface magazine linked to Hams Cross by light railway, these would of been used to transfere the bombs from the main line to narrow gauge trucks so they could be taking in to the bomb store

its now being used by a local farmer for cattle

found this old fire engine just sat in there being used for storage of faming stuff

next we head up to the bomb and missle servicing building

then over to the Missile assembly building, its been used by the international school of security and explosives which is opposite RAF chilmark, they have been using shape charges to blow holes in the walls, i guess u need somewhere to practise

 

[tommo]

then we head top side for a quick look round the bomb stores, police office

this we guessed must of been like a wardens house for the site, it now looks like its used for the school, its been set up as a mock house, may be forensics or some sort of training, it had some strange stuff left behind, all would of been used to build a picture for some sort of scene they would of had to investigate, notes and stuff left about

next we headed over to the locked up police office

then on to the storage bunkers, most are locked and most have been welded shut as well and all the surface buildings are also locked up

inside one of the storage bunkers

locked buildings

 

[tommo]

then the best was to come, the underground ammo store and it was in great condition and worth the trip just to see this

main entrance

office area near main entrance

main entrance junction point

all the points for changing tracks are in great condition

this is the lift used to bring the bombs up and down, there is also an emergency exit behind it

top side shot of lift entrance

big old blast door

the old bits of wood used to support the bombs

and to finish of some arty farty ones

​

cheers all it was a great day out

 

[Foxylady]

Stacks of stuff! Nice one, Tommo, especially the underground ammo store.

 

[klempner69]

Very impressive shots indeedy,you got some lush colours in some of those tunnel shots,and I love the red handle/lever shot in particular.

 

[tommo]

cheers folks, its a great place and one of the cleanest underground spaces i have been in, its strange because when your in there u dont feel it but once u start taking pics u realsie the whole place is sloping to the west and the best bit is there is not a single bit of chav art work in there or pikey damage

 

[swanseamale47]

Great explore and smashing pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[chris]

Great report and photos

 

[Bunker Bill]

Great pic's and report, well done

 

[Badoosh]

Love it. Fantastic shots & plenty of 'em which is good to see. Looking forward to this one!

 

[jindivik]

cracking chap well done

 

[scottyg100]

so gratefull i was able to see that, pictures are amazing and the location look fantastic thanks for posting it up.

 

[Pugstar]

Thats fantastic, like the radon sign, must have been some firepower down there during the cold war

 

[godzilla73]

Great to see such a thorough and detailed report on an interesting site. Cheers Tommo!

 

[skeleton key]

Hi tommo,
loving this report
Looks as if you could spend the whole day just taking it in and still have more to see.
The ammo store looks immense and the pics are quality.

SK

 

[sYnc_below]

Fantastic stuff, well done

 

[smiler]

This has got to be one of the best reports and set of pics I have ever seen on DP, Well done and Thanks to everyone involved.

 

[chizyramone]

Nice one tommo, amazing report

 

[outkast]

outstanding mate, top report