Seeing the recent post about the Thames water underground bunker reminded me of this one in Gillingham in Kent. It's a lot smaller than the Thames water one, and was built with a simelar purpose in mind.
Southern water built 3 of these in the 1980's - one at Brede in Sussex,one at Twyford in Hampshire and this one at Gillingham in Kent. They were all to be used in the event of a nuclear attack to allow southern water to monitor and control its infratructure, or what remained of it anyway. It was completed, but never fully kitted out or used and was decomissioned fully with the removal of the faraday cage and other equipment sometime in the 90's.
It was origenally an underground reservoir which was re-inforced and turned into the bunker.
I apologise for these photos, this was one of the first sites I visited and photographed in January last year, and I didn't have a very good camera or know how yo use it properly then!
Outside the bunker
Decontamination shower
This would have been a domatory sleeping 9 people in tripple bunk beds. You can see the position of one of these by the 3 lights on the wall, 1 for each bunk.
One of the massive air filters on the ventilation system
Electrical control panel. You could select Mains or generator from this panel.
Corridor that linked all the rooms
There was a tiny kitchen area with 2 huge water tanks in.
Chemical loo
1 way air valves. The Air inside the bunker would be kept at a positive air pressure relative to outside to prevent contamination entering the bunker.
What would have been the main operations room, the only photo I have of it that's any good
Emegency escape shaft
Showing the size of the door locks on the main blast doors.
Thanks for looking!
Maniac.
Edit: can a mod please correct my spelling of Southern in the title!
Southern water built 3 of these in the 1980's - one at Brede in Sussex,one at Twyford in Hampshire and this one at Gillingham in Kent. They were all to be used in the event of a nuclear attack to allow southern water to monitor and control its infratructure, or what remained of it anyway. It was completed, but never fully kitted out or used and was decomissioned fully with the removal of the faraday cage and other equipment sometime in the 90's.
It was origenally an underground reservoir which was re-inforced and turned into the bunker.
I apologise for these photos, this was one of the first sites I visited and photographed in January last year, and I didn't have a very good camera or know how yo use it properly then!
Outside the bunker
Decontamination shower
This would have been a domatory sleeping 9 people in tripple bunk beds. You can see the position of one of these by the 3 lights on the wall, 1 for each bunk.
One of the massive air filters on the ventilation system
Electrical control panel. You could select Mains or generator from this panel.
Corridor that linked all the rooms
There was a tiny kitchen area with 2 huge water tanks in.
Chemical loo
1 way air valves. The Air inside the bunker would be kept at a positive air pressure relative to outside to prevent contamination entering the bunker.
What would have been the main operations room, the only photo I have of it that's any good
Emegency escape shaft
Showing the size of the door locks on the main blast doors.
Thanks for looking!
Maniac.
Edit: can a mod please correct my spelling of Southern in the title!
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