The secret bunker uncovered .
It is not every day that one witnesses a “secret bunker “ being dug up as part of a building modernization , but as part of the “ improvements
“ to the Clitheroe civil centre building , a section of the former civil defence bunker has been unearthed .
So for the entertainment and education of ATS.com I felt compelled to take some photographs .
First some history .
The civic centre was built in 1874 as the towns civic hall – and became the “ grand cinema “ in the 1920s [ it is not very grand
] , but
since the 70s it’s the only one to remain .
A section of the basement was first converted to a civil defence command post during WWII .
Post war , the facilities were expanded and upgraded , in line with cold war civil defence and “ continuance of government “ policies , which
aimed to provide a secure command and communications network to administer what was left of the country after any crisis .
It is worth noting that at no time [ post 1945 ] was their ever provision for civilian shelters / protection in the town .
Fortunately , The only time the bunker was used “ in anger “ [ exercises excluded ] was in the mid 90s when it was used as a temporary police
station , while the police building on King street was re furbished .
Also , during this time a modernized communications suite [ value > £250 THOUSAND ] was installed .
The communications suite is to be relocated to an annex of the Ribble valley Council offices , located about 400m away .
I will have to do some checking into just what the sub basement levels will actually be used for when the civic centre re opens . I believe that no
bunker capacity will remain , but gaining
any information from the council is like pulling hens teeth
they hate to divulge anything to
the public .
So much for civil cervants , they are neither civil or servile
Enough rambling – there are the photographs .
Location : 53°52'24.50"N , 2°23'19.74"W .
Google earth images of the building core
layout
The inner door [ the stairs down to the lower level is beyond that door ]
The lower doorway . [ there are a further 7 rooms beyond that doorway
These are the “ innards” of the bunker . You can see how different building materials – limestone block , red brick and poured concrete have
been added over the years – this was always a utility structure – aesthetics were of zero concern .
And finally , new foundations are being poured ontop of the existing works – to support the new structure
Th…that’s all folks .
Apologies for the “ lack of excitement “ , but nothing much happens here .
APE OUT .