Brits are being offered the chance to “own part of the nation’s history” – as one of the country’s only nuclear “war rooms” is up for sale. The secluded property, which was used to protect officials from horrific attacks, has gone on the market in Bristol for just £50,000. It was constructed with reinforced concrete and was erected in 1953, at the start of the Cold War.
Fascinating pictures captured some of the equipment completely frozen in time, with large parts of the room still intact. The lucky buyer could transform the building into housing – with other estates being planned close-by in Brislington. The hidden property has a lower floor that is sunk into the ground, meaning only the first floor is partially visible.
It was supposed to shield officials in case of a devastating attack and was left empty when Margaret Thatcher’s government tried to put the rent up in 1981. The amazing piece of British militaria will now be auctioned off later this month with a guide price of between £50,000 and £100,000.
The interior of the once grand 8,000sq ft building now lies damp and rotting. But some incredible flashes of its former life still remain, and it would once have had everything needed in case of the outbreak of nuclear war.
Decontamination showers are still in existence, while walls are covered with boards so government workers could pin up plans and there are several steel blast doors. There is also a row of desks, presumably where telephonists or other communications workers would have sat in case of emergency.
There are three further rooms along the side of an outer corridor – one would have been used by the Public Relations Officer another by the Chief Ambulance Officer and the third by the Medical Officer of Health, the Hospital Board and Cemetery Superintendent, who would have co-ordinated what to do with the dead.
The auction via agents Hollis Morgan will take place on April 23 and is likely to attract developers. It could also be used as a warehouse or storaging, or even as a home, but the main war room itself is Grade II listed so must be preserved.
The building was built among a number of government offices when the world feared nuclear armageddon in the early 1950s. Within a few years of opening, the regional war rooms became obsolete and the building was rented to Avon County Council.
It was used as their county borough control until 1981 when Thatcher’s Home Office increased the rent and the council refused to pay.
Since then it has stood unused and is now completely covered in Virginia creeper. Auctioneer Andrew Morgan said: “This is an opportunity to own part of the nation’s history – one of the last bunkers in England built to run local government in the event of a nuclear attack.
“Fortunately never put to the test, this historic building now has a peacetime future ahead as it comes under the hammer on Wednesday, April 23.
“A plethora of potential bidders all have some imaginative and exciting projects in mind ranging from a house to a games centre.
“It will be fascinating to see what the lucky buyer has in mind. An exciting lot, if ever there was, with the necessary potential.”
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