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ABANDONED SECRET NUCLEAR BUNKER AT VENTNOR EXPLORED ON CAMERA
A once-secret Cold War nuclear bunker buried beneath St Boniface Down in Ventnor has been explored on camera for the first time in 12 years, revealing the deteriorating condition of the important historic site. The R1 ROTOR bunker was built in the 1950s and housed up to 200 radar operators and...
www.islandecho.co.uk
for the first time in 12 years, revealing the deteriorating condition of the important historic site.
The R1 ROTOR bunker was built in the 1950s and housed up to 200 radar operators and other staff at the peak of the Cold War. The site was eventually leased to the Isle of Wight Council who used the site as an emergency operations centre, but this was wound up in the early 1990s.
St Boniface Down is now home to important radio telecommunications for the Civil Aviation Authority and it is the CAA who have ownership of the bunker. Sadly, the decision was made to seal the entrances once the Council had moved out and it has been left in an abandoned state ever since.
In 2008, a number of local explorers managed to gain entrance to the underground bunker through an emergency exit. Shortly after the visit, the entrance was filled in with rubble and then concrete capped. That was the last time anyone had stepped foot inside the bunker.
Now, a video produced by urban explorers Abandoned Isle of Wight has allowed a greater insight into the layout and condition of the underground building. The video was filmed in 2016/2017 – some 8 years after the last visit – but has only just been published. Unfortunately, there has been noticeable deterioration to the flooring and the lower level pit has flooded even further.
Island Echo previously made contact with the CAA to explore the opportunity of a caretaker group gaining controlled access to the bunker to prevent it from deteriorating further. However, the CAA expressed that the area (above ground) is an important operational site and therefore no access will be permitted, not even to pump out floodwater to prolong the life of the bunker.
