Drakelow Tunnels
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Drakelow Tunnels are a former underground military complex near the village of Kinver, Staffordshire. The tunnels have a very interesting past and are a historical monument to the varied military mechanisms in the United Kingdom.
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[edit] Overview
The Drakelow Tunnel Complex were formed from sandstone hills near the vilage of Kinver and the town of Kidderminster Staffordshire.
The estimated cost of the complexes construction were approximately £285,000 and the construction work itself, which started in June 1941, was expected to take one year.
The underground factory achieved full production in May, 1943 and the final cost was in excess of £1,000,000.
The whole site consists of numerous tunnels that stretched for considerable distances.
The tunnels which contained dormitories, storage areas, workshops, electrical equipment, toilets, offices, a BBC studio, a BT communications facility and much much more.
[edit] World War 2
The Drakelow underground complex was first built as a `shadow factory' by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Construction and installation work lasted from 1941 to 1943.
The idea was that if Rover's factories (which made aero engines) were bombed, production could be moved to this protected site instead. Also, part of the site was used by the RAF for storage.
[edit] Cold War
During the 1950s the site was initially used by the Ministry of Supply for storage.
Then around 1958 part of the site was developed by the Home Office as a Regional Seat of Government (RSG9). Under later Home Defence schemes the bunker was designated a Sub-Regional Control (SRC), Sub-Regional Headquarters (SRHQ) and finally Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ). The site was greatly modernised in the early 1980s.
[edit] The End of the Cold War
In about 1990 there was a plan to move the RGHQ to a much smaller bunker, formerly used by UKWMO, at Lawford Heath near Rugby. In the end this never happened, and the Drakelow site was decommissioned and sold in around 1993.
[edit] The Drakelow Preservation Trust
Following the complex's move into private hands there were plans to redevelop the Drakelow site into a residential and commercial park. This would have involved demolishing the complex completely, leaving a site of historical importance lost forever.
The plans to redevelop Drakelow met with local opposition and a trust was quickly established by residents and other interested parties to fight the planned redevelopment. It was successful however it is feared further plans for redevelopment will be submitted in the near future.
Site tours are arranged occasionally throughout the year by the Drakelow Preservation Trust. It is strictly by appointment only and limited places are available.
For further info about the Drakelow Trust please refer to the links section below.
[edit] Polite Warning
The exact location of the complex is no secret, however the current owners of the site do not welcome unwanted visitors!
Anyone interested in the tunnels can admire them from a far via the Internet. There is a wealth of photos, pictures and commentaries on this very interesting site.
As already stated site tours are arranged occasionally throughout the year by the Drakelow Preservation Trust.
[edit] Links
- The Official Drakelow Complex website - (http://www.stokes277.freeserve.co.uk)
- Excellent site regarding Drakelow -(http://www.monkton-farleigh.co.uk/sc_drakelow1.htm)
- The Drakelow Preservation Trust Website - (http://www.drakelow.info/)
