Event review

An afternoon of history and heritage

A recent Sunday afternoon took IVCers back to the time of the Cold War. Did you know that there was a top-secret nuclear bunker in Acomb, or that York was to be targeted with four bombs in the event of a nuclear attack? The bunker was in a constant state of readiness from the 1960s to the 1990s ready to react to an atomic explosion. It was intended to act as a control centre, with observers based in smaller bunkers around North Yorkshire meant to report back to the Acomb HQ in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. The bunker was mainly staffed by the Royal Observer Corp. Their role was to monitor where bombs had fallen and the extent of nuclear fall-out. The bunker would have been sealed as soon as an attack warning had been given.

We passed through its bomb-proof doors and were given a tour of the nerve centre the operations room, as well as the dormitories and telephone exchange, which had direct lines to police stations for issuing public warnings about nuclear fall-out. The bunker now has scheduled monument status, and everything is preserved, even the old 70s Formica.

Many thanks to Louise for organising the tour.